Research Profiles Education/Outreach In brief Nitrogen deposition Paul Wassmann High North Academy Arctic Council Secretariat Planktonic food web Torkjel Sandanger Reindeer cooling Nansen–Amundsen Year 2011 Reindeer herders Antarctic logistics Geodetic antenna Ny-Ålesund Invasive plants Retrospective Kittiwakes Fram Centre expectations Methane release Adolf Hoel Secondary schools Fram Centre Flagships Fram centre NCoE-Tundra Norwegian-Russian cooperation Recent doctorates New books 2012 f Fram orum orum 2 44 64 54 46 50 68 34 58 83 66 56 30 24 36 62 28 82 20 22 76 10 18 14 6 5 4 3
contents in topics related to climate, environment, and people in the High North. High the in people and environment, climate, to related topics in interested are who all and any to charge of free available is It Centre. Fram the within place take that activities of range wide the about public general the inform to is aim Its Environment. the and Climate for Centre Research North High –the FRAM of behalf on ayear once published is Forum FRAM information Contact in 2011 books New doctorates Recent projects Flagship Centre Fram upwards and Onwards Educational outreach industry and kittiwakes Black-legged in Ny-Ålesund observatory Geodetic Year 2011Nansen–Amundsen Secretariat Council Arctic The term Russian–NorwegianLong cooperation –Tundra Excellence of Centre Nordic black? turns forest the when happens What in operations Polar Antarctica cool their keep reindeer How permafrost the from methane No history polar in Norwegian Hoel Adolf Aliens with latitude herders reindeer among pull and Push Academy High North parabens on rules EU Stricter seas in arctic web food planktonic The inNitrogen deposition the Arctic be... we would where sea, the Without year the of Picture Minister the from Letter Editorial C ontents fram forum 2012 forum fram
Editor Layout Cover photo Contact information Janet Holmén TANK Design AS Stephen Hudson measuring albedo on sea ice in Fram Strait. FRAM Forum Freelance editor www.tank.no Photo: Harvey Goodwin, Norwegian Polar Institute Fram Centre [email protected] N-9296 Tromsø Printer Editorial committee NORWAY Image editor Lundblad Media AS Project leader: Helge M. Markusson, Outreach Coordinator, Fram Centre Rudi Caeyers Print run: 3000 copies // [email protected] www.framsenteret.no [email protected] Elin Vinje Jenssen, Norwegian Polar Institute // [email protected] [email protected] rudicaeyers.com Linda Hamrin Nesby, University of Tromsø // [email protected] Phone: +47-7775 0200 Gunnar Sætra, Institute of Marine Research // [email protected] High North. High the about questions important to resolve competence of types different together to bring wish asincere and creativity enthusiasm, showed researchers Centre Fram the Flagships, discuss to meetings first at the And fields. different widely between collaboration to encourage designed are programmes Flagship The Centre’s revitalised. been has thinking plinary multidisci Centre, Fram the of creation the With languished. contacts disciplinary way, the along somewhere cross- and passed but years of it multidisciplinary; some knowledge, new polar much created at POMI The researchers thinking. nary multidiscipli foster to competence of co-localisation this one roof, intending under issues environmental polar on expertise gathered Environment the of Ministry Norway’s 1998, in back POMI establishing When (POMI). 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Janet Holmén, Editor Holmén, Janet ed i tor i a l - - - - - 3 - - 4 alike. Popular science articles in the FRAM Forum Forum FRAM the in articles science Popular alike. public the and to decision-makers available made are findings research that it is shows how crucial also This internationally. clout has and level at ahigh is Centre Fram at the research shows that This cosmetics. in parabens called substance of the thecontent assessing is now committee EU’s scientific the centre, at the by Torkjel Sandanger led research to Thanks result. important to an point already can they and Centre’s agenda, Fram on the high therefore are Ecotoxins environment. arctic the in discovered are substances harmful evernewworld-wide, and and rapidly increasing is of chemicals The production research. interdisciplinary through policies environmental international and national of design for the premises to create Centre’s ability Fram on the expectations Ihave great sciences. social the and technology sciences, natural the between cooperation close with great, already is Centre Fram established the newly at activity The scientific ecotoxins. and change to climate particularly applies This North. High the and Arctic the impact especially that lems prob environmental global and substantial of the ing understand alot to the mean will That tre’s activities. Cen Fram the about to know comes public the that important is It research. of scientific communication for abroad wishes our with accordance in entirely is Forum FRAM new magazine! on the Congratulations research to the public C E rik S rik ommunicating scientific scientific ommunicating olheim // Minister of the Environment and of International Development L F ETTER M THE ROM I N I STER fram forum 2012 forum fram - - - important to this strategy. to this important is Forum FRAM internationally. and nationally both public, varied and awide and authorities management various the schools, the communities, business to the communicated to be is North High the in environment the and climate the on research from Results Centre. Fram at the priority high given is that activity an is research on their reporting and about Communicating alternatives. and adaptations develop and change able climate orderto toface be in vital is phenomena these into Insight pressure. come under have culture traditional communities’ indigenous the and ocean the in ecosystems to the of relating ways population’s The coastal north. to movecod further of Lofoten-spawning tendency the is example Another of this. example an are county Finnmark in on forests attacks moth forest birch severe The recent systems. eco entire and fauna the flora, the impacts change Climate Arctic. the and North High the in challenge environmental greatest the perhaps is change Climate alternatives. sound environmentally choose can we hormones, perturb can that substances contain deodorants and shampoos cosmetics, that awareness we gain If lives. daily our in choices good make we can that so environment, the and us harm that chemicals and behaviour about to getto know of us to all portant environmental-political decisions. Moreover, im decisions. it is environmental-political for understanding the to increase it possible make will - -
Sea ice in the Fram Strait 78°50’43.25”N - 2°50’42.74”E Taken on board the University of Tromsø research vessel Jan Mayen Photo: rudicaeyers.com - BFE/UIT in May 2011 during an Arctic Tipping Points cruise. Link: http://eu-atp.org fram forum 2012 forum fram pi cture o cture the year f the 5 6 Profile fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Profile 7
Ole Magnus Rapp Without the sea, where would we be ...
The world might have missed out on an accomplished violinist. Instead, we got a plain-spoken marine biologist who listens carefully to the hopeful music of small creatures and ocean’s pulse.
aul Wassmann has put the weekend and the be one of the university’s least imposing buildings, P celebration of his own sixtieth birthday behind probably erected for temporary use 30 years ago. But him. As usual, he walks the 40-odd minutes to work, Wassmann, his research team and his students like it and he appears to be practically bubbling with good here. They have named the building “Hyperboreum”, health. the place north of The Hereafter, whence Apollo es- caped to think great thoughts, surrounded by eternal “Walking gives me time to sort out my thoughts. My summer light, parties and fun. head starts off helter-skelter as I go out the door, but Rumours of German meticulousness make us turn it’s in reasonable working order when I open the door up on time. Paul Wassmann is also punctual. In the to my office. Riding a bicycle is not for me. That means hallway one takes off one’s shoes, just like in Svalbard. paying attention to the bicycle all the time. And I On campus, we have seen considerably messier offices haven’t got a car,” he explains. than this one, and he serves us coffee in charming cups made by his father-in-law. We assumed the professor would have grabbed him- self a room with a beautiful view in the nicest building “He gave us cups to take along on a research mission on campus. Instead, we are led through all the stylish to the Arctic Ocean. Each participant got a cup with parts of what was formerly called the Norwegian his or her own name painted on it. Now, many years College of Fishery Science, and out the back door. later, it is still a nice memento of a generous man from
Through a narrow path in fresh snow up to what must Kvæfjord,” says Paul Wassmann. Wassmann Paul BFE/UIT Caeyers, http://rudicaeyers.com, Rudi Photo: 8 Profile fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Profile 9
resulted in cartoons, a magnificent book with unique “Yes, I’m interested in art, and most of all the art that images and a series of articles in newspapers and pe- was created between 1800 and 1950. I often enjoy a riodicals. Although Wassmann acknowledges the role quiet moment at a gallery or a museum when I have of the media, he usually keeps himself in the back- the opportunity, both in Tromsø and elsewhere in the ground. He considers his research more important, world,” he says. and often lets his students take the limelight. And he likes people, and the North-Norwegian tem- Several times in the course of our conversation, Wass perament. Back home in Germany, he was taught to mann digresses and starts talking about his students. be reserved and unassuming; in Tromsø and Nord He uses words like “promising” and “competent” reisa he catches himself behaving in a diametrically about those who will soon be ready for their doctor- opposite manner. ates. If he was young today, he would choose marine biology, but if he had a teenage daughter or son, he “I like spontaneity and open-hearted, plain speaking. would leave the decision to them. In that sense I am more North-Norwegian than Ger- man,” he says, with a smile. During his latest research mission last spring, Wass mann did something he would gladly recommend Wassmann also has great liking for a society virtually to all his colleagues. For years and years, his wife free from class differences. He feels comfortable about Rigmor has waited patiently at home while Paul was being observed, but not interfered with. A slightly out on research missions: this time he took her along. naïve way of making contact suits him perfectly. Eight days on Tromsø University’s research vessel R/V Unfortunately, he finds Norwegian research slightly Helmer Hanssen off Svalbard’s west coast and in the naïve as well, and he doesn’t like that. Scientific insti- Few have seen more of the ocean than this 60-year- far beyond the nation’s borders to build networks and Fram Strait gave the experienced psychologist a bet- tutions work each on their own, and compete more old. And when your name is Wassmann (waterman) it create exciting results. ter understanding of her husband’s yearning for the than they cooperate. He sees a lack of good interdis- is probably inevitable that you end up doing some- His first academic interests involved the ocean floor Arctic and the boundless ocean. ciplinary networks, and fears that sensational and thing ocean-related, even though this particular and the complex societies that inhabit the seabed. important results may fail to emerge because of a lack waterman was born and grew up in inland Germany. Or “mud”, as the uninitiated would call it. Gradually, “The ocean is important. That’s where the future is. of cooperation. It was the term “marine biologist” that set the enthu- Wassmann’s focus has risen up through the water col- And when it comes to energy, the ocean’s wind, waves siastic young boy off. He was about to choose what to umn. His research, passion and scientific publications and tides will be tremendously important. And not “Academically, you’re only as broad as you can be study. His parents wanted him to aim for a teaching now concern plankton and the ocean’s total ecology. least for food! In the future, even more of what we eat front-line. Cutting-edge research doesn’t come from job at the local Steiner school, and he himself was toy- will come from the ocean, and it is therefore vital that nowhere, and Norway needs more leading lights to ing with the idea of focusing on the violin and classical we learn as much as possible about the ocean’s ecology inspire and broaden the base. And we have to look far, music. Arctic Tipping Points and nurture it well,” he says. far outside the borders,” he says. “And yourself?” “The term marine biologist blew up a storm of enthusi- Wassmann does not try to hide his commitment, and “I’m front-line enough, but will not try to hide that a
asm in my brain. Even though I had scarcely ever seen Arctic Tipping Points is a project close to the profes- R ight Sea ice: under this beautiful surface, there are ecosystems study. to fascinating BFE/UIT www.rudicaeyers.com, Caeyers, Rudi Photo: he argues enthusiastically in a strong North-Norwe- long-term goal, via the EU’s research funds, is to bring the ocean,” he smiles. sor’s heart. With funding from the EU, scientists from gian dialect. He appreciates order and systems, and others to the research forefront.” several countries have probed into what we might revels in terms like “ecosystems”. “Is the ocean that important?” And in the midst of all that, as a conscientious objec- expect from the ocean in the years to come. One He also enjoys nature, but without getting hysteri- “Without the sea, where would we be…” tor working in a special village that housed disabled finding is that even if higher temperatures lead to cal about it. The Moelv/Wassmann family have their “And has the world missed out on a promising violin- people, he met a young trainee from Norway, Rigmor increased production, there will not be more food for home right beside the river in Nordreisa. The neigh- ist?” Moelv, who also inspired a lot of enthusiasm. Young those who live in and of the ocean. The project has bours are intrigued by Paul, who avers that nature is “That might be just as well. All things considered, Wassmann turned his eyes to the North, where he involved several long missions aboard research vessels pleasant when seen from the terrace, and thinks that ocean ecology is more important. Anyway, the violin is knew there had to be a lot of ocean. that have gone as far north as the ice permits. Here, the salmon are better off where they are. He is one of still at home waiting for me if the day should ever come Thirty years after he graduated with a degree in the scientists have become familiar with each other’s the very few Nordreisa residents who are not crazy when science no longer needs me. I hope that will not Natural Sciences from the University of Bergen, his work and thoughts. Scientists and students have been about salmon fishing. happen.” CV is impressive. What he himself is most proud of, is working day and night with all kinds of samples, and The neighbours know that Paul knows a lot about having guided ten students to PhDs within the many the learning curve has been steep for most of them. salmon biology and behaviour. But he knows at least specialist subjects in the field of marine biology. Paul Artists from several countries were also invited to as much about the history of painting and many
Wassmann is concerned about recruitment, and looks come along, as well as media representatives. This has Left Wassmann on ice with Carlos Duarte. Photo: Ole Magnus Rapp “–isms” that are unfamiliar to most people. 10 Research notes fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Research notes 11
Rafael Kühnel, Mats Björkman // Norwegian Polar Institute Nitrogen deposition in the Arctic
ost of the Earth’s atmosphere, 78%, consists of nitrogen in its molecular form N , which is quite stable and M 2 unreactive. But some of this stable nitrogen can be transformed to
reactive nitrogen oxides (NOx) and ammonia (NH3). In the modern industrialised world, reactive nitrogen is mainly released to the atmosphere from combustion engines, during production of energy and fertilizer, and cultivation of legumes and other crops. In the atmosphere, nitrogen oxides can undergo a series of reactions to
finally form nitric acid (HNO3). Nitric acid dissolves easily in water and can therefore be “scavenged” by precipitation and washed from the atmosphere; it can also settle directly on a surface through dry deposition. After deposition the nitric acid dissociates into its bio- ‑ available form nitrate (NO3 ).
During winter some of the reactive nitrogen in the atmosphere will form peroxyacetylnitrate (PAN), which is very stable under cold and dark conditions and therefore suitable for long-range transport into the Arctic. In spring, with increasing temperatures and sufficient solar radiation, this molecule can be broken up again to release the nitrogen in a more reactive form. Ammonia will react to form am- + monium (NH4 ), which is also a very soluble species that is scavenged and deposited rapidly. Due to the lack of reactive nitrogen sources in the Arctic itself, most of the reactive nitrogen that is deposited in the Arctic comes from mid-latitude sources.
After deposition, ammonium and nitrate are available to ecosystems ats Björkman taking samples to assess the
M inventory of nitrogen in the snow. Wrange Anna-Lisa Photo: – and they act as fertilizers. The magnitude and timing of deposi- 12 Research notes fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Research notes 13
tion of reactive nitrogen is an important factor for Atmospheric transport of pollution to the Arctic is arctic ecosystems since the Arctic is a nutrient-limited stronger during the winter. This because of the Arctic region, particularly in terms of nitrogen. Changes in Front, a region of strong horizontal temperature arctic nitrogen deposition may severely perturb arctic gradients that build an effective transport barrier. ecosystems. This problem is being addressed by the The Arctic Front is not stationary: it is located further international and interdisciplinary project NSINK south during winter such that Eurasian sources of air (“Sources, sinks and impacts of atmospheric nitrogen pollution are located within its boundaries. In sum- in the Arctic”). NSINK traces the fate of reactive nitro- mer, the Front shifts further north, separating most of gen from the sources through deposition, and studies the sources from the Arctic. its impact on local ecosystems in the Ny-Ålesund area. The Norwegian Polar Institute participates in this pro- The Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), has ject, studying transport and wet and dry deposition been sampling precipitation in Ny-Ålesund for the past processes as well as the processes involved in photo- twenty years. A recent finding based on these precipi- chemical transformation of nitrogen in the snowpack. tation data, is that nitrogen deposition in Svalbard is Two PhD students are involved (authors Rafael Kühnel controlled to a large extent by few strong deposition and Mats Björkman) along with post-doctoral fellow events, probably the result of fast and direct transport Tjarda Roberts. from European sources to Svalbard in just a few days. The average nitrogen deposition per year in Ny- Nitrogen that is deposited along with snow during the Ålesund is 74 mg. Most of the time, deposition is weak winter season is stored in the snowpack. There, it can and delivers about 17 mg N/m2 per year. But a single undergo a series of photochemical reactions, starting strong event can deposit as much as an additional when the returning spring sun rises high enough to 225 mg N/m2. Such occurrences are sporadic, how- provide solar radiation, and part of the nitrogen can ever, causing huge differences in the yearly budgets. be released again from the snowpack to the atmo For comparison, the average nitrogen deposition in sphere. With the starting snowmelt, the remaining Europe is 550 mg N/m2, though it varies considerably nitrogen is flushed from the snowpack and made depending on the location. available to the ecosystems. Nitrogen that is scavenged from the atmosphere in summer, however, is immedi- Necessary conditions for strong deposition events ately available to the ecosystems. seem to be that the moisture content of the transport- ing air is sufficiently high, and that meteorological Svalbard’s geographical position means that it is conditions are suitable for fast transport. Strong mostly under the influence of atmospheric pollution cyclones over the North Atlantic in combination with transported from the Eurasian continent. Therefore a “blocking” high pressure system over the Eurasian the development of nitrogen emissions in Eurasia and continent may provide the conditions needed for such changes in transport patterns from Eurasia to the events to occur in the Arctic. Climate models predict Arctic are key factors controlling the nitrogen budget that both cyclonic activity over the North Atlantic and in Svalbard. Emissions of reactive nitrogen in Europe precipitation in the Arctic will increase. The likeli- are decreasing and this is predicted to continue in the hood of more strong deposition events and a higher future. However, increased ship traffic made possible nitrogen budget in the Arctic is therefore given. by a reduced extent of sea ice could introduce a sig- nificant source of reactive nitrogen in the Arctic. eactive nitrogen pathways in the atmosphere the in pathways eactive nitrogen R Reproduced with permission from Environmental Chemistry (Ole Hertel et 317-337 al.) 3 (5): Copyright © CSIRO 2006. Published by CSIRO PUBLISHING, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/190/issue/3068.htm 14 Research notes fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Research notes 15 20 µm
Lena Seuthe // Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsø Kriss Rokkan Iversen // Salt Lofoten AS Fanny Narcy // Norwegian Polar Institute and Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche, France; Present address: European Institute for Marine Studies, IUEM, France The planktonic food web in arctic seas: from simplicity
to complexity µm 1000
A B
he world’s oceans are inhabited by myriads of organisms, 10 µm T most of them far too small to be seen with the naked eye, float-
ing in the sea as plankton. These microscopic creatures are as differ- Photos courtesy of AMB plankton lab (diatom), Malin Daase (copepod), Kriss Rokkan Iversen (small algae), and Lena Seuthe (ciliate). ent from each other in size and function as a flea and a blue whale or a daisy and a giant redwood tree. Despite their minute size these organisms are essential drivers of crucial biogeochemical cycles on
earth, including the carbon cycle. The balance between CO2-binding
algae and CO2-releasing heterotrophs (i.e. organisms that take up organic matter to fuel their metabolism) largely determines whether the world’s oceans act as a sink or source for the atmospheric green-
house gas CO2. Hence, these tiny creatures have a profound impact on the world’s climate. B: a copepod a B: a ciliateD: On a global scale, the average size of planktonic organisms is thought to increase with decreasing temperature. Thus in cold, high latitude waters, the plankton communities were assumed to be dominated by relatively large algae, such as diatoms, and big copepods. It was
postulated that the extensive fisheries in sub-arctic seas are made 20 µm possible by short and simple planktonic food chains. In such clas- sical food chains, energy bound by large-celled algae is efficiently hese images show
channelled up to higher trophic levels – such as fish – via large, T diatoms A: smallC: algae
C D 16 Research notes fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Research notes 17
25000 lipid-rich copepods. Bacteria and bacteria-based food flagellates and ciliates grazed on algae and bacteria, webs of single-celled heterotrophs, such as flagellates and were in turn preyed upon by the larger copepods. diatoms and ciliates, were thought to be inhibited by low water small algae
) 20000
temperatures and therefore of minor importance Seasonal variations existed in the structure of this -2
for the structure and function of arctic marine food food web, which could partly be linked to physical m C
webs. Reality, however, appears more complex than environmental factors, such as light and water column g m suspected. stability. Bacteria and the smallest algae became most ( 15000
abundant during summer, when melt water run-off ss a
To enhance knowledge of the species in the microbial from land led to a strongly stratified water column m o i
food web, their roles and interactions throughout the with nutrient-poor waters with low salinity at the sur- b
e
seasonal cycle in the Arctic, the ARCTOS PhD School face. It is such physical settings that are proposed to a g at the University of Tromsø established three PhD become more predominant in the arctic seas as global l A positions in 2006. Our assignment was to focus our temperatures continue to rise. research on the smallest planktonic organisms – from bacteria over flagellates and ciliates up to small cope- Our findings from Kongsfjorden are part of an ongoing 0 pods – in arctic waters. Jointly, the three of us spent shift in paradigm within the arctic research commu- March April May July Sep. Dec. a full year investigating the structure and function of nity: the simplistic food web model is being refined the planktonic food web in Kongsfjorden on the west- to a more complex one for arctic marine systems. ern coast of Spitsbergen. The emerging model includes bacteria and bacteria-
eating flagellates and ciliates as crucial components of Biomasses of diatoms and smaller, non-diatom algae in Kongsfjorden during different months in 2006. The figure demonstrates that algae other than diatoms constituted the bulk of algal biomass during most of the year in Kongsfjorden. Our data clearly demonstrated that the high-latitude the plankton community. Further, our investigation planktonic food web in Kongsfjorden was all but a supports the idea that bacteria and small non-diatom Copepods simple chain of diatoms and large copepods. Diatoms algae will become a predominant feature of arctic Flagellates, ciliates were abundant in April during a spring algae bloom. planktonic food webs, as rising temperatures may Bacteria Nonetheless, both during the bloom and at all other lead to a freshening of arctic surface waters through March Algae times of the year, algae smaller than diatoms consti- ice melt and increased freshwater run-off from land. tuted the bulk of algae biomass (top graph next page). Such a structural shift within the planktonic commu-
In addition, the algae were by no means alone: bacte- nity will alter the balance between CO2-binding algae
rial biomass exceeded that of algae throughout most and CO2-releasing heterotrophs, with implications for April of the year and was at times comparable to that of co- biogeochemical cycles in high latitude seas. pepods (bottom graph next page). Hence, the picture that emerged from our measurements was that small, non-diatom algae and bacteria formed the basis for a May complex planktonic food web, where heterotrophic
July
For further reading
Narcy F (2010) Life strategy of Oithona similis and role in trophic interactions in an arctic coastal Sep. ecosystem. Ph. D. thesis, University of Tromsø
Rokkan Iversen K and Seuthe L (2011) Seasonal microbial processes in a high-latitude fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard): I. Heterotrophic bacteria, picoplankton and nanoflagellates. Dec. Polar Biology 34:731–749. DOI 10.1007/s00300-010-0929-2
Seuthe L, Rokkan Iversen K, Narcy F (2011) Microbial processes in a high-latitude fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard): II. Ciliates and dinoflagellates. 0 5000 -2 Polar Biology 34:751–766. DOI 10.1007/s00300-010-0930-9 Biomasses of algae, bacteria, flagellates/ciliates, and copepods in Kongsfjorden during different months in 2006. The data show that bacterial biomass exceeded that of phytoplankton at all times, except in April, and was occasionally comparable to that of copepods. This indicates that bacteria play a crucial role in the structure and function of the high-latitude planktonic food web in Kongsfjorden. mg Cm 18 In brief / Outreach fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 In brief / Outreach 19
Bjarne Røsjø Parabens under pressure
NILU’s research into parabens attracted a great deal ruptive chemicals. The Norwegian Cosmetics Associa- NILU research of attention in 2011. In March, Sandanger appeared tion criticised the initiative, but the little app quickly on “Schrödinger’s Cat”, a TV programme devoted to climbed to the top of the list of the most frequently science and research broadcast by Norway’s NRK1 downloaded free apps. contributed to stricter channel, in which it emerged that the programme pre- Up until now, it has been difficult to determine senter, Hanne Kari Fossum, had twice as high levels of whether parabens are capable of causing cancer or parabens in her blood as Erik Solheim, Norway’s Min- hormonal imbalance in humans, but the researchers EU rules on parabens ister of the Environment and International Develop- at NILU took a great step forward when they ana- ment. NRK1’s TV programme on consumer issues “FBI lysed blood samples from women taking part in the – The Consumer Watchdogs” had a main feature focu “Women and Cancer Study”. The study is headed by sing on the debate on parabens in September, drawing Professor Eiliv Lund at the University of Tromsø, who on NILU as one of the main sources of information. In has gathered data and questionnaires from more than that programme, Sandanger explained that propylpa- 70 000 Norwegian women. NILU analysed blood sam- raben is chemically very similar to oestradiol, which is ples from 350 of these women and compared them he EU is in the process of introducing a ban on the use of “This gives grounds for concern, because parabens are one of the most potent female sex hormones. with the women’s self-reported use of skin creams and T parabens in skin care products for children under six months chemical substances which can disrupt the hormonal Sandanger was also interviewed on NRK1’s health and other skin care products. NILU’s research showed that old. An important contribution to the basis for the new ban was pro- balance in the body. Studies have shown that sub- lifestyle programme “Pulse” in November, at the same parabens are demonstrably present in blood samples vided by Torkjel M. Sandanger, a senior researcher at the Norwegian stances of this kind which cause hormonal imbalance time as the Norwegian Consumer Council launched from randomly selected women. Institute for Air Research (NILU), who has demonstrated high levels can have an adverse impact on fertility in both women an app which can be downloaded to smart phones of parabens in the blood of heavy users of cosmetic products. and men. They can also lead to certain types of cancer to check the contents of cosmetic products. The app, “If these substances are in your blood, they’re also Torkjel M. Sandanger and a group of NILU researchers at the Fram if used over a long period of time. There is a pressing called “Hormone Check” warns consumers if the cos- in your liver and in every other place in your body,” Centre in Tromsø have analysed 350 blood samples from Norwe- need for more studies to be done on the effects these metic in question contains potentially hormone-dis- explains Sandanger. gian women, and have found a very clear link between the women’s substances have on the population,” self-reported use of cosmetic products and the level of parabens in says Sandanger. their blood. Among heavy users, the level of parabens in the blood was actually higher than levels of all other potential environmental pollutants surveyed. Pregnant women should be
Torkjel M. Sandanger is a senior researcher at in NILU the Fram Centre in Tromsø. Photo: Helge M. Markusson, Fram Centre better protected
“It’s positive that both Denmark and the EU are tight- ary principle. We know little about how each substance Ban in Denmark ening the rules on the use of parabens, but research affects the body and the environment, but we know suggests that we should also be considering a ban even less about the cocktail effect, that is, the com- with respect to pregnant women. This is a complicated bined effect of multiple chemicals interacting with one Parabens are a class of chemicals used as preservatives in a large research as an important basis for the new assess- subject, but it has been shown that the exposure to another,” warns Sandanger. number of cosmetic products. Parabens have been met with increas- ment, together with a handful of other publications on parabens of a foetus in the womb has more serious ing scepticism and concern in the past few years. Many cosmetic the same theme. consequences than exposure after birth. The EU’s Sci- “In this area people are of course quite free to make products also contain other chemical substances which have un- The European Commission, which is the executive or- entific Committee has nevertheless taken the view that their own choices without waiting for stricter legisla- known or harmful effects. In Denmark, this growing concern caused gan of the EU, has since followed up the scientific rec- there is no reason to introduce such a ban until it has tion. The Consumer Council’s app and other aids, such the government to introduce a ban on 15 March 2011 against the use ommendations and is in the process of implementing more documentary evidence,” says Sandanger. as the website of the Norwegian environmental organi- of propyl- and butylparabens in cosmetic products aimed at children an entire EU-wide ban. The Commission also wishes to sation Grønn hverdag [Every Day Green], have made it under three years old. reduce the maximum permissible level of propyl- and “We humans are exposed to thousands of chemicals quite easy for most of us to avoid products containing The EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) had previ- butylparabens in all types of cosmetic products. The every single day, and the basic idea should be that we parabens,” Sandanger adds. ously taken the view that parabens did not pose a health risk, but Norwegian Food Safety Authority follows the EU in don’t need even more chemicals in our bodies. Today, the Danish ban triggered a new assessment which led to the SCCS such cases, which means that the stricter regulation researchers must prove that there is a probability that in November 2011 recommending a ban on parabens in products will also apply in Norway. a substance is dangerous before the authorities can
aimed at children under six months old. The SCCS cited Sandanger’s http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/ consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_069.pdf ban it, but it would be better to apply the precaution- 20 EDUCATION fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 EDUCATION 21
Elina Halttunen // High North Academy, University of Tromsø And this is how we intend to do it and outreach via its website (highnorthacademy.org). Collecting information on one site should ensure ef- fective information flow between faculties, research HNA aims to achieve this ambitious goal by develop- schools and interest groups, and serve to promote the High North Academy ing and coordinating PhD courses in transferable and PhD programs offered by UoT. quantitative skills. All the courses will be offered in HNA will also promote UoT’s and FRAM’s role in high- English, and the goal is to arrange courses from the er education in High North Research both nationally will increase the quality portfolio (see table below) once a year, at the same and internationally. This will be done through both time, on an intensive schedule, and will include sev- the website and close collaboration with existing in- eral invited speakers (e.g. staff from the FRAM Flag- ternational organisations and interest groups, such as of research education ships and other national and international experts). Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS), The courses in quantitative skills will be organised in Young Scientists Forum (YSF) and Research Commu- collaboration with High North PhD-schools and the nication and Outreach (ReCO). HNA will co-operate Forum for Ecological Modelling. Courses in scientific with APECS, YSF, ReCO on the planned courses, and writing and leadership have already been established some of the activity will be concentrated around the and have been very well received among the partici- annual Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromsø. pants. HNA will also provide information about PhD courses, training material for courses, and tools for teaching
ne of unnecessary sources of frustration during my students come from outside Norway. The students O recent PhD studies here in North Norway, was the difficulty of specifically requested courses in transferrable skills, Module Course ECTS Fall 2011 Spring 2012 Fall 2012 Spring 2013 Fall 2013 finding relevant PhD courses to take, and finding information on the such as (popular) scientific writing, presentation 1 Philosophy and ethics 3 × × few existing courses. This is something High North Academy (HNA) techniques and poster construction, writing research of science funding applications, networking, and alternative aims to change for future research students. 2 Scientific writing and 3 × × × The University of Tromsø (UoT) and collaborating research insti- research communication methods (e.g. film and blog- presentations tutes affiliated to the Fram Centre (FRAM) are educating increasing ging). In addition, the students asked for multidiscipli- New media in research 1 × × numbers of researchers, and with the current research focus in the nary PhD courses, in order to enhance social inter- communication High North Issues, there is no indication that the flood of new PhD action across faculty boundaries – it helps to know Contact with media 2 × × students will be diverted any time soon. This has led not only to a you’re not alone. Graphics and art greater demand for relevant PhD courses in the High North Research Some steps have been taken, and in the right direc- 2 × Community, but it calls for better for support and career counsel- tion. But although some courses in transferrable skills in presentations ling for PhD students under training as well. The fact is that not all have been established, there has been little informa- 3 Career development, 1 × × × × × young, aspiring students will end up in research positions, and after tion exchange between the course organisers; and research funding working with quite specific subjects for several years, some of us it has been difficult for students to get information Leadership skills 2 × × × need a bit of help in realising our untapped potential. In addition, about, and access to, courses organised by individual Entrepreneurship 2 × × even a researcher nowadays needs a larger set of tools to work with. faculties and graduate schools. This is both confusing Course portfolio and schedule for HNA PhD courses ECTS=European Credit Transfer andin 2011-2013. Accumulation System (“study points”). For example, research communication is becoming an increasingly for students and non-cost-effective use of teaching important aspect of doing research. Both the European Union and resources. Therefore, the need has arisen to start an the Norwegian Research Council demand a plan for good research academy to bridge the gaps in the research training How is HNA organised and who should you contact communication and outreach, and the efforts in these areas are currently offered here in Northern Norway. if you want to know more? regarded as an important part of research projects. In other words, the High North Academy is an initiative Dr. Stig Falk-Petersen But as usual, education lags behind. UoT offers few courses both for an overarching institution of higher learning and HNA will be organised through UoT and across Fram Centre institu- Project leader High North Academy in career counselling and research communication. This sad fact research in the High North, encompassing both UoT tions, to include all the PhD schools working with High North Issues E-mail: [email protected] was conclusively revealed through the Tromsø Doctoral Students and FRAM. The overall aim of HNA is to increase the (e.g. AMINOR, ARCTOS, AMGG, BARESS, CEPIN, EPINOR, EWMA). (TODOS) survey in April 2011: over 70% of UoT PhD students noted quality of PhD studies associated with High North is- HNA will also collaborate with national partners, (e.g. University Dr. Elina Halttunen that the courses offered were insufficiently relevant, inadequately- or sues, to stimulate High North research output and com- of Nordland and University Centre in Svalbard) and international Project coordinator ganised, poorly advertised, and not well taught. In addition, courses munication, and in the long run improve recruitment partners (e.g. APECS, YSF, Uarctic). A kick-off meeting will be held High North Academy were rarely offered in English even though over 40% of the PhD to higher education and research in the High North. 27 March 2012 at the Fram Centre. E-mail: [email protected] 22 Research notes fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Research notes 23
Janet Holmén // Editor, FRAM Forum To find answers they interviewed self-employed herders, both Sámi National policy and ethnic Finns. The eldest was over 70 years old, the youngest merely 12. Some called themselves professional reindeer herders; some identified themselves with other professions but said they also One way to make ends meet is to claim economic sup- Push and pull among owned reindeer. All participants – Sámi and non-Sámi alike – said port from the government. Finnish reindeer herders they enjoyed reindeer herding. Where government was concerned, receive a small government subsidy per slaughtered participants “agreed to disagree”: regardless of ethnicity, some reindeer, above a certain quota. But this quota is Finnish reindeer herders thought the Finnish government did too little to help them, and rising over time, putting reindeer owners with small others felt it imposed too many regulations. But in other contexts, herds at an ever greater disadvantage. And there are subtle cultural difference emerged. other problems. As Dana and Riseth point out, Finnish policy is based on the paliskunta, the only officially recognised herding unit. While the paliskunta aims to Cultural identity maximise profit, the siida places emphasis on cultural values and family-centred communal activity. The subsidy and quota system fits poorly with Sámi Although all the reindeer herders Dana and Riseth interviewed said tradition, where the reindeer represent much more eindeer herding is a time-honoured livelihood in northern Ethnic Finns also herd individually-owned reindeer in they had been inspired to a life of herding by a family member or than just a saleable commodity. In a poignant exam- R Scandinavia. Herds, families and traditional grazing lands combined herds, but there are important differences. mentor, Sámi participants emphasised aspects that were clearly ple, four Sámi members of a paliskunta refused to transcend national boundaries. Yet boundaries exist, and countries In this case, the basic herding unit (called paliskunta) linked with their cultural background. They said things like “Every fulfil their quota, saying their herds were not pro- differ in how they regulate herding and who may own reindeer. is a cooperative of reindeer herders responsible for Sámi should have reindeer” and “I follow in the footsteps of my ductive enough to bear the loss. The conflict went to In Norway and Sweden, essentially all reindeer herders are Sámi, administrating a geographically defined herding area. father.” When asked what they foresaw about their lives five years in court: the paliskunta won the case and can now force whereas in Finland a majority of them are not. Does a reindeer The roots of these permanent areas can be traced the future, many hoped they would still be doing the same things. the slaughter of its Sámi members’ reindeer. herder’s cultural identity influence how he or she makes decisions? to 1898, when the Russian state initiated structural Yet here again there were subtle differences. One Sámi said, “This Finland’s reindeer-herding Sámi face the double chal- And what impact does national policy have on a herder’s ability to changes in Finland. The paliskunta system met with is not a business that we change. This is our way of life. I will herd lenge of being in the minority, and being under strong make a living? strong resistance from nomadic Sámi reindeer herd- even if reindeer bring no money,” while a non-Sámi said, “…exactly pressure to turn a monetary profit. Dana and Riseth In a study published last summer, Leo Paul Dana (University of Can- ers, but was ultimately adopted and is now the only as now, provided the money is good.” The older Sámi participants conclude that Sámi cultural values need specific pro- terbury) and Jan Åge Riseth (Northern Research Institute Tromsø) herding system that is formally recognised in Finland. spoke of giving the business to their children while non-Sámi seniors tection in Finland. To this end, they suggest that the addressed these questions. Unlike most previous researchers, Dana said they would “sell the business.” Nordic Sámi Convention act to initiate legislative re- and Riseth did a qualitative study, attempting to understand the form. Regulations must harmonise with Sámi cultural reindeer herders’ motivations and attitudes, rather than focusing on Cash an issue values, lest push comes to shove and contradictory their entrepreneurial activities. Pulling and pushing demands make reindeer herding according to Sámi tradition untenable as a way of life. In the 1960s and 1970s, reindeer herders in Finland Similarities and differences started using snowmobiles. Mechanisation required Dana and Riseth also found that the two ethnic groups differed in them to purchase commercial goods, and for that, their outlook on business. Ethnic Finns tended to view reindeer they needed cash. Under this pressure, reindeer herding as one of several possible ways to make a profit. But for Sámi The study was done in Finland, where several thousand people herding communities sought new sources of income, participants, herding had more to do with the reindeer themselves rely on reindeer herding for all or part of their livelihood. Some of such as making and selling handicrafts, and some than with the income they might bring in. Sámi herders are “pulled” Based on “Sámi reindeer herders in these herders consider themselves Sámi – and are also considered as community members took “ordinary” jobs. Diversi- to a life that offers close community with family and reindeer. Finland: Pulled to community-based such by official Finnish policy – but most are ethnic Finns. (In fact, fication meant that the siida was no longer a purely Authors of a previous study summarised this attitude in a nutshell: entrepreneurship and pushed to in- according to the Finnish Reindeer Herding Law, any EU citizen is self-sufficient economy based on exchange of services. “reindeer husbandry forms a ‘way-of-life’ more than a ‘way-of-pro- dividualistic firms” by Leo Paul Dana eligible to herd reindeer.) And what about the paliskunta? This brings us back to duction.’” and Jan Åge Riseth, published in the Each reindeer is owned by an individual, but for practical reasons the issue of how cultural identity and national policy Still, modern reindeer herders need commodities that only money anthology Entrepreneurship, Social owners herd their animals together. Among Sámi, the basic herd- influence an entrepreneur’s decision-making. can buy and must therefore earn cash. How do they act when faced Capital and Governance, E. Elgar, ing unit is the siida, usually a family network. Decisions are made Dana and Riseth had two main research questions: with this quandary? Non-Sámi interviewees said they might “give publisher. by consensus – not by vote – which puts a premium on dialogue and up reindeer herding altogether” or “only do what makes the most mutual values. Cooperation helps bind the siida together: members — How do Sámi and non-Sámi reindeer herders acquire money”. These options were apparently not open to Sámi respond- exchange services rather than money. Land ownership is not a part and use resources? ents. They keep their herds, but are “pushed” into other activities to of Sámi tradition. Instead, each siida herds its flocks in traditional — Do Sámi and non-Sámi reindeer herders differ in supplement their income. grazing areas that shift with the season. how they “do business”? 24 Research notes fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Research notes 25
Eva Therese Jenssen // University Centre in Svalbard Reference
Ware C, Bergstrøm DM, Müller E, Alsos IG (2011) Humans introduce viable seeds to Aliens with latitude the Arctic on footwear. Biological Invasions 13. DOI: 10.1007/s10530-011-0098-4
Free shoe-cleaning 300 000 seeds annually Focus on biosecurity
ew research shows that humans can unwit- In the summer of 2008 Chris Ware had an unusual If 1 019 seeds arrived on 259 pairs of shoes, that gives “This study demonstrates that people arriving in N tingly bring alien plant species to Svalbard. offer for passengers arriving at Longyearbyen air- an average of 3.9 seeds per person. If this average Svalbard pose an identifiable hazard to the local envi- Increased travel activity and expected temperature port: he would clean their shoes free of charge. By number is representative for the whole year, then up ronment through the introduction of alien plant seeds increases over the next decades, may make the estab- scraping soil off the soles of the shoes, collecting any to 300 000 seeds could potentially be carried to Sval- that are capable of germination even under current lishment of new plant species in the archipelago’s vul- plant seeds embedded in the soil and then planting bard on the footgear of unsuspecting travellers. climatic conditions,” says project leader Inger Greve nerable ecosystem possible. This calls for a closer look them in a climate that simulated the summer season Alsos. at the management policy for travelling to Svalbard. in Svalbard, Ware wanted to find out whether alien The seeds Chris Ware collected were planted in an Between 1995 and 2004 there was a 255% increase plant species could be introduced and successfully environment that simulated summer in Svalbard. The “These findings can be an important contribution in a in the number of tourists visiting Svalbard, accord- established in the archipelago. Samples from a total temperature 10°C was chosen to match the average future discussion about a more conservative approach
ing to the Governor of Svalbard. During 2008, almost of 259 pairs of shoes were collected between June and is a non-native Svalbard plant which summer soil temperatures recorded from a number of to regional biosecurity, so that the ecological and 69 000 travellers (locals, tourists and visiting scien- September 2008. The travellers that participated also Svalbard sites. Twenty-four-hour sunlight goes without genetic integrity of the local flora can be maintained,” tists) arrived at the Longyearbyen airport. In addition, filled out a questionnaire about when they had last saying. The seeds were monitored for 48 days to see if says Alsos. around 30 000 cruise ship passengers go ashore in cleaned their shoes, whether the shoes had been in they germinated successfully. Svalbard annually. use in the three previous months and if so, in what The entry points to Svalbard have no biosecurity type of environment (forest, alpine or city). Twenty-six percent of the seeds (266 out of 1 019) policy that corresponds to the strict policies enforced Today, there are 165 native plant species in Svalbard. germinated under the test conditions. Eighty-seven in New Zealand (Biosecurity New Zealand 2010) and Until recently, two factors helped maintain ecologi- “A total of 1 019 seeds from 53 plant species were percent of those germinated within 14 days, the rest by Antarctic tour operators (IAATO 2010). cal integrity in the High Arctic and Antarctica: low found. Only two species were native Svalbard plants, within 48 days, which is well within the growing sea-
frequency of visits by humans and a cold climate. the rest were plant species not known to Svalbard,” Free shoe-cleaning Chris Ware (left) cleaning shoes at Longyearbyen airport in July 2008. Photo: Eva Therese Jenssen, UNIS invader Prolific Barbarea vulgarisWinter-cress has been introduced to the Russian settlement Barentsburg. Sandbakk Erik Bjørn Photo: son in Svalbard. The Governor of Svalbard and the Norwegian Polar Now, both these factors are changing in Svalbard: hu- says Chris Ware. Institute will soon write a management action plan man traffic is getting heavier and the temperatures are concerning introduction of non-indigenous plant spe- gradually rising. cies to Svalbard. Maybe some time in the near future, travellers to Svalbard must pass through a cleaning Scientists from the University Centre in Svalbard process before they can leave Longyearbyen airport (UNIS), Tromsø University Museum and the Austral- and walk out onto Svalbard soil. ian Antarctic Division have now published the results from an experiment conducted in the summer of The project received financial support from the Sval- 2008 that shows that increased travel activity will lead bard environmental protection fund. to the introduction of alien plant species to Svalbard. 26 Research notes fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Research notes 27 agdalenenfjorden M Around 30 000 cruise tourists visit Svalbard every One year. of the most popular landing sites is here in Magdalenefjorden on the northwestern coast of Spitsbergen. Photo: Helge M. Markusson, Fram Centre 28 Retrospective fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Retrospective 29
Frode Skarstein // University Library, University of Tromsø In it for the long haul: Adolf Hoel in Norwegian polar history
n August 1910 Fridtjof Nansen’s famed ship Fram This field diary entry by the Norwegian geologist waiting for vessels to move teams of researchers in The early Norwegian research efforts in Svalbard I left Norway on its third and final expedition. In Adolf Hoel was made the same summer as Fram left and out of fjords, up and down the rugged Svalbard were not the result of one grand unified plan to map charge was Roald Amundsen. The announced plan Norway with Amundsen. The Norwegian naval ship coastline. Albeit now almost faded into oblivion, the Svalbard. Rather, these expeditions were the result was to drift across the frozen polar basin to the North Farm, although similar in name, was sleek and slender expeditions these quotes stem from are surprisingly of the relentless efforts of a handful of individuals to Pole, much like what Nansen had attempted years in appearance and therefore quite different from significant to today’s Norwegian polar self-image. secure funding for yet another season of research. earlier. The ship was to enter the polar basin through Fram. And also as opposed to Fram, Farm really was This lack of a preexisting plan makes the expeditions the Bering Strait, but Amundsen’s sudden change of headed northwards the summer of 1910. Not to the Starting in 1906 and culminating with Norwegian sov- easy to forget. Yet, as one season of research followed course in Madeira in early September is now history. North Pole, but close: Farm’s goal in 1910 was, as in ereignty of Svalbard in 1925, Norwegian researchers another, a virtually unbroken chain of Norwegian Instead of the North Pole, Amundsen’s clandestine 1909, the uncharted shores of the arctic archipelago of worked in Svalbard virtually every summer. The main research effort on the archipelago eventually spanned plan was the conquest of the South Pole, which he Svalbard. driving force behind most of these expeditions was the from 1906 to 1925. This is an immense effort, and managed late in 1911. diarist cited above, the Norwegian geologist Adolf Hoel without the dedication of Adolf Hoel and his kind, it An entry in Adolf Hoel’s field diary from 1909 illus- (1879-1964), initiator and later director of what was to is in no way certain that Svalbard would have come Amundsen reaching the South Pole in 1911 was one of trates the conditions that met topographers and geolo- become the Norwegian Polar Institute. At 28 years of under Norwegian sovereignty. And a Norway without the reasons why 2011 was defined as a year of national gists on Svalbard. age he embarked on his first Svalbard expedition in Svalbard would, to a large degree, have been a polar celebration in Norway. The other was to mark the 1907 and spent virtually every summer mapping the nation of the past and not of the present. 150th birthday of Nansen. The Nansen–Amundsen “The steam condenses on the tent ceiling causing archipelago until his 46th birthday in 1925. Most of the year has been celebrated nationally and internation- constant dripping. The sleeping bag and my sweater summers in Adolf Hoel’s adult life were dedicated to ally with a range of different activities, including are constantly wet. Holtedahl is visiting us and we’re research in Svalbard. Winters were spent analysing the exhibitions and reenactments of Amundsen’s South evaluating the situation. We’re virtually sitting on top collected data and every spring Hoel eked out funding Pole skiing expedition. Both Nansen and Amundsen of each other. One can hardly move without forcing from commercial and scientific sources for the coming stand as icons in Norway’s polar history, and their role someone else to move. […] Now and then Reinert sings summer’s expedition. His presence on the archipelago The author is a writer and research as symbols of Norway’s polar pride is almost impos- a bawdy ballad. Hours crawl slowly.” became a regular part of the Svalbard summers. This librarian at the University Library, sible to overestimate. great effort is captured in the nickname he eventually University of Tromsø These events are hardly as momentous as Nansen’s acquires: “Spitsbergen-Hoel”. The name is deserved; “At 7 AM on the 8th of June ‘Farm’ hoisted anchor and attempt to ski to the North Pole or Amundsen’s push his involvement with the archipelago is unique, with from Vippetangen we headed out the fjord. Weather towards the South Pole. Tedious, never-ending geolo- respect to both the diversity and intensity of his activi- From left to right - Adolf Hoel, Director of the Norwegian Polar Institute 1928–1945. excellent, calm and warm.” gising, only interspersed with cold rain and endless - Hoel surveying at Nordenskiöldfjellet, Svalbard. - Hoel taking notes in the field. co-workers- Two outside Hoel’s tent in Colesbukta, Svalbard. All photos: Norwegian Polar Institute Photo Archive ties, and not least his endurance. 30 Research notes fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Research notes 31
Anne Nyeggen // Head of Communications, Norwegian Institute for Air Research Reference
Fisher et al.: Arctic methane sources: Isotopic evidence for atmospheric inputs, Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 38, 2011, L21803, 6 pp., No methane doi:10.1029/2011GL049319. from the permafrost
There were large emissions of methane from wetlands “There was a particularly great increase of methane the sea surface and escape into the atmosphere to and gas leakages from Russian gas fields in 2008 and in 2007 and 2008. Isotope measurements of methane any significant extent. However, this depends on the at Zeppelin, that we have conducted in cooperation temperature: at higher ocean temperatures, methane 2009, but so far there are no clear indications of with Royal Holloway, University of London, show that hydrates dissolve more easily in seawater. This is one increased emissions from the thawing permafrost. a particularly large proportion of the methane came of the concerns. from arctic wetlands in northern Russia. An increase in the methane concentration has also “This may be due to the summer of 2007 having been been measured in the southern hemisphere. It is unusually warm in the Arctic. On the whole, wetlands presumed that this is due to greater emissions from are a main source of methane emissions during the tropical wetlands in the Amazon and Indonesia as a y means of isotopic analyses of methane, a Svalbard have shown a steady rise in methane concen- summer,” explains Lund Myhre. consequence of changed and increased precipitation, B research team has been investigating the reasons trations over the past five years. and of tropical fires during the autumn of 2006. for the increase in atmospheric methane concentra- These results have been concurrent with methane As regards the increase recorded during spring 2009, tions that have been measured at the Zeppelin Atmos- increases measured at other stations in the Arctic, as the scientists have found that leakage from gas pipe- pheric Monitoring Station at Ny-Ålesund in Svalbard. well as globally. But researchers are particularly wor- lines may explain parts of it. Complicated measuring method The results from 2008 and 2009 show that there were ried about the great potential sources of methane in particularly large methane emissions from wetlands the Arctic. “It’s remarkable that gas pipelines leak so much as and gas leakages from Russian gas fields during these Huge amounts of carbon are stored in permafrost to give an increase in regional methane concentra- The research team has been using so-called isotope years. There are no signs that emissions from hydrates both on land and on the ocean floor. These sources tions. This is something people should be interested in measurements to figure out where the methane on the ocean floor reach the atmosphere. may emit large amounts of methane if the permafrost reducing, as such leakages are not profitable from a originated. Different methane sources have different thaws. financial point of view either,” says Lund Myhre. proportions of the carbon isotopes 12C and 13C. This “For the time being, we don’t see any clear indications fact is used in combination with modelling of the air of increased methane emissions from thawing perma- “In that case, we will get what is called positive feed- The scientists were particularly interested in seeing transport to Zeppelin in order to identify sources and frost either,” says senior scientist Cathrine Lund Myhre back,” explains Lund Myhre. whether there were any indications of emissions from source areas. The method is particularly challenging from the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU). “When the permafrost thaws, large amounts of meth- methane hydrates. Great quantities of the ice-like sub- to use in the Arctic, because the sources give weak ane are released. This contributes to still more warm- stance can be found on the ocean floor near Zeppelin isotopic signals. The study is published in Geophysical Research ing and increased thawing of the permafrost, which in Mountain and west of Spitsbergen. Research cruises to Letters. turn contributes to still more increase in the emissions study the phenomenon were organised and coordi- “This demands a high level of precision from both the of methane.” nated with measurements at Zeppelin. measuring devices and the measuring methodology,” says Lund Myhre. Disturbing methane increases “So far, we cannot see any indications of the methane Why is methane on the increase increase coming from this source. But this may change, The work on the isotopes and the analyses are headed in the atmosphere? particularly in shallow ocean areas, if the temperature by and carried out at Royal Holloway, University of
Next to CO2, methane is the most important contribu- in the Arctic continues to rise,” says Lund Myhre. London. tor to man-made global warming, and the gas has both man-made and natural sources of emission. Over the past few years, research on methane has been Methane hydrates are crystals formed of methane Measurements that NILU has conducted at their moni- intensified; scientists want to understand the changes bound to water. Methane leaks from these hydrates, toring station on Zeppelin Mountain at Ny-Ålesund in that impact the level of the gas in the atmosphere: but for the time being, the methane does not reach 32 Research notes fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Research notes 33
More methane
Whereas NILU’s measurements from 1998 to 2005 showed relatively
stable concentrations, there have been annual increases from 2006 wetland to 2009. The increases were particularly visible during autumn 2007 permafrost outbursts and late autumn 2009.
On 26 December 2009, a level of 1975 ppb (parts per billion) was hydrates measured. This is the highest methane level ever measured at the wetland Zeppelin station. There have been other episodes with very high Fires values since then as well. The global level also reached a new record in 2009 with 1803 ppb, an increase of 5 ppb since 2008. Fires wetland
Around 60 per cent of the methane in the atmosphere at present zeppelin hydrates comes from man-made sources. The most important of these sources are farming (ruminants), rice paddies, rubbish dumps, coal, oil, oil/gas fields gas and fires. The most important natural sources are wetlands, wetland
termites, geological sources, oceans, wild animals and fires. hydrates
There are also vast natural reservoirs of methane stored in the wetland permafrost, both on land and under the ocean. An increase of methane in the atmosphere may be due to either an increase in emissions from one or more sources, or to a change in methane decomposition.
Atmospheric methane mainly breaks down through chemical reac- tions and is eliminated on a timescale of about 10 years. It is expect- ed that many of the natural methane sources will be impacted by climate change, such as changes in temperature, particularly in the Arctic, and changes in precipitation.
About the project
The study is an international research cooperation between NILU and the University of Tromsø in Norway, the universities of London, Southampton and Oxford in England, and the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research. Project leaders are R.E. Fisher and E. Nisbet from Royal Holloway, University of London. The project has been supported by the Natural Environ- ment Research Council, as part of their contribution to the International Polar Year, and by Royal Holloway. The EU has also contributed with funds from the GEOMON Programme, among others. The Zeppelin Atmospheric Monitoring Station (left) and the view east over Kongsfjorden. Photos: Kim Holmén, Norwegian Polar Institute 34 Outreach fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Outreach 35
Lars Folkow, Arnoldus S. Blix // For further reading amounts of air inhaled provided enough cooling The story was soon picked up by both scientific and Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsø power for the reindeer to keep its brain cool. But they non-scientific media (e.g., Science Magazine, BBC, The The story only used this strategy as a last resort when the other New York Times) and has since appeared in hundreds Blix, A. S., Walløe, L. and Folkow, L. P. (2011) Regula- cooling tactics were no longer sufficient. of journals, newspapers and websites around the tion of brain temperature in winter-acclimatized rein- world, eventually also including Norway. Hopefully How reindeer deer under heat stress. J. Exp. Biol. 214, 3850-3856. When these results were published, they attracted this reflects appreciation for and genuine interest in a substantial – and encouraging – media interest world- solid piece of scientific work, although the exoticism The teaser wide. This interest was sparked by a press release of the topic and the pre-Christmas timing of the publi- keep their cool Knight, K. (2011) Rudolph's cooling strategy revealed. from JEB which was accompanied by a “teaser”, cation may have contributed to the massive interest. J. Exp. Biol. 214, i (doi: 10.1242/jeb.066621). a popular science summary of the most important findings of the paper, based on interviews with the authors, and was published under the heading “Inside JEB”.
eindeer are protected from the winter In the early stages of a run the breathing rate rose R cold by a thick fur coat of prime insulating qual- from 7 breaths per minute to an impressive 260 ity. But this pelt doesn’t just keep the cold out, it keeps breaths per minute – the animals were panting. By the warmth in too. This is fine when the animals are inhaling large amounts of dry air through their nose resting, but could cause problems when they are ac- and evaporating water from its mucous membranes, tive and generate more heat. Therefore, reindeer also they cooled blood in the nasal mucosa before send- need efficient mechanisms to get rid of excess heat. ing it back to the rest of the body through the jugular A recent publication in the Journal of Experimental veins. In this way, they kept their body temperature Biology (JEB), written by us and our colleague Lars down. Walløe from the University of Oslo, describes the strategies reindeer employ when they are subjected to However, as the reindeer continued to run, the heat loads. exercise further increased their heat load. Then the animals switched to open-mouth panting, throwing In principle, reindeer have three lines of defence to their mouths wide open and letting their large and handle such situations: They can dispose of excess well vascularised tongues flop out. At this time we re- heat by panting with the mouth closed to evaporate corded an exponential increase in tongue blood flow. water from the nose, by panting with the mouth open By moisturising the tongue and panting so that large to evaporate water from the tongue, or they can acti- volumes of air moved over it, the reindeer ensured vate a cooling system that selectively cools the blood that enough heat was removed to cool the blood flow- supply to their brain. These mechanisms have been ing through the tongue. In fact, blood flow through studied and described separately in previous pub- the animals’ tongues peaked at the same time as their lications. What the new paper does is describe how brain temperature reached a critically high 39.0°C. reindeer coordinate their three defences in a step- wise transition between different tactics, and how this At that point the reindeer switched to their third affects their brain/body temperature. tactic: they selectively cooled the brain by divert- ing cooled venous blood from the nose away from We trained reindeer to stand in a climatic chamber at the body and up into the head. There the cool blood 10–50°C and to trot on a treadmill at ambient tempera- entered a network of heat exchanging blood vessels tures of 10–30°C, to cause their body temperature to and cooled the warm arterial blood destined for the rise. We simultaneously recorded the animals’ physi- brain, thus preventing the brain from overheating. ological responses (breathing rate, brain and blood Even though only about 2% of the respired air passed
temperature, blood flow to head and tongue). through the panting reindeer’s nose, the colossal reindeer. Panting Krarup Kia HansenPhoto: 36 Outreach fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Outreach 37
Text: Øystein Mikelborg, Ken Pedersen // Norwegian Polar Institute Photos: Ken Pedersen // Norwegian Polar Institute Polar operations in Antarctica – operating the Troll Research Station, Dronning Maud Land
esearch in polar areas involves many and training as well as the operational and technical R challenges, logistics being a case in point. Great running of the station. distances combined with a relatively cold climate and Operations in Antarctica also involve special security a general lack of infrastructure creates a demanding challenges. Besides the traditional polar challenges re- situation as regards the organisation of transport, lated to climate, crevasses and the like, the prominent equipment and security. Nowhere is this more appar- element of large machines and heavy lifts involves ent than in Antarctica, where the distances are vast, an additional risk. There is always a doctor present, the climate at times extreme and the infrastructure and a well-equipped sick bay at the station, but still, very scattered. the closest hospital is far away should the need for While building up Troll as a year-round research sta- more advanced medical treatment arise. Preventive tion in Dronning Maud Land, the Norwegian Polar measures through training before arrival are there- Institute has also built up a considerable back-up sup- fore considered important, as well as practical on-site port organisation for purchasing, transport, staffing training.
Staff thus including the entire winter season. For each sum- The Troll Research Station is built for seven to eight Troll. The Norwegian Polar Institute cooperates with mer season in the south (November – February), eight people spending the winter, but houses 30-40 people the other countries that are established in Dronning to ten more people are recruited from a regular staff during the summer season; at times up to 70 people Maud Land about ship rentals and has for the past Operations in Antarctica require unique skills. Rel- pool consisting of former “overwinterers” and other stay at the station for shorter periods. three seasons had a contract with the Danish-owned evant expertise has been gradually developed at the specialists (mechanics, electricians, plumbers, car- Royal Arctic Lines to use the 10 300 tonne ice-rein- Norwegian Polar Institute through the Norwegian penters etc.) with a lot of experience from the Arctic forced container ship Mary Arctica. This ship is a mod- Antarctic Research Expeditions, which have been car- and/or the Antarctic. Sea transport ern vessel built in 2005 and does not use heavy oil. ried out annually since 1999. Add to that a year-round In 2011, the logistics department had a little more than The ship needs about three weeks for the passage from presence in Antarctica since 2005, when the Troll 3500 staff days in the Antarctic in connection with the Europe to Cape Town in South Africa, where the last research station first opened as a year-round station. operation of Troll, and to support ongoing research Operating Troll as a year-round station requires supplies are loaded on board. The crossing from Cape The Antarctic Section at the Norwegian Polar Insti- projects. Troll accommodates personnel that run the around 7-800 tonnes of fuel, provisions, building mate- Town to our place of discharge at the ice edge (5o°E) tute’s Operations and Logistics Department consists Norwegian Polar Institute’s own research projects rials as well as other equipment and supplies that have takes 8-10 days, depending on ice conditions along the of seven permanent employees based in Tromsø. In as well as external ones, and there is also staff from to be transported in to Troll. Most of this is brought way. Usually, the ship arrives at the place of discharge addition, there is an overwintering team of six people Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) and the Norwe- by ice-going ships in to the ice edge, and the supplies around the middle of December and unloading all the
who are hired to spend about thirteen months at Troll gian Institute for Air Research (NILU). Unloading supplies at the ice edge, 260 km away from Station. Troll are freighted overland (or over ice) the last 260 km to supplies normally takes around three days. 38 Outreach fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Outreach 39
Land transport ship arrives and continues until the very end of the operative during the entire summer season and can out flights to Troll as solely Norwegian operations. summer season, around the end of February. Having a also be opened for use during the winter period, if In 2011, the Norwegian Polar Institute arranged a win- vehicle fleet in the best possible working order at any necessary. Ensuring high operative status requires ter flight to Troll for the first time. This was done on From the place of discharge at the ice edge, the sup- given time is an absolute prerequisite for carrying out that many resources go towards airstrip maintenance the darkest day of the year at Troll, 22 June. The flight plies are transported about 260 km over snow and the transport task efficiently. To achieve this, profi- equipment. The airstrip also has a mobile lighting set was carried out with a Gulfstream 550 from a Swedish ice to Troll. This journey, which takes two or three cient mechanics are needed and it is members of this for use in the dark and in poor visibility, something company (European Flight Service). The Gulfstream is days each way, passes through crevassed areas that profession the Norwegian Polar Institute hires in the which is absolutely necessary in connection with a modern ultra-long-range plane, a fact which made it require extra high alertness on the part of the drivers. largest numbers for the summer season in the south. flights during the dark period of the year. unnecessary to refuel at Troll. Heavy full track vehicles of the piste-grooming type, Besides Troll, the only place capable of receiving large The Norwegian Air Force has also flown to Troll on commonly used to prepare alpine ski slopes, are used inter-continental aircraft as well as smaller types of a number of occasions, among them the opening of for the land transport. These vehicles pull large sleds Air transport planes for transport of personnel in this part of Ant- the station in February 2005, when HRH Queen Sonja where the supplies are placed in standard 20-foot arctica, is the Russian base Novolazarevskaya. arrived on board a C-130 Hercules that also carried containers. Each vehicle pulls a load weighing around Personnel transport between Cape Town and Dron- out the first official landing at Troll Airfield. Norwe-
35-40 tonnes. The speed of the vehicles varies some- Troll has its own airfield, established on the ice about An comes Ilyushin-76 in for a landing Airfield. Troll at ning Maud Land is mainly by air. This is organised gian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg was also flown what according to the snow conditions, but is usually seven kilometres from the station itself. The airstrip through Dronning Maud Land Air Network (DROM- to Troll in a C-130 Hercules when he visited the station
Hauling a year’s supply of fuel, equipment and commodities from the ice edge Station to Troll takes all summer long. about 12-14 km/h. The land transport starts when the is 3000 metres long and 60 metres wide. It is kept LAN), but the Norwegian Polar Institute also carries in 2007. 40 Outreach fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Outreach 41
Research activity Daily life at the station
The Troll Research Station was established with the Activities at Troll are mainly divided into two seasons: Winter main objective of being the base for Norwegian land- In recent years, some permanent research installa- summer and winter. During the winter season, things settle down and the based research activity in the Antarctic. The Norwe- tions have also been established at Troll, in coopera- pace is slower. Only six people spend the winter at gian Polar Institute has built up an infrastructure that tion with other nations: Summer Troll: a research technician, a doctor, a cook, a me- facilitates these activities. Four full track vehicles of The summer season lasts from the beginning of chanic, an electrician, and a works technician. Their the type TL-6 (Swedish-produced carriage), with de- — A gravimeter in cooperation with Finnish scientists November to late February/early March. It is during most important task is to run the station during the tachable living and working modules, are earmarked (Finnish Geodetic Institute) this period that activities are at their peak, both in winter period, i.e. see to it that the power station pro- for research; this makes it possible to do land-based terms of logistics and infrastructure, and in terms of duces electricity, that the instruments and the techni- research far away from Troll. This equipment was — MARA (Moveable Atmospheric Radar for research-related projects. There is a lot of work to be cal equipment work as they should, as well as seeing used for instance in 2007-2009, for the Norwegian– Antarctica), in cooperation with Swedish scientists done during the summer, of which the most resource- to day-to-day maintenance. There is more leisure time American Traverse from Troll to the South Pole and (Institute of Space Physics, Kiruna) demanding are the transport of supplies from the during the winter season, and there are ample oppor- back during the International Polar Year. The equip- coast to Troll, maintenance of transport equipment tunities to go on excursions in the surrounding areas, ment is also used annually in connection with the ICE — Ground temperature loggers (belonging to the South and other machinery (the power station, appliances, work out, study, practice various hobbies, and so on. project on the Fimbul Ice Shelf. In addition to these African National Antarctic Programme) power tools, and so on) and keeping the airfield in The challenges involved in establishing the necessary heavy full track vehicles, there is also lighter transpor- operative condition. In addition to this, the infrastruc- infrastructure and expertise to run the year-round tation equipment, such as snow scooters, to cover the — A seismic station (NORSAR) ture at Troll can always be improved, and research station in Antarctica have been great – maybe greater needs of smaller projects that often operate closer to projects need support. The workdays are long and than anybody had imagined beforehand. Having Troll. — Automatic weather stations there are few days off during the 4-month summer now come as far as 2012, we can at least note that the The Tor field station is a small research station about (the Norwegian Meteorological Institute) season at Troll. Leisure time after dinner in the main components are in place, and that the research 110 km east of Troll in the Svarthammeren area, evenings (at 8 PM) and the single day off every other station’s operational organisation leaves nothing to be where there are large petrel colonies. This station is — Trollsat (Kongsberg Satellite Services - KSAT), week, is used for mountain treks, work-outs, film desired when compared to that of the other national mainly used by biologists in connection with orni- establishing antennas to download data from satellites nights and other social activities. The quarters at Troll operators in Dronning Maud Land. Development thological studies of bird life in the area, but other in polar orbit as well as communication antennas are optimised for the activities that go on during the remains to be done at Troll and in the coming years, scientists may also use this station if they need to. summer season, so living is cramped for everybody we will continue expanding the infrastructure and — A Galileo ground station (Galileo is the European and there is very little opportunity for any private life increase the efficiency of our logistics to cover the equivalent of the American GPS system) to speak of. But Troll residents have good opportuni- ever-increasing demand for research in the Antarctic. ties to communicate with family and friends at home — An air monitoring observatory in Norway, both via the Internet and by telephone. (the Norwegian Institute for Air Research - NILU) Troll residentsTroll gather for a chat before Sushi dinner. is on the menu evening. this 42 Outreach fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Outreach 43 Tor FieldTor Station, km east Station, of Troll 110 lies near a colony of Antarctic petrels. 44 Outreach fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Outreach 45
Helge M. Markusson // Outreach coordinator, Fram Centre What happens when the forest turns black?
Dead forest bears new life Management
When the birch forest moth attacks, it leaves behind Cooperation with FeFo (the company in charge of For several years running, the birch forest For further reading large amounts of dead wood in the forests. That is county-owned land in Finnmark) and the Governor moth has been wreaking havoc on vast areas good news for some. of Finnmark, has also led to the initiation of a study This project is presented of the importance of management measures that may of mountain birch forest in the Northern in greater depth on “This wood constitutes a sudden glut of resources for promote natural forest regeneration, including felling Norwegian counties of Troms and Finnmark. pages 46–49. many insect and fungus societies. Along a gradient of timber and interventions in the vegetation cover. that stretches from an area with serious outbreaks and Scientists are now trying to find out what a lot of dead wood to an area with healthy forest and “At two locations, we have staked out 20 areas measur- happens when the moth has eaten its fill. little dead wood, we have been collecting insects all ing 30 × 30 metres, which will be cut clear this autumn. summer long in what we call window traps. We will compare the development of the vegetation and “These samples will form the foundation for a char- the forest regeneration in these areas versus areas that acterisation of the composition of the insect society, have not been subjected to logging. as well as of the importance of such concentrations of “A scarification experiment has also been initiated, resources for the dynamism in selected groups of in- where we intervene in the vegetation cover manually sects,” says Ole Petter Vindstad, research fellow at the and compare natural regeneration from seeds there University of Tromsø, who is working on the project. and in areas that have not been intervened in,” con- single little bug on its own doesn’t cause “The trees don’t have time to recover after one attack cludes Jepsen. A much damage, but if they arrive by the millions before they fall victim to attack number two,” says Jane and one species takes over when the first one quits, Uhd Jepsen, scientist at the Norwegian Institute for Grazing pressure The overriding objective of the interdisciplinary the result is many thousands of square metres of Nature Research at the Fram Centre. Nordic top-level research initiative “NCoE – How to black, dead forest. preserve the tundra in a warming climate” or “NCoE- “We are also looking at how grazing pressure from Tundra” is to study the importance of small and large The culprit is the birch forest moth, and the big prob- A research programme in the top-level herbivores impacts the forest’s ability to regenerate herbivores as a possible counterweight to climate- lem is that there are several species of it. research initiative after a birch forest moth attack”, says Jepsen. driven bush encroachment on tundra areas. “We have established twelve experimental research The programme consists of a total of eight work pack- The birch forest moth is a grey-white species in the plots of 30 × 30 metres, six on each side of the Norwe- ages. family Geometridae, whose larvae live in various Through a newly established research programme, gian–Finnish border, and are comparing the devel- trees, bushes and herbs. scientists at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Re- opment of the vegetation and forest regeneration in The Fram Centre is involved in work package No. 4, search and the Department of Arctic and Marine Biol- these districts with development in open areas where the objective of which is to substantiate the interac- Until a hundred years ago, the autumnal moth (Epirri- ogy at the University of Tromsø are trying to find out reindeer have free access. tion between severe attacks by birch forest moths and ta autumnata) operated all on its own in the north, but what happens after the voracious birch forest moth “In addition, within each of the large research plots, we herbivores, especially reindeer and small rodents, and with climate change, the winter moth (Operophtera has eaten its fill. have set up small research plots where grouse, hares the part played by grazing in forest regeneration after brumata) has spread into areas where the autumnal and small rodents are shut out. The sampling areas damage inflicted by birch forest moths. moth used to be the only species of birch forest moth. The project, which is partly financed through the have been established with a long-term perspective, The two species have been taking turns tucking in, Fram Centre’s project “Effects of climate change on as natural forest regeneration is a slow process. The first the autumnal moth and then the winter moth. terrestrial ecosystems, landscapes, society and indige- research plots are there to stay for at least 10 years,” And the result is inevitable: stripped of leaves, the nous peoples”, is divided into several different studies. explains Jepsen. forest goes black. 46 Research notes fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Research notes 47
Jane Uhd Jepsen, Martin Biuw // Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Native herbivores as “ecosystem engineers” Rolf A. Ims // Institute of Arctic and Marine Ecology, University of Tromsø
The good news is that native herbivores, such as (in particular winter moth Operophtera brumata and reindeer, voles, lemmings and even certain insect autumnal moth Epirrita autumnata). It is likely that NCoE-Tundra pests, may act as “ecosystem engineers” in ways moth outbreaks will become more severe because of that could potentially counteract the climate-driven climate warming, potentially killing off the forest and encroachment process. For instance grazing by large shrub vegetation over large areas. Subsequent grazing herbivores such as reindeer and muskoxen can ef- by reindeer may then prevent or slow down the natu- fectively limit the spread of shrubs in tundra regions, ral regeneration of the forest. This is already evident and voles and lemmings can play the same role in the in Northern Finland where large tracts of reindeer A new Nordic Centre of Excellence with forest. One exciting implication of this is that it may grazing ground – formerly covered by birch forest – focus on climate-driven shrub and tree line be possible to design management interventions to remain treeless after a large moth outbreak in the mid help mitigate the local effects of climate change in 1960s. It has even been suggested that the combined expansion in tundra ecosystems tundra regions. effects of moth outbreaks and reindeer grazing may cause a complete regime shift, from forest to second- Grazing is not the only process that can control en- ary tundra. If so, this may have dramatic implications croaching vegetation. In Fennoscandia any limiting in terms of the forest/tundra balance and its controls effect of reindeer grazing on shrub and forest expan- on regional or even global climate. sion is likely to interact with the periodic disturbances provided by recurring outbreaks of geometrid moth
cientists have reason to believe that a What if climate change makes it impossible to main- S warming climate will permit trees and shrubs to tain traditional reindeer herding? Intriguingly, some migrate northward, invading the tundra. If so, that evidence suggests that grazing reindeer and other may have serious implications for the species that cur- native plant-eaters might counteract the northward rently inhabit these ecosystems – including humans. march of trees and shrubs.
Tundra ecosystems under pressure
There is currently much scientific and public interest can already see a trend towards increased productiv- in the fate of tundra ecosystems under climate warm- ity across the northern tundra biome, which can be at ing. The northern tundra biome covers about one fifth least partially attributed to more shrub cover. of the world’s land surface and plays a crucial role in regional and global climate regulation. It harbours These prospects are dramatic for the northern tundra, ecosystems with a large number of endemic species which could be facing a biodiversity crisis with ex- adapted to this very special environment. According tensive loss of habitat and species, including endemic to conventional projections in climate change sce- ones such as the arctic fox. The projected shifts in the narios, subarctic forests and shrublands are expected tundra–forest boundary would also alter the quality to expand into tundra areas. For instance a moder- and quantity of forage for caribou and reindeer, and ate 2°C increase in global mean temperature above would force changes in the use of seasonal grazing preindustrial levels is projected to cause a reduction grounds. This could threaten the foundation for tradi- in tundra areas by 42% globally and as much as 88.1% tional reindeer husbandry as it is practiced in north-
in Northern Fennoscandia and NW Russia. Indeed, we ern Fennoscandia today. Experimental exclosures to exclude large and small herbivores in a moth-damaged forest. JepsenPhoto: J.U. 48 Research notes fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Research notes 49
A joint Nordic research network To what extent are arctic-alpine food webs controlled by predation? (WP1) In 2011 the Nordic Council of Ministers/NordForsk In WP4 we collaborate with Finnish colleagues to launched three new Nordic Centres of Excellence document the effects of native herbivores on the natu- (NCoE) under the Top-level Research Initiative ral succession and soil processes in birch forest follow- program “Effect studies and adaptation to climate ing one of the most severe moth outbreaks on record, What are the effects of herbivores change”. FRAM Centre researchers from Tromsø Uni- which occurred during the last decade. In 2011, twelve on tundra vegetation? versity, the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research experimental exclosures designed to keep large (WP2) and Norut Northern Research Institute are involved in herbivores (primarily reindeer) away from the vegeta- one of these, the NCoE-Tundra: How to preserve the tion, were constructed in moth-damaged forest along tundra in a warming climate? NCoE-Tundra provides the fenced Norwegian–Finnish border. To separate an inter-disciplinary platform for a team of Nordic the effects of large and small herbivores, many small How does reindeer grazing affect researchers with expertise in arctic and northern eco cages were set up within the exclosures to keep out rare arctic-alpine plants? logy, socio-economics, climate and remote sensing. smaller herbivores such as hare, ptarmigan, voles and (WP3) lemmings. We make use of the fact that management The scope of NCoE-Tundra is to study how interac- practices differ in the two countries. On the Finnish tion between climate processes and herbivores (and side, reindeer grazing intensity is high year-round, to some extent their predators) modifies regional whereas it varies seasonally on the Norwegian side. Can reindeer grazing prevent or re vegetation patterns, and to integrate this perspective This allows us to examine the relationship between direct the natural succession of forest with reindeer husbandry and the Sámi culture that grazing, and succession and forest regeneration. vegetation after insect outbreaks? depends on it. Ultimately, the goal is to learn how the (WP4) impact of reindeer on vegetation can be optimally The natural succession of the forest vegetation will be Can wild and semi-domesticated applied to prevent shrub encroachment and forest followed closely and contrasted to nearby unfenced expansion into tundra ecosystems. To achieve this areas in order to determine if moth outbreaks and herbivores counteract a climate- goal, eight specific work packages (WPs) have been grazing can indeed cause a complete shift from forest What are the large scale impacts formed, each dealing with a particular topic. Fram to secondary tundra. The implications of such con- driven expansion of shrubs and of herbivory on vegetation? Centre researchers are making substantial contribu- trols on vegetation can be profound, not only in terms trees into the northern tundra? Remote sensing synthesis tions to WP4 (led by Rolf A. Ims, University of Tromsø, of ecosystem resilience and local subsistence, but also (WP5) with contributions from NINA) and WP5 (led by Bernt through regional and even global climate feedback. Johansen, Norut).
Socio-economy of reindeer herding systems: how have past and present herding practices affected tundra shrub cover? (WP6) NCoE-Tundra partners
— Turku University — Arctic Center — Umeå University — Finnish Meteorological Institute How do changes in tundra vegetation — Tromsø University — Norwegian Institute for Nature Research influence local and regional climate? — Finnmark University College — Oulu University (WP7) — Norut Northern Research Institute
Synthesis and recommendations (WP8) Schematic overview of the main research questions addressed by the the addressed by research questions main overview the Schematic of eight work packages (WPs) Fram Centre in NCoE-Tundra. researchers are involved in WPs 4 and 5. 50 Retrospective fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Retrospective 51
Gunnar Sætra // Institute of Marine Research Long-term cooperation with new challenges
Norwegian and Russian marine scientists have been cooperating for more than half a century. Climate change is now making them face new challenges.
uring the winter of 1957, a group of Sea. The Russians completed their first research mis- (from 1987), seal (from 1990), Greenland halibut or Climate change has brought about new challenges D Russian marine scientists visited their Norwe- sion outside the Norwegian coast as early as 1860. turbot (from 1992) and red king crab (from 1994). The for marine scientists. The ice edge is retreating ever gian colleagues in Bergen. There had been sporadic They then surveyed the large stock of Norwegian research missions have been designed in different farther northwards. Consequently, new areas are contacts between Norwegian and Russian marine sci- spring-spawning herring (NSSH herring) and the sea- ways. During some of them, Norwegian and Russian opening up and the marine scientists want to investi- entists both before and after the revolution in 1917, but sonal cod fishery in the Lofoten islands. (Soviet) research vessels have operated together, Rus- gate these. the meeting in Bergen came to be considered as the sian scientists have participated on board Norwegian start of the formal cooperation between Norwegian Also during the first years after 1957, the NSSH herring vessels and vice versa, or scientific data have been “This involves new requirements as regards the design and Russian (Soviet) marine scientists. and the North-East Atlantic cod played a key part exchanged. of the research missions and where they are to be in the Norwegian–Russian (Soviet) cooperation on conducted” marine science. Both countries had major financial From herring and cod… interests in the fisheries of these species, and both …to ecosystems and new challenges said the Heads of Research Ole Arve Misund (the Insti- species stayed temporarily off the coasts of both tute of Marine Research, Norway) and Yuri Lepesevich countries. A cross-border exchange of knowledge (Knipovich Polar Research Institute of Marine Fisher- At the end of the 1950s, there were signs of depletion therefore became important, even though Norway In 2001, the old research missions to survey individual ies and Oceanography, Russia) after the Norwegian– in the large fish stocks in the Norwegian Sea and the and the Soviet Union were on different sides of the fish stocks coalesced to comprise surveys of the entire Russian symposium on marine science and oceanog- Barents Sea, and the marine scientists started to look Iron Curtain. Gradually, the scientists started working ecosystem in the Barents Sea. Presently, research is raphy held in Longyearbyen in Svalbard, last autumn. into whether this could be connected with overfish- together more and more often, and 1956 saw the start being conducted on everything from microorganisms ing. The herring population had started to decline of the first 0-group surveys or fry surveys. On these on the seabed, phytoplankton and zooplankton, the after the peak year of 1956, and there were tendencies missions, the year’s fry population was measured for large fish stocks, seal, whale, ecotoxins and pollution, Important contributions to reductions in the cod fisheries after peak catches in most of the fish species that are harvested. Also the to birds in the sky. The research missions cover the the mid 1950s. shrimp population in the Barents Sea was measured entire Barents Sea and are conducted from late August during these missions. Later on, there have been more to early October. In addition, research missions sur- Around 1990, most of the fish stocks in the Norwegian Norwegian marine science got started around 1860, joint survey missions, in order to measure, among veying individual fish stocks are still conducted. Sea and the Barents Sea were in a critical condition. and at around the same time Czarist Russia started other things, the capelin population (starting in 1973), Norwegian and Russian marine scientists recom- n the steps n the same steps doing research on the great fish stocks in the Barents cod (from 1980), juvenile herring (from 1984), whale O It is 55 years since Norwegian and Russian marine scientists initiated a formal cooperation. A Russian delegation of marine scientists visited Bergen This in the picture winter of 1957. was taken when a group of Norwegian marine scientists returned the visit in the autumn of 1958. Photo: Archives of the Institute of Marine Research O Norwegian and Russian marine scientists meet in March every year for scientific discussions and planning of the coming survey “the missions. March meeting” 2011, In was arranged in Murmansk. Photo: Gunnar Sætra, Institute of Marine Research mended record low catch quotas, something which 52 Retrospective fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Retrospective 53
was followed up by the Norwegian–Russian Fisheries Nowadays, the scientific proximity between the Commission. The commission introduced strict regu- two parties is closer. At the same time, experiences lations; as a result, catch quotas could be raised again include Russian authorities refusing to let Norwegian in the mid-1990s. Already at the time, then Norwegian research vessels enter the Russian economic zone. Minister of Fisheries Jan Henry T. Olsen declared that the management of the fish stocks in the north is “the “We never experienced that during the cold war, when best in the world”. The Norwegian–Russian marine sci- the name of the country was the Soviet Union. It’s a ence collaboration has contributed important exper- paradox,” says Nakken. tise and has thus participated in creating the founda- tion for “the world’s best fisheries management”. Communicating person to person is important Different traditions
When the first joint research missions started in the Marine scientists who have participated in the Norwe- 1960s, the Norwegian and Soviet research vessels had gian–Russian scientific cooperation say that it was a to calibrate their sound measuring equipment in rela- meeting between two different traditions, but that it tion to each other. That meant that they had to visit
worked well all the same. each other’s ships, a fact which led to extensive per- World record Never before have cod been recorded as far north in the Barents Sea as in 2011. Graph: Institute of Marine Research sonal communication between scientists from Norway “In the beginning, we were more concerned with and the Soviet Union. measuring the sizes of fish stocks than our Russian colleagues. They spent more time studying stomach “It was nice meeting Russian colleagues. We got the contents to find out what the fish ate and thereby see chance to talk shop as well as discussing more every connections between the different species. Simply put, day matters. I can’t remember that we ever talked they were concerned with what we today call ecologi- about politics,” says Nakken. cal connections, while we counted fish,” says one of the most prominent veterans of Norwegian marine He thinks that the person to person communication science, Odd Nakken. researchers got while visiting each other’s ships and Landings in the Barents/Norwegian Seas 1950–present through the regular scientific meetings has been im- portant to the development of the Norwegian–Russian scientific cooperation.
4500 NSS Herring Catfish Prawn 4000 Greenland halibut Polar cod 3500 Redfish (S. Mentella) NEA Saithe 3000 NEA Haddock BS Capelin 2500 NEA Cod
2000 NSS herring 1500 capelin
1000 Norwegian–Russian marine science collabo- Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanogra- ration occurs first and foremost between the phy (VNIRO) in Moscow also participates in the 500 NEA cod Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Norway, cooperation. In addition, the marine scientists 0 and the Knipovich Polar Research Institute of make use of knowledge contributed by vari- 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Marine Fisheries and Oceanography (PINRO) ous other universities and institutes in both atches
in Murmansk in Russia. The Russian Federal countries. C The development in catches of different fish species from the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea. The collapse in 1990 imposed new requirements on fisheries management. Graph: Institute of Marine Research, December 2011 Climate, fishing and the Barents Sea Ecosystem 54 In brief fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 In brief 55
Nina Buvang Vaaja // Head, Arctic Council Secretariat The Arctic Council ARCTIC COUNCIL Secretariat at the Fram Centre
t the last Ministerial Meeting in Nuuk, When the new building of the Fram Center is completed Facts A Greenland on 12 May 2011, the Foreign Minis- in 2014, the Arctic Council Secretariat will move into its ters of the eight Arctic states decided to establish a new, permanent premises. The Secretariat will be a truly In 1996 the Ottawa Declaration established the Members: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, permanent Arctic Council Secretariat in Tromsø. The international tenant in the Fram Center: it will recruit its Arctic Council as an intergovernmental forum pro- Norway, Russia, Sweden and USA
permanent secretariat is to be operational from May employees from the eight Arctic states and have English Photos: Ulrik Bang moting cooperation, coordination and interaction 2013, when Canada takes over the Chair from Sweden. as its working language. Through a “Host country agree- among the Arctic States, with the involvement of The Arctic indigenous communities are also ment” with Norway, the Secretariat will be established the Arctic Indigenous communities and other Arc- represented in the Arctic Council by the cat- A temporary secretariat has been located in the as an international unit with diplomatic immunity. tic inhabitants on topics of mutual concern, par- egory “Permanent Participants”. There are six Fram Centre since 2007, and this will continue to be ticularly issues of sustainable development and Permanent Participants: the Aleut International in function until the permanent secretariat is ready The work of the Arctic Council is producing tangible environmental protection in the Arctic. The Foreign Association, the Arctic Athabascan Council, the to take over. In 2012, the temporary Secretariat has results. Pollution was the main focus during the first Ministers of the Council meet every second year. Saami Council, the Inuit Circumpolar Council, four employees, and one intern. The Secretariat is an decade of Arctic cooperation. It is still a key issue. We The most recent meeting was 12 May 2011 in Nuuk. Gwitch’in Council and the Russian Association administrative service unit, assisting the Chair of the saw unacceptable levels of environmentally hazardous The next Ministerial Meeting will take place 15 May for indigenous peoples (RAIPON). Arctic Council with planning and arranging meetings, substances and heavy metals in the Arctic in spite of the 2013 in Kiruna, Sweden. with administration and with information/outreach, distance from industrialised areas. In our second decade primarily via the web site www.arctic-council.org. of Arctic cooperation, we turned to climate change. We The web site is available in both English and Russian. became aware that we have front row seats for observing climate change. The comprehensive reports of climate To prepare for the opening of the permanent secre- change in the Arctic have been of major importance in Working Groups tariat in 2013 the Arctic Council has established a task highlighting the speed at which climate change is taking force to negotiate the necessary agreement and the place and its implications. There are six working groups in the Arctic Council: administrative framework. The task force has pro- posed that the recruitment process to identify the new In the third decade of Arctic cooperation, we are turning — Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP) Director and the rest of the team who will be work- our attention to adaptation, while continuing to deal — Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) ing at the Secretariat from May 2013, should start in with pollution and climate change. In May 2011, the — Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) 2012. The Secretariat will employ up to ten people. Its member states signed the first legally binding agreement — Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR) functions will be the same as before, but with addi- negotiated under the auspices of the Arctic Council. The — Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) tional focus on continuity, coordination, institutional agreement establishes a binding framework for search — Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG) memory (archive and other administrative tasks) and and rescue cooperation between the member States of outreach. the Arctic Council. 56 In brief / Outreach fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 In brief / Outreach 57
Gunn Sissel Jaklin, Janne Schreuder // Nansen–Amundsen Year 2011 Secretariat, learned from people adapted to the harsh conditions Norwegian Polar Institute of the Far North. The knowledge that Amundsen and Nansen gained from Northern people about clothing, kayaks, dog sleds, sailing in ice, and other things was crucial the success of their expeditions in the Arctic Nansen–Amundsen and Antarctic.
The year saw the publication of several new books Year 2011 that shed light on the complex characters of Nansen and Amundsen, including a biography of Nansen by NPI historian H.D. Jølle. The Fram museum published Nansen’s diaries and those of the members of the Fram expedition to the North and the expedition to
HRH Crown Prince Haakon Magnus converses with Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg via video link between Tromsø and the South Pole during the festivities December on 14 2011. / LarsPhoto: Nansen-Amundsen Åke Andersen 2011 Year the South Pole. Historian Robert M. Friedman wrote a play – first shown at Hålogaland Theatre in Tromsø, which also contributed to a more nuanced under- he year 2011 combined two jubilees of great proaching the themes in many creative ways. Many standing of the two polar heroes. T significance for Norway: the polar explorer, great children also tracked the progress of the NPI South scientist, humanitarian and Nobel laureate Fridtjof Pole Expedition by reading their fact-filled blog. Nansen was born 150 years ago, and polar explorer Aim and structure and air pioneer Roald Amundsen and his men con- quered the South Pole 100 years ago. Not known as Events hero-worshippers, Norwegians nevertheless regard The aim of the Nansen–Amundsen Year 2011 was to these two men as true national heroes. spread knowledge about and create interest in Nans- During the year, more than 300 events took place in en’s and Amundsen’s lives and achievements, and to Norway and abroad. Films were shown, books pub- focus on their roles in building the Norwegian nation Tromsø and the South Pole lished, and theatre performances, concerts, debates and as polar heroes. Their contributions to science and talks were held. The people of Norway showed and the arts were highlighted, in addition to Nansen’s great interest in the Nansen–Amundsen year 2011. achievements as a diplomat, politician and humanitar- In Norway, the year 2011 was devoted to commemorat- ian of global stature. ing Nansen and Amundsen and their achievements. Norwegian embassies abroad also arranged seminars Tromsø was the venue for the opening and the final and exhibitions. In Oslo, HM King Harald, along with To organise the jubilee year, the Government appoint-
event of the year: Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre Prime Minister Stoltenberg and UN Secretary General HRH Crown Prince Haakon Magnus listens with interest as a Tromsø schoolgirl shares what she and her classmates learned during the Nansen-Amundsen 2011. Year / LarsPhoto: Nansen-Amundsen Åke Andersen 2011 Year ed a steering group led by the Ministry of Justice, with undertook the official opening on 23 January, and Ban Ki-moon addressed a great crowd of people at members from the Office of the Prime Minister, the HRH Crown Prince Haakon Magnus took part in the University Square on Nansen’s birthday on 10 Octo- ministries of Foreign Affairs, the Environment, Trade celebrations of the South Pole conquest on 14 Decem- ber. The National Library, the Nobel Peace Centre and and Industry, and Education and Research, and from ber. Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg participated from the Fram Museum showed new exhibitions, and King the National Library, the Nobel Peace Centre and the the South Pole, as he addressed the Crown Prince Harald unveiled a statue of the South Pole party. NPI. The initiative to celebrate the year came from the and the crowd of spectators at Tromsø's main square NPI, which also hosted the Secretariat. via live satellite transmission. Jan-Gunnar Winther, director of the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI), was Important men – new knowledge also present at the South Pole. He reported from his For more information, see www.nansenamundsen.no. crossing of the Antarctic ice, retracing Amundsen’s route accompanied by NPI historian H.D. Jølle, Olym- Can anything new be learned from or about Nansen pic skier V. Ulvang and explorer/writer S.P. Aasheim. and Amundsen? The answer is a resounding Yes! About ten Norwegian expeditions to the South Pole One example is the exhibition “Snowhow: What the commemorated Amundsen's achievement in 2011. polar heroes learned from the Inuit, the Saami and the Arctic seafarers” at the dry dock of the sealing In Tromsø, primary schoolchildren learned about vessel M/S Polstjerna in Tromsø. It reveals to modern
Nansen and Amundsen throughout the year, ap- exhibition-goers just how much Norway’s polar icons Ann Kristin Balto of the Norwegian Polar Institute presents an outdoor exhibition. / Photo: Nansen-Amundsen 2011 Year Andersen Åke Lars 58 In brief fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 In brief 59
Janet Holmén // Editor, FRAM Forum This important new research infrastructure has been on the Mapping Authority’s wish list for quite a long time. According to Per Erik Opseth, director of the geodetic division, upgrading the facilities has had top New geodetic observatory priority. “The fact that the government has decided to finance a new observatory will help secure our position inter- in Ny-Ålesund nationally, and will increase our competence and significance in both earth observation and climate monitoring,” he says. “This is a red-letter day for us.”
Other institutions and organisations are also pleased by the news.
“[This decision] is very important for Ny-Ålesund,” says Knut M. Ore, Chairman of the Board of Kings Bay AS, which runs the international research village of Ny-Ålesund. “For the research community in Ny-Ålesund and for research in general,” says Ore.
Alongside the Norwegian Polar Institute, the Alfred ust before Christmas the Norwegian Ministry a stable reference point. For example, if sea level rises Wegener Institute (Germany) and Institut Paul Emile J of the Environment announced their decision to at the same rate as an adjacent landmass bounces Victor (France), the Norwegian Mapping Authority is allocate funding for construction of a new geodetic back after the last ice age, there will be no apparent one of the largest research institutes with permanent observatory in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. The news was change in the coastline. But the change exists. By bases in Ny-Ålesund. Kim Holmén, international direc- greeted with jubilation at the Norwegian Mapping measuring the position of land and sea in relation to tor at the Norwegian Polar Institute, has long empha- Authority. the universe, rather than to each other, it is possible sised the importance of the Svalbard antenna for the to detect changes that cannot be seen. global network of geodetic observatories. “This is the best Christmas present we could possibly get,” said General Director Anne Cathrine Frøstrup. But the current observatory already does all that. Why The fact that the observatory and other research ac- “High-precision measurements are the foundation of build a new one? tivities are co-localised in Ny-Ålesund gives opportuni- everything the Mapping Authority does.” ties for interdisciplinary cross-pollination. “Having all As explained in the press release from the Ministry of this research in one place gives a powerful combi- The observatory measures movement in the earth’s of the Environment, some of the existing equipment nation of knowledge that is unique in the Arctic,” says crust, its rotation, and its exact position in the uni- is outmoded and must be replaced; the demand for Holmén. He feels that the Mapping Authority can play verse. The antenna in Ny-Ålesund is part of a global precision has now outstripped the capabilities of the an important part in Ny-Ålesund’s future and broaden network of geodetic observatories that play a crucial old antenna. the village’s potential. “I congratulate the Mapping role in satellite-based communication. Without high- Authority and look forward to continued fruitful col- precision data on where the satellites are in relation to “New technology and a combination of more measure- laboration,” he says. the earth and each other, GPS systems would not work ment techniques will provide greater accuracy in these and many of us would – literally – be lost. data, which are part of a world-wide observation and It will take five years from groundbreaking until the research network,” says State Secretary Heidi Sørensen new antenna is ready to use. Once everything is in And that’s not all: the geodetic observatory pro- at the Ministry of the Environment. place, the old and new equipment must be run in paral- vides information that allows scientists to monitor “I’m glad the government has now decided to build a lel for three years to ensure that all data series are com- the earth’s climate with great precision. Monitoring new geodetic observatory in Ny-Ålesund.” plete. Only then will the old antenna be dismantled. changes in climate, sea level, and glaciation requires 60 In brief fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 In brief 61 The old antenna stands right beside the airstrip in Ny-Ålesund. Photo: Kim Holmén, Norwegian Polar Institute 62 In brief fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 In brief 63
Helge M. Markusson // Outreach coordinator, Fram Centre “Before the completion of the construction work on the island, there had been no reports of black-legged kit- tiwakes nesting here, only that they used the island as a place to rest. This is a different matter entirely, and the island now appears to be the number one desirable The last place you’d address for black-legged kittiwakes,” says Systad with a smile.
expect a black-legged The smiles on the faces of the plant’s operators, Stat oil, weren’t quite as wide when they discovered the size of the colony. Twenty-five hundred pairs make an kittiwake to want to live! infernal racket; they don’t have to chip in and cover the cost of waste collection or clean-up either. And they have only one thing on their minds: breeding. All the same, the story may have a happy ending.
“True, Statoil could legally have demolished the entire A man-made precipice in one of Norway’s largest ‘neighbourhood’. Luckily, Statoil has strict in-house industrial plants has become the number one most guidelines on biological diversity and the company’s environmental department found solutions that ac- desirable place of residence for the area’s black-leg- commodate all parties. They are paving the way for ged kittiwakes. Totally unexpected to both scientists future coexistence, for instance by relocating work- men’s huts, and they will do what they can to avoid and the plant’s owners, the Statoil company. disturbing the birds during the vulnerable nesting season,” explains Systad.
Why do the black-legged kittiwakes want to live right in the middle of an industrial zone? SEAPOP “They’re pretty much like us humans when it comes to es, you can safely say that this came as a surprise “At Hjelmsøya island in Finnmark county, for instance, SEAPOP (short for “seabird populations”) behaviour patterns. The rock face is ‘tailor-made’ for
“Y to us!” says Geir Helge Systad, seabird ecologist at we have recorded a population decline of almost 90% Black-legged kittiwakes in an unexpectedly industrial setting. Photo: Geir Helge Systad, NINA was started in 2005 and is a comprehen- kittiwake housing – nests – and the birds have few other NINA, the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. since monitoring started in 1984. All over the North sive, long-term programme to monitor and natural enemies here. For example, we don’t see many Atlantic, we observe reduced numbers of this species. survey Norwegian seabirds. white-tailed sea eagles at Melkøya. We know that the Systad works at NINA’s local department at the Fram We believe one of the main reasons is food shortage,” The participating institutions are all Fram black-legged kittiwake conducts thorough reconnais- Centre, where one of his tasks is to keep track of the says Systad. Centre members: the Norwegian Polar sance before it settles down and builds a nest. The sight black-legged kittiwake population along the Norwe- Institute, the University of Tromsø and of other kittiwakes nesting contentedly signals that this gian coast. This is one of the projects in the SEAPOP But there is no such decline at Melkøya, just outside NINA, the Norwegian Institute for Nature is a suitable place to breed.” programme (see fact box). The black-legged kittiwake the city of Hammerfest in Finnmark county. By the Research. The NINA division in Trondheim “Rather like us when we’re house-hunting?” is a medium-sized seagull which is most easily recog- time the construction work for the giant gas plant was is also involved in the programme. “Yes, you could put it that way,” says NINA-fellow Geir nised by its black wing tips and a more tern-like flight completed, the island’s topography had undergone SEAPOP aims to survey the distribution of Helge Systad. than other gulls. This is the world’s most numerous major changes: the excavation work to lay the founda- breeding, moulting and resting seabirds, seagull species, but scientists have recorded a decline tion for the industrial plant left a sheer rock wall with as well as seabirds that spend the winter in the number of black-legged kittiwakes in recent surfaces ideally suited as nesting places for black- in the north, in terms of numbers, time years. The population decline is so severe that the spe- legged kittiwakes. And the kittiwakes moved in. The and space along the coast of Norway and cies is now on the Norwegian red list, an assessment man-made cliff face now houses around 2500 breed- Svalbard within a ten-year cycle (which of the risk of extinction. Species that suffer popula- ing pairs of black-legged kittiwakes! corresponds to the expected validity of tion decline and that risk becoming extinct in parts of such data). The programme also aims to Norway are designated “endangered species” and end identify the reasons for changes that oc-
up on the red list. A black-legged kittiwake and two chicks on the cliff face overlooking the gas plant at Melkøya. Photo: Geir Helge Systad, NINA cur during the same period of time. 64 outreach fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Outreach 65
Gunnar Sætra // Institute of Marine Research Helge M. Markusson // Outreach coordinator, Fram Centre
Educational about Presenting Fram research ocean acidification to Dutch students
A mixture of facts and drama is being used to communicate How do seals and reindeer survive in arctic areas? how sea water is getting more acid and what consequences To explain this to Dutch students, we carved up the that may have for life in the ocean. heads of a reindeer, a seal and a pig.
“This was awesome! I learned a lot!” exclaims Mari Scientist Maria Fossheim at the Institute of Marine orty-seven students from Arenthem College And in order to explain how things work, the labora- Guttormsen. Research heads the Fram Centre’s ocean acidification F in the Dutch city of Arnhem visited Tromsø in tory was moved into the Polaria building. Lecturers “So did I. It was really interesting!” agrees Vilde Gjærum. flagship. She says that research on the effects of ocean May 2011. Among the activities offered to the stu- cut open the heads of a reindeer, a seal and a pig to acidification is still at the starting line, but they are dents was an educational event organised by the Fram show the difference in how animals survive in salt The two students at Nordkjosbotn upper secondary giving communication high priority. Centre, in cooperation with the Department of Arctic water and in arctic areas, versus non-arctic areas. The school clearly enjoyed the performance about ocean Biology at the University of Tromsø and Polaria Arctic visit also gave the Dutch students an opportunity to acidification that they attended at the Fram Centre “We want research and research communication to Experience Centre. A key partner in the scheme was watch the seals being fed at Polaria, see films about in September 2011. This educational happening was walk hand in hand. We are therefore going to inform Troms senior high school, who mediated the contact. Svalbard, and attend other lectures, some of them at created at the initiative of the Fram Centre Flagship the general public about our research while it is still in The cooperation meant that the Dutch students got a the University of Tromsø. Ocean acidification in northern waters. its early days. Students at the upper secondary level tailor-made teaching plan where they learned more are one of many important groups that we target,” about arctic conditions, as well as how and why re- Through a mixture of factual information and drama- says Fossheim. search is being done on arctic issues. turgic techniques, Kriss Rokkan Iversen and Kjersti Eline Tønnesen Busch showed the students how sea The performance was created by Kriss Rokkan Iversen water is becoming more acidic and what consequenc- and Kjersti Eline Tønnesen Busch at the research, es that may have for life in the ocean. The students communication and consultancy company Salt. Both learned about the chemical reactions that occur when have doctorates in marine biology and they are enthu-
the ocean absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere; they got siastic about the assignment from the ocean acidifica- an introduction to how various species with shells tion flagship and the Fram Centre. containing calcium carbonate are built up and what might happen to them as the ocean gets more acidic. “This is really exciting! This way of communicating Afterwards, the students summed it up as having been about research is entirely new. Imagine getting the both exciting and educational. chance to tell people about research problems scien- tists are working on while the research is actually being “The performance lasted all of one and a half hours done!” exclaims Rokkan Iversen. and it held the students’ attention straight through. That’s well done!” says biology teacher Anne Siig Meen
at Nordkjosbotn School. Samuel Geiseler (M.Sc.) from the University of Tromsø shows Dutch youths how animals function in the Arctic. Photo: Helge M. Markusson, Fram Centre 66 in brief fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 Onwards and upwards 67
Helge M. Markusson // Outreach Coordinator, The Fram Centre Onwards and upwards
e used to hear it a little too often, this tale Coastal Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Re- W about successful relocation of public sector search and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: jobs from Oslo to “the provinces”. But now Tromsø has become the capital of Norwegian research on the — Hazardous substances – Effects on ecosystems High North – and people outside Norway’s borders are and human health Attention taking notice. — Effects of climate change on the sea and coastal Things happened fast in 2009. The government de- ecology in the north cided to go in for expanding the Polar Environmental — Effects of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems, The Fram Centre has received massive support and alone. Several new commercial enterprises founded Centre. The intention was to establish a climate- and landscapes, society and indigenous peoples drawn attention throughout 2011, the first year of its on research have been established through hard work, environment-oriented research centre with clout in — Ocean acidification and its impact on ecosystems existence. a drive for innovation, and intuition, and several old Tromsø. Impetus came from the Ministry of the En- in northern seas In 2011, allocations totalling 52.5 million Norwegian enterprises have expanded. vironment, who saw a need for coordinated research — Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean, technology and crowns were channelled from the four ministries to Kongsberg Satellite Services, with main offices in on climate and the environment. The inducement was agreements the Fram Centre and its five research flagships, and Tromsø, has built up a position as world leader in its promises of fresh research funds, one of the results of the same amount of funding is expected in 2012. In field. the government’s white paper “New Building Blocks in These five important fields have one thing in common: addition, there are the allocations and revenues that Bioprospecting, i.e., searching through the natural the North”, part 2 of its High North strategy. they concern our future. the 20 member institutions receive. This adds up to world in the hope of finding new chemical entities Over the ensuing 13 months, 19 research institutions a sum that by no means insignificant. that might be of use to humankind, is a field under came together to establish FRAM – the High North The support from top politicians has been massive. constant development, and Tromsø is on top of the Research Centre for Climate and the Environment, or Expectations Neither the Prime Minister nor the Minister of Foreign situation. the Fram Centre for short. The scientists sat down and Affairs has held a single speech on the High North dur- The decision to establish a permanent secretariat for agreed, across disciplinary and institutional bounda- ing the past year without mentioning the importance the Arctic Council in Tromsø will give the city a voice ries, on joint research efforts. On 29 September 2010, This could have become yet another story about of the Fram Centre. with international influence. Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg officially decentralisation, or moving jobs out of Oslo. But in Two other countries, Canada and Iceland, both mem- The fourth floor of the main Fram Centre building opened the centre, and six days later the state budget contrast to many earlier decentralisation measures, bers of the Arctic Council, are now looking to Tromsø is currently being rebuilt to accommodate Barents confirmed that new funding was indeed being allo- the focus here is not on the number of jobs, but on the for ways to develop research on the High North. As Watch, a comprehensive surveillance and information cated to research on the High North in 2011. research itself. a concrete result of this interest, there are plans to system for the northern maritime zones. The work the scientists are doing within the Fram present the Fram Centre to members of parliament A considerable enlargement of the same building is Centre framework is going to be put to practical use; it and universities in Ottawa in the spring, with a view also being planned, to ensure the best possible out- The Fram Centre Flagships is intended to benefit ordinary people – you and me – to using the Fram Centre as a role model. come of the Fram Centre’s ongoing expansion. to benefit the politicians we have elected and the civil The new facilities are to be completed in the second servants we have employed to manage the resources half of 2014. In addition to research done at the various member in the part of the world we call home. Adaptation institutions, the Fram Centre framework includes Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre em- five research programmes, our Flagships. Flagship phasised in a newspaper interview in Tromsø on 10 research is financed mainly by the Ministry of the December 2011 that the expectations were high: “The Nothing happens without wheels being set in motion, Environment, along with the Ministry of Fishing and Fram Centre is going to be the best, and the results and it would be presumptuous to claim that the Fram
they present are going to be impossible to ignore.” The Fram Centre glows under the Northern Lights. Photo: Knut Jenssen, Fram Centre Centre has attained its position through its own efforts 68 FRAM CENTRE FLAGSHIPS fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 FRAM CENTRE FLAGSHIPS 69
eader eader ect l ect l j j ro ro il p il p -ma -ma [email protected] [email protected] E E [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected], guttorm.christensen @akvaplan.niva.no [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] ip ip agsh agsh l l Fjord and Coast Fjord and Coast F F Fjord and Coast Fjord and Coast Fjord and Coast Fjord and Coast Fjord and Coast Fjord and Coast Fjord and Coast Fjord and Coast Fjord and Coast Fjord and Coast Fjord and Coast Fjord and Coast Fjord and Coast Fjord and Coast Fjord and Coast Fjord and Coast Fjord and Coast
ng ng i i i ons i ons ip at ip at c c tut tut i i i i nst nst HI, UiT, Bjerknes UiT, HI, Centre NGU, HI Part Part HI, UiT ApN/NIVA, HI i i NINA,HI, UNIS, APN, UiT, HiFi VI, ApN, NINA, HI, NP ApN, UNIS, NIVA NINA, NIKU UiTNINA, HI, NP, HI, HiFi,HI, NIVA NINA, HI, NP NINA, NP, HI, UiTNINA, NP, HI, UiT NP, UiT, HI UiT, NP, ApN, UNIS, UiT UNIS, UiTUNIS, NIKU, UiT, NORUT UiT, NIKU, NORUT, UiT, NIKU ApN, NIKU oast)
eader eader ect l ect l j j Pro Pro Jofrid Skardhamar Oddvar LongvaOddvar Ole P. PedersenOle P. Jørgensen M. Nina Lis Lindal Jørgensen Lindal Lis Kari Ellingsen Sabine Cochrane Kari Norheim Kari Guttorm Christensen Renaud Paul Martin Svenning Sveinn Are Hansen Lis Lindal Jørgensen Lindal Lis Hartvig Christie Kjell Einar Erikstad Børge Moe Sundet Jan Øystein Varpe CarrollMichael Tove Gabrielsen Tove Elin Myrvoll Einar Eythorsson Arild Buanes Arild Buanes Einar Eythorsson Myrvoll Marit Paul Renaud Paul Elin Myrvoll
------or - K) orway orway E es es l l t t entre Flagships for 2011 for Flagships entre i i orth N orth N ect t ect t ect j j valbard and N valbard ffects of climate change on sea and coastal coastal and sea on change ffects climate of apping nature-types in N odeling trophic interactions and eco and interactions trophic odeling istorical and current use of marine liv rift of fish larvae and its effect on N ocumentation and use of local/tra rctic fjord systemsrctic fjord eabird habitat use habitat eabird limate variability and change in oceano in change and variability limate limate impacts on drift patterns of eggs limate impact on anadromous salmo anadromous on impact limate limate induced effects on sea urchin ffects of jellyfish on benthic communi tlantic salmon: Biological and genetic hanging conditions for valuation and and valuation for conditions hanging rophic impacts of the red king crab graphic conditions in fjords and coastal and fjords in conditions graphic waters Projects in the the in Projects C Fram E C and north (Fjord the ecology in Physical-biological coupling: R esearch areas/Pro C Arctic in change and function Structure, R esearch areas/Pro environment Physical Oceanography and habitat use by predators and their prey their and predators by use habitat and Oceanography ecosystems fjord boreal and of ecosystem dimensions Human response to change climate and S C and larvae of red king crab and coastal cod M C nids biodiversity ecosystemBenthic and function in S E ties A knowledge and resource use among local people Impacts of eiders predation on benthic communities in a range of climatic zones D C grazing on kelp wegian seabird populations seabird wegian S T M dynamicssystem mussels and C limate Lower trophic levels and carbon-fluxes in in carbon-fluxes and levels trophic Lower A on ecological change, climate change, resource use and cultural environments in fjord and coastal areas D ditional ecological knowledge (L C use of coastal areas and resources H ing resources – ecosystem structure 70 Arctic ocean – technology and system of agreements
(Sea Ice in the Arctic Ocean) FRAM CENTRE
Research areas/Project titles Project leader Participating Flagship E-mail project leader institutions FL
Characterization of Arctic sea ice proper- Torbjørn Eltoft UiT, Norut, NP Sea Ice in the [email protected] AGSH ties from remote sensing observations Arctic Ocean IP Long-term variability and trends in the Vigdis Tverberg HI, NP, UNIS, UiT interna- Sea Ice in the [email protected] S Atlantic Water inflow region Vladimir Pavlov tional partners Arctic Ocean [email protected]
Modelling of sea ice circulation, ice cover Ole-Anders Nøst NP, HI, ApN, NILU, SINTEF, Sea Ice in the [email protected] 2012 forum fram and ecosystem UNIS Arctic Ocean
Pre-project biology in the Arctic ocean Harald Steen NP, HI, NINA, UiT, ApN, UNIS Sea Ice in the [email protected] Arctic Ocean
Industrial exploitation and use of the Mette Midtgard NORUT, Nofima, TØI Sea Ice in the [email protected] Arctic marine area Arctic Ocean
Arctic futures Peter Arbo UiT, Norut, Nofima, NP Sea Ice in the [email protected] Arctic Ocean
Regulating Arctic shipping Tore Henriksen UiT, ApN, FNI, MarinTek Sea Ice in the [email protected] Arctic Ocean
Logstics and maritime operations: mod- Jørn Eldby SINTEF, ApN, NTNU, DnV Sea Ice in the [email protected] elling and simulations Arctic Ocean
Oil in ice Lionel Camus ApN, HI, NILU, NINA, NIVA, Sea Ice in the [email protected] Norut, NP, NRPA, SINTEF, Arctic Ocean UiT, international partners
Pre-project shipping Jørn Eldby SINTEF, Kystverket, Norut, Sea Ice in the [email protected] UiT, ApN, Ocean Futures, Arctic Ocean MarinTek
Ocean acidification and ecosystem effects in northern waters (Ocean acidification)
Processes related to the Arctic and the sea ice
Research areas/Project titles Project leader Participating Flagship E-mail project leader institutions
The role of Arctic sea ice as a carbon Mats Granskog NP, HI, international part- Ocean [email protected] pump observed in Fram Strait / Charac- ners acidification terization of CO2 fluxes from sea ice Elaboration of a ferry-box based system Kai Sørensen NIVA, international partners Ocean [email protected] for the ocean acidification parameters acidification measurements
The studying of the present OA state of Kai Sørensen NIVA, UNIS Ocean [email protected] the Norwegian waters acidification
Effect of ocean acidification on species and ecosystems
Influence of ocean acidification and tem- Helge Tveiten Nofima, ApN, NRPA Ocean [email protected] perature on sperm motility, fertilization acidification fram forum 2012 forum fram and embryonic development in Atlantic
Ocean acidification effects on key com- Haakon Hop NP Ocean [email protected] ponents of the ice-associated ecosystem acidification in the Arctic
Effects of OA on the reproduction of the Johanna Järnegren NINA Ocean [email protected] reef building cold water coral Lophelia acidification pertusa
Synergic effects of ocean acidification, Clara Manno UiT, Brest University Ocean [email protected] FRAM increasing temperature and decreasing acidification salinity on Arctic calcifying organisms: CENTRE mesoplankton vs. holoplankton
Arctic Tipping Points: Impacts of acidi- Paul Renaud ApN, NP Ocean [email protected] FL fication and increased temperature on acidification AGSH early life-stages of benthic organisms IP S Social sciences
The economics of ocean acidification Claire Armstrong UiT, NIVA Ocean [email protected] acidification 71 72 Effects of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems, landscapes, society and
indigenous peoples (Terrestrial) FRAM CENTRE Vegetation state change and herbivore management FL
Research areas/Project titles Project leader Participating Flagship E-mail project leader AGSH institutions IP
Moth-reindeer-birch dynamics in north- Jane U. Jepsen NINA, UiT Terrestrial [email protected] S ernmost Fennoscandia Rolf A. Ims [email protected]
Large scale impacts of herbivory on Bernt Johansen Norut Terrestrial [email protected] fram forum 2012 forum fram vegetation Eirik Malnes [email protected]
TUNDRAscape: Analyzing the effect of Per Fauchald NINA, NIKU, UiT Terrestrial [email protected] climate and human uses on tundra eco- systems by remote sensing
Ecosystem effects of extreme climate events and season
Svalbard terrestrial ecosystem – climate Eva Fuglei NP, NINA, UNIS Terrestrial [email protected] impacts and trophic interactions
Arctic winter processes and global Jarle W. Bjerke NINA, NORUT, several inter- Terrestrial [email protected] change impacts national institutions
Climate variations and contaminants Guttorm N. Christensen ApN, NINA, NIVA, UiT, Bio- Terrestrial guttorm.christensen in the Pasvik border area – effects on forsk @akvaplan.niva.no limnic ecosystems.
Climate-dependent infectious agents Morten Tryland NVH, VI, UiT Terrestrial [email protected] and diseases in reindeer (wildlife dis- eases)
Capacity for adaptation in indigenous people and local societies
Research areas/Project titles Project leader Participating Flagship E-mail project leader institutions
Local land-use change in a changing Astrid Ogilvie CICERO Terrestrial [email protected] climate: farming practices, nature-based tourism, and outdoor recreation (LUCC)
Climate & reindeer Marius Warg Næss CICERO, NINA, Terrestrial [email protected] University College of London
Adaptive management of ecosystem services
GOOSEHUNT Ingunn Tombre NINA, NIKU, Norut, Aarhus Terrestrial [email protected] (Reducing damage to agriculture by University migratory geese by means of population control; investigating the use of adap- tive organisation and co-management of hunting)
MIGRAPOP Ingunn Tombre NINA, NIKU, Bioforsk, Terrestrial [email protected] (Adaptive management of migratory national and international populations; developing novel tools at partners 2012 forum fram the interface between ecology, economy, agriculture and society) FRAM CENTRE FL AGSH IP S 73 74 Hazardous substances – effects on ecosystems and human health (Hazardous substances)
Human health and society FRAM CENTRE
Research areas/Project titles Project leader Participating Flagship E-mail project leader institutions FL
Total exposure of newborns and selection Jon Ø. Odland UiT, NILU Hazardous [email protected] AGSH bias in MISA substances IP S Follow up of children Jon Ø. Odland UiT, NILU Hazardous [email protected] substances
PFAS and diabetes 2 in the NOWAC study Torkjel Sandanger NILU, UiT Hazardous [email protected] 2012 forum fram substances
SAMINOR2 Magritt Brustad UiT, NILU, SSHF Hazardous [email protected] substances
Analysis of the impact on humans and Natalia Kukarenko UiT, NILU Hazardous [email protected] society substances
Exposure of the newborn and changes Jon Ø. Odland UiT, NILU Hazardous [email protected] during pregnancy substances
Sør-Varanger and Arkhangelsk – an inte- Torkjel Sandanger UiT, NRPA, NGU, ApN, Norut, Hazardous [email protected] grated case study NILU, NVH, SSH, Unilab substances
Exposure scenarios for the Northern Nor- Torkjel Sandanger UiT, NILU, ApN, Norut, NRPA, Hazardous [email protected] wegian population NVH/VI substances
Animal health and ecosystem
COPOL II Geir Wing Gabrielsen ApN, NIVA, NILU, NRPA, NP Hazardous [email protected] Anita Evenset substances [email protected]
Temporal trend analysis – COPOL WP2 Jan O. Bustnes NINA, NILU, ApN Hazardous [email protected] substances
Raptor Jan O. Bustnes NINA, NILU, international Hazardous [email protected] partners substances
SKUA Jan O. Bustnes NINA, NP, international Hazardous [email protected] partners substances
Workshop on the topic Multistressor Geir Rudolfsen All participants in the Fram Hazardous [email protected] Jan O. Bustnes Centre substances [email protected]
Contaminant effects on polar bear ener- Heli Routti NP, UiT, NILU, UiB Hazardous [email protected] getics substances
Mouse model to study immunosuppres- Jacques Godfroid NVH, NP, HI, Univ. Belgium Hazardous [email protected] sion after exposure to pollutants substances
Modelling – transport, fate and bioaccu- Eldbjørg Heimstad NILU, ApN, NIVA, NRPA, NGU Hazardous [email protected] mulation of contaminants substances
“Oil in ice”
Pollution from petroleum activities and Anita Evenset ApN, NIVA, NILU, Norut Hazardous [email protected] shipping in the north – effects on arctic substances ecosystems and human health
Abbreviations ApN: Akvaplan-NIVA Inc.; Bioforsk: Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research; CICERO: Center for International Climate and Environmental Research – Oslo; DnV: Norwegian Veritas; FNI: Fridtjof Nansen Institue HI: Institute of Marine Research; HiFi: Finnmark University College; Kystverket: Norwegian Coastal Administration; NGU: Geological Survey of Norway; NINA: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research; NIKU: The Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research; NILU: Norwegian Institute for Air Re- 2012 forum fram search; NIVA: Norwegian Institute for Water Research; Nofima: The Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research; Norut: Northern Research Institute; NP: Norwegian Polar Institute; NRPA: Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority; NTNU: Norwe- gian University of Science and Technology; NVH: Norwegian School of Veterinary Science; SINTEF: The Company for Industrial and Technological Research; SSHF: Centre of Sami Health Research; TØI: The Institute of Transport Economics; UiB: University of Bergen; UiT: University of Tromsø; UNIS: The University Centre in Svalbard; Unilab: Unilab Analysis Inc.; VI: Norwegian Veterinary Institute FRAM CENTRE FL AGSH IP S 75 76 RECENT DOCTORATES fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 RECENT DOCTORATES 77
Persistent toxic pollutants and certain poisonous met- cies, black-legged kittiwake, northern fulmar, and herring Recent doctorates als can escape from modern commodities and spread all gull. The samples were taken from birds living in the wild in around the globe with air and ocean currents. The fetus Svalbard or near Tromsø. A feeding experiment on captive and growing child are particularly vulnerable to negative herring gull chicks was also done. The results revealed effects. The concentration of various pollutants in the major differences between the defence systems in these mother’s blood and breast milk may give some indication species, and that both systems (in chicks) are affected by of how great a risk they pose. In addition, physiological diet, species physiology, fasting, and exposure to contami- changes in the mother’s body during pregnancy and nursing nants. Some of the effects of contaminants were dose-de- Maria Degerlund Jane Amtoft Godiksen are likely to influence the levels of these chemicals - with pendent. Since contaminant concentrations in the samples potential impact on her offspring. In this doctoral project, were lower than those reported in samples from wild-living Species concepts and functional aspects of Stable oxygen isotopes and growth increments Solrunn Hansen has studied organochlorines in the blood birds, the effects might be more pronounced in wild seabird cold-water diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) in Arctic charr otoliths: Revealing thermal habi- of women in northern Norway and southern Vietnam. In ad- populations. Some of the cellular effects observed in this tat use and climate impacts dition, she analysed ten metals in blood from the Norwe- study have been associated with deleterious effects on Diatoms are tiny algae, usually single-celled, with a cell gian women at three different times during pregnancy and the health of other animal species. Additional studies of wall of silica. Together with other microalgae, they con- Climate models predict that both temperatures and pre- lactation: five toxic metals and five essential elements. Her cellular systems in seabirds would provide a starting point stitute the foundation of the marine food web. This makes cipitation will increase over the next century. These factors results showed that Norwegian women generally had rather for regular monitoring of seabird health status, which might it important to know which species grow in various areas, strongly influence how early in spring the ice breaks up on low levels of pollutants; Vietnamese women had high levels contribute towards improved management. and what roles they play within the ecosystem. A biogeo- frozen lakes, which in turn determines the growing season of two DDT breakdown products but slightly lower levels of graphical study based on several years’ worth of data about for Arctic charr. In Svalbard, where lakes are ice-bound PCB than the Norwegian women. Another finding was that University of Tromsø phytoplankton during the spring bloom showed great simi- most of the year, deep snow on top of the ice can drastically organochlorine levels increased with the mother’s age, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics larity between the communities of species along the coast shorten the growing season. This study focuses on how but decreased for each birth, particularly if the child had Department of Arctic and Marine Biology of Norway and the northern parts of the Barents Sea. The climate variation influences the growth of otoliths – tiny been nursed. Fish consumption was strongly related to the study also highlighted the need for a time series for phyto- rock-like structures that are part of the balance organs in amounts of arsenic, mercury and selenium in blood. Hansen Joint supervision with the Norwegian Polar Institute plankton in these marine areas. A detailed taxonomic and the charr’s inner ear. Another question was whether climate concludes that precaution is still relevant, and recom- physiological study of Chaetoceros socialis, one of the most variation influences what temperature habitat the Arctic mends dietary advice for pregnant women. 29 November 2011 important spring-blooming diatoms, showed pseudocryptic charr selects. The results show that oxygen isotopes in population diversity in populations from north Norwegian the otolith can reveal what temperatures a charr has been University of Tromsø waters and the Bay of Naples in the Mediterranean Sea. exposed to at different times during its life. Comparison of Faculty of Health Sciences “Pseudocryptic” means that the populations were ge- climate data and growth patterns in the otolith reveals how Department of Community Medicine Lisa netically distinct, but showed only minor differences in these fish respond to changes in climate. Bjørnsdatter Helgason morphology. C. socialis from Norway and from Italy dif- Joint supervision with the Norwegian Institute for fered substantially in their physiological and biochemical University of Tromsø Air Research responses when experimentally exposed to 2.5, 8 and 13°C. Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics Levels and effects of halogenated organic con- The results suggest that the two populations belong to dif- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology 9 September 2011 taminants in arctic animals: How does seasonal ferent species and that the taxonomy and biogeography of emaciation affect biotransformation and tissue C. socialis should be revised. Joint supervision with the Norwegian Institute for distribution? Nature Research Link to the thesis: http://hdl.handle.net/10037/3679 Marit Nøst Hegseth The main objective of this thesis was to examine levels of 4 February 2011 “old” and “new” environmental pollutants in arctic animals. University of Tromsø Cellular responses induced by environmental Contaminant concentrations, their breakdown over time Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics stress factors in arctic seabird chicks and possible biological effects were studied in arctic sea- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology birds and their eggs. In addition, the study examined how Solrunn Hansen This project examined how Arctic seabirds respond to seasonal variations in fat stores of herring gulls and arctic 18 November 2011 two environmental stress factors that are common in the fox influenced the distribution and breakdown of contami- Maternal concentrations, predictors and Arctic: starvation and halogenated organic contaminants. nants in various body tissues. Many environmental con- change in profiles of organochlorines, toxic Two of the birds’ cellular defence systems were in focus: taminants such as “old” organohalines and “new” bromi- and essential elements during pregnancy and the antioxidant system, which protects against the nega- nated flame retardants are fat-soluble, which means that postpartum. The Vietnamese Mother-and-Child tive effects of oxygen, and autosomal lysosomes in the they are stored in fat tissue. The study showed that when Study and the Northern Norwegian Mother- liver, which are part of the cellular “waste management arctic animals are obliged to live off their fat reserves, and-Child Study system”. Samples were collected from three seabird spe- for instance during a food shortage or while rearing their 78 RECENT DOCTORATES fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 RECENT DOCTORATES 79
young, the contaminants are redistributed in the body and Louise Kiel Jensen management. It follows processes of co-production at heterotrophs predominated in the Arctic Ocean. The spe- concentrations in sensitive organs rise. Animals exposed to the science–policy interface and analyses how scientific cies composition in Balsfjord shifted throughout the year, contaminants had developed greater ability to break down Acute and long-term effects from petroleum knowledge is mobilised and translated into governance with differences between large groups and sub-groups. foreign compounds. Intriguingly, it also emerged that star- discharges on temperate and arctic Calanus practices and policy instrumentation for the regulation of Those groups that were most active were present only in vation in itself – independent of contaminant exposure – species oil and gas activities and their related risks and uncertain- small numbers. This indicates that the structural composi- influenced the animals’ ability to break down and eliminate ties. The thesis emphasises the centrality of uncertainties tion of bacterial communities is largely regulated through foreign compounds. Interest in exploiting oil reserves in the Arctic is growing. and knowledge gaps in marine governance practices, and top-down control of specific groups of bacteria. Several oil fields will soon be opened up in the Barents Sea, develops the argument that the focus on knowledge gaps University of Tromsø which has a diverse ecosystem and many well-managed illuminates the dominant framings of risk. Although the University of Tromsø Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics fish populations. To minimise conflicts between these production of more knowledge can lead to a refinement of Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics Department of Arctic and Marine Biology interests, environmentally sound risk analyses are needed. the very notion of risk, this thesis emphasises that scien- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology There is reason to believe that arctic species do not react tific and social indeterminacy are constant challenges to be Joint supervision with the Norwegian Polar Institute to oil spills in the same way as the species found farther dealt with. 2 December 2011 south. In addition, oil breaks down more slowly in the Arctic 7 January 2011 than in warmer climates, which means that arctic spe- Link to the thesis: http://hdl.handle.net/10037/3111 cies would be exposed to oil for longer times than their southern counterparts. This study focused on two closely University of Tromsø Eike Müller related copepods, the sub-arctic Calanus finmarchicus and Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics Kriss W. Rokkan Iversen the arctic C. glacialis, and their responses to oil exposure in Norwegian College of Fishery Science Dispersal and recruitment in the Arctic. Studies laboratory experiments. It emerged that brief exposure to of migration and germination in arctic-alpine The microbial food web in a changing Arctic volatile substances from oil can increase mortality in both 25 March 2011 vascular plants Ocean: Seasonal structure and function, regu- species. Long-term exposure to low doses of oil has effects latory mechanisms and carbon dynamics in on both species that, although not fatal, may ultimately In this thesis work, Eike Müller studied arctic plants, most Svalbard waters have impact on population dynamics. Uptake of the various of them from Svalbard, and tried to figure out whether they components in oil by C. finmarchius is dependent on the Helene Hodal Lødemel would be able to establish themselves in new locations A changing climate means changes in the physical environ- substance’s molecular weight and chemical properties. if temperatures increase in the Arctic. Both molecular ment in arctic seas, with fresher and warmer surface layers Primary production and the relevance of small techniques and germination experiments were used. The as one of the consequences. Microscopic organisms appear Link to the thesis: http://hdl.handle.net/10037/2839 autotrophic and heterotrophic cells in arctic germination experiments showed that most of the vascular likely to gain importance. Predicting the consequences marine ecosystems plants in the High Arctic are able to produce viable seeds. of climate change in marine ecosystems in the Arctic University of Tromsø This not only helps ensure their ability to colonise new requires knowledge about the structure and function of Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics The main objective of this thesis word was to examine areas, but also shows that these plants can rearrange their the microbial food web at different times of the year and in Norwegian College of Fishery Science primary production and the role of small autotrophic and genes to improve their resilience in the face of changes different areas. This thesis builds upon seasonal studies in heterotrophic organisms in arctic marine ecosystems. in climate. Several species had seeds that germinated Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, studies of the role of microorgan- 11 November 2011 Autotrophs bind carbon from the air, usually through photo- unexpectedly well and a large proportion of them were isms in vertical transport of carbon in the Barents Sea, and synthesis. Heterotrophs get their carbon by consuming oth- viable. But the experiments also showed that germination experimental data on physical and chemical mechanisms er organisms, their sustenance thus ultimately depending was strongly influenced by low temperatures. Molecular that regulate these systems. The results show that the on primary production by autotrophs. Primary production analyses of purple saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia) showed microbial food web plays an important role in the ecosys- Maaike Knol was studied in Kongsfjorden in Svalbard, and in the north- that the plant can spread to new territories without losing tem, not least by distributing energy to animals in the water ern Barents Sea in the area where sea ice gives way to open its genetic variation. These experiments reveal the extent column and at the seabed. The microbial food web can thus Marine ecosystem governance in the making: water. The distribution of small autotrophic and hetero- to which plants spread naturally in the High Arctic, but also serve as a buffer and provide a degree of flexibility in the Planning for petroleum activity in the Barents trophic single-celled organisms was examined in a transect show that human activity disperses seeds. It is also possi- marine ecosystem when arctic water masses respond to Sea–Lofoten area running across the Arctic Ocean from Alaska to Svalbard. ble to conserve plants that are unable to reproduce if their changes in climate. Changes in the population structure and activity of bacteria surroundings grow warmer. One solution might be to collect Expanding petroleum activity in the Barents Sea–Lofoten communities were studied in the cold, subarctic waters of seeds and store them in seed banks. University of Tromsø area has worked as a catalyst for the development and Balsfjorden, in northern Norway. Small cells contributed a Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics introduction of the first integrated, ecosystem-based man- surprisingly large proportion of the total primary produc- University of Tromsø Department of Arctic and Marine Biology agement plan in Norway. The thesis provides an analysis tion during the phytoplankton bloom along the ice edge. A Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics of the practices and instrumentation of marine ecosystem significant part of the production took place at depths that Department of Arctic and Marine Biology 14 April 2011 governance, which encompasses the broader dynamics are difficult to estimate from satellites. Small single-celled around the introduction of integrated, ecosystem-based 16 November 2011 80 RECENT DOCTORATES fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 RECENT DOCTORATES 81
Henrik Andreas Nygård other was to determine whether food webs based on contaminants may act in combination. In addition, newborn University of Tromsø bacteria are less common in arctic waters than in warmer and young marine mammals appear vulnerable to thyroid Faculty of Science and Technology Scavenging amphipods in the high Arctic: seas. Seasonal variations in the species composition of the hormone disruption caused by contaminants that they get Department of Geology Studies of benthic and sympagic amphipods planktonic food web, and in the roles played by the various via their mothers’ milk. The compounds transferred with in the genera Onisimus and Anonyx species, were studied in Kongsfjorden in Svalbard, and in milk are the same as those know to affect thyroid hormone 22 March 2011 the northeastern part of Fram Strait. The natural tem- balance in human babies and children, where they also The main objective of this study was to learn more about perature gradient between these two study areas enabled interfere with the development of the nervous system. This the ecology of scavenging amphipods, particularly species the researchers to probe whether the food webs differ raises concern not only for the future health of the young within the genera Onisimus and Anonyx. The ice-associated as a function of water temperature. In Kongsfjorden the arctic marine mammals studied in this thesis work, but also Anne Helene S. Tandberg Onisimus species were of particular interest, but since bacteria were found to be extremely active and were an im- for their ability to adapt to climate change in the Arctic. their habitat makes them difficult to study, the researchers portant part of the food web nearly all the time. Along with Colonisation, speciation events and evolution examined related species instead. By studying shallow- tiny phytoplankton, they formed the basis for a complex Norwegian University of Science and Technology of benthic organisms in the Norwegian Sea water scavenging amphipods they were able to take sam- microbial food web, and the same was found in the colder Department of Biology ples frequently. The high temporal resolution enabled them waters of Fram Strait. Comparison of these new data with Tandberg has studied amphipods living on the seabed along to give detailed descriptions of life cycles and reproduction reports in the literature showed that bacteria-based mi- Joint supervision with the Norwegian Polar Institute the coast of Norway and around Svalbard. The thesis gives of Onisimus caricus and O. litoralis. The thesis work also crobial food webs are common in arctic waters. This could a detailed description of 23 closely related species. Knowl- includes a description of the seasonal variations in the potentially have significance for crucial biogeochemical 28 October 2011 edge about these tiny animals is important because they amphipod scavenging guild in two fjords in Svalbard. The processes such as the balance between uptake and release can signal changes in the environment, changes that can knowledge gained from studies of benthic Onisimus species of carbon dioxide. have impact at higher levels in the ecosystems. Amphipods was then extrapolated to their ice-associated relatives. can be affected by changes in external conditions such as This showed that O. nanseni probably follows life strat- University of Tromsø Steffen Aagaard Sørensen temperature, ocean currents, salinity, oxygen content, the egy similar to that of O. litoralis, and is an income breeder Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics amount and composition of nutrient salts and other factors (which means that it supplies its offspring with nutrients Norwegian College of Fishery Science Late Glacial – Holocene climate variability in the water around them. We need to know which species the parent amphipod consumes during the reproductive and sedimentary environments on northern live in northern seas today, so we can compare with data cycle itself, rather than from energy stored previously). 8 December 2011 continental shelves. Zonal and meridional collected in future surveys of the seabed, and detect any Additionally, the two species are probably similar in provid- Atlantic Water advection changes. Tandberg’s data allow us to see if there are as ing extended parental care by investing in a “start pack” many amphipods as there were earlier, if the amphipods of energy for the offspring. The researchers also hypoth- The overall objective of this PhD project was to advance our in an area are the same species as before, and if any new esised that O. nanseni and O. glacialis need a high repro Gro D. Villanger understanding of oceanographic variability in the Nordic species have arrived. Future studies can reveal if new spe- ductive output to compensate for the varying extent of Seas over the last 20 000 years. The study focused on the cies have joined those that were already there, or if the new their sea ice habitat. Effects of complex organohalogen contaminant transport of warm Atlantic Water into the SW Barents Sea species replaced the old ones. Many of these species are mixtures on thyroid hormone homeostasis in and along the West Spitsbergen slope into the Arctic Ocean. food for other animals. Changes in the species composition Link to the thesis: http://hdl.handle.net/10037/3382 selected arctic marine mammals Sediment cores were taken in four places on northern con- at the seabed can perturb the nutritional basis on which tinental shelves and analysed to determine what conditions other species in the food chain depend. University of Tromsø Arctic marine mammals are exposed to complex mixtures were like when the sediments formed. For example, the mix Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics of organic halogens such as PCBs (which were formerly of species of foraminifera (tiny plankton) reveals whether University of Tromsø Department of Arctic and Marine Biology used as coolants and insulators in electrical equipment), the sea was warm or cold. Analysis of stable oxygen and Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics pesticides such as DDT and chlordanes, and flame retard- carbon isotopes and the chemical composition of sedi- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology 2 May 2011 ants containing bromine. These halogenated compounds ments can also provide valuable information. The recon- accumulate in the body, and at high levels they can perturb structed temperatures of Atlantic Water entering the Arctic 19 December 2011 the thyroid hormone balance, among other things. In this Ocean through the eastern Fram Strait showed a difference thesis, the relationships between individual contaminants of about 5°C between glacial and interglacial conditions. Lena Seuthe and thyroid hormone levels were studied in marine mam- The study also showed an approximate 2°C warming during mals from different parts of the Arctic: polar bears (Ursus the last 100 years. A temperature increase of this magni- Planktonic food webs in the Arctic Ocean: maritimus) from the European Arctic, beluga whales (Delphi- tude is unprecedented over the past 2000 years. structure and function in contrasting seasons napterus leucas) from Svalbard, and hooded seals (Cystopho- and physical settings across Fram Strait ra cristata) from East Greenland. In the case of the seals, Link to the thesis: http://hdl.handle.net/10037/3007 mother–pup pairs were studied. The findings show that the One of the main aims of this study was to delineate the complex mix of contaminants affects the thyroid hormone structure and function of the planktonic food web. The system in all three species, and that some of the various 82 In brief / Outreach fram forum 2012 fram forum 2012 contact information 83
New books in 2011 Contact information
Five tidbits from the Norwegian Polar Institute Library FRAM – the High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment
FRAM institutions at the Fram Centre building FRAM institutions elsewhere Norwegian School of Veterinary Science Living in Denial: Climate Change, Emotions Nordområdene: visjon og virkemidler. Hjalmar Johansens gate 14 Dept. of Arctic Veterinary Medicine and Everyday Life Oslo: Utenriksdep. N-9296 Tromsø Bioforsk Nord Stakkevollveien 23, N-9010 Tromsø Ph: +47 7775 0020 Norwegian Institute for Agricultural Ph: +47 7766 5400 Kari Marie Norgaard. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2011. 132 pp. (Stortingsmelding nr. 7 (2011-2012)) www.framsenteret.no and Environmental Research www.veths.no xix, 279 pp. ISBN 978-0-262-51585-6 (h.) The Norwegian government presented its new White Paper POB 2284, N-9269 Tromsø Our climate is changing more rapidly than we like. Many on the High North in Bodø in November 2011. In it, “the Akvaplan-niva AS Ph: 03 246 International calls: +47 4060 4100 Norwegian Veterinary Institute Ph: +47 7775 0300 www.bioforsk.no Stakkevollveien 23, N-9010 Tromsø scientific reports are ringing alarm bells. Still the world government sets ambitious targets for how the High North www.akvaplan.niva.no Ph: +47 7761 9230 seems to go on almost ignoring all the warnings. Why this strategy should be pursued over the next 20-30 years.” Institute of Marine Research Tromsø www.vetinst.no CICERO – Center for International Climate POB 6404, N-9294 Tromsø denial? Numerous authors have addressed the question at Check out what the Norwegian government has actually and Environmental Research Ph: +47 5523 8500 University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) a political level. This book brings an interesting sociologi- committed itself to in areas such as trade cooperation with Ph: +47 2285 8750 www.imr.no POB 156, N-9171 Longyearbyen cal perspective to bear on the issue: a researcher in the Russia, international polar research, petroleum exploration www.cicero.uio.no Ph: +47 7902 3300 NOFIMA www.unis.no US uses “Bygdaby”, the fictional name of an actual rural and extraction in the Barents Sea. (PDF available at www. Geological Survey of Norway Muninbakken 9-13 Breivika community in Norway, as a case study to explore social and regjeringen.no) (See also “The Norwegian Government’s Ph: +47 7775 0125 POB 6122 UNIVERSITY OF TROMSØ (UiT) www.ngu.no NO-9291 N-9037 Tromsø psychological barriers to action. High North Strategy”, report by the Norwegian Ministry of Ph: +47 7762 9000 Ph: + 47 7764 4000 Foreign Affairs.) Norwegian Coastal Administration uit.no Sea Ice in the Physical and Biogeochemical Ph: +47 7775 0480 NORUT Northern Research Institute www.kystverket.no www.norut.no System Satellittkrigen: Norges militarisering Other institutions at the Fram Centre Chief Editor Mats Granskog. Cambridge: International av polområdene og verdensrommet Norwegian Institute for Air Research NORUT Tromsø Ph: +47 7775 0375 POB 6434 Forskningsparken Arctic Council Secretariat Glaciological Society, 2011. (Annals of Glaciology; Bård Wormdal. Oslo : Pax, 2011. nilu.no N-9294 Tromsø Ph: +47 7775 0140 Vol. 52, No. 57) 192 pp. ISBN 978-82-530-3450-8 Ph: +47 7762 9400 Fax: +47 7762 9401 arctic-council.org Sea ice is a key factor in the Arctic climatic system. Here This is a book about a rather sensitive subject for both the Norwegian Institute for www.norut.no/tromso Cultural Heritage Research CliC International Project Office is a collection of state-of-the-art international sea ice re- Svalbard Treaty and the Antarctic Treaty. Satellites orbit Ph: +47 7775 0400 NORUT Alta Ph: +47 7775 0150 search. Mats Granskog from the Norwegian Polar Institute above us, taking ever more detailed and precise close- niku.no POB 1463, N-9506 Alta www.climate-cryosphere.org Ph: +47 7845 7100 was asked to edit this work, which contains 43 papers in ups of life on earth. Data are downloaded via Norwegian Norwegian Institute for Nature Research www.norut.no/alta Norwegian Nature Inspectorate two volumes. Most of them were first presented at a sym- receiver stations near both north and south poles, and used Ph: +47 7775 0400 Ph: +47 7775 0190 Fax: +47 7775 0191 posium in Tromsø. The compilation is highly relevant and a for military purposes. At question time in the Norwegian nina.no NORUT Narvik www.naturoppsyn.no/tromso POB 250, N-8504 Narvik fine achievement for our research centre. parliament on 13 December 2011, Jonas Gahr Støre, the Norwegian Mapping Authority Tromsø Ph: +47 7696 5350 Polaria Visitors’ Centre Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs said, among other Ph: +47 7775 0135 www.norut.no/narvik Hjalmar Johansens gate 12 www.statkart.no N-9296 Tromsø Adresse Ny-Ålesund: fortellinger om folk things: “The fact that data downloaded in Svalbard can also NORINNOVA Northern Innovation Ph: +47 7775 0100 på tundraen be of value for military users, is not per se problematic in Norwegian Polar Institute POB 6413 Forskningsparken www.polaria.no Åse Kristine Tveit. Trondheim: Tapir akademisk, 2011. relation to the Svalbard Treaty.” Interesting sentence… Ph: +47 7775 0500 N-9294 Tromsø www.npolar.no Ph: +47 7767 9760 UNILAB Analyse Ltd. 152 pp. ISBN 978-82-519-2731-4 www.norinnova.no Ph: +47 7775 0350 Librarians also write books, and here we have an extremely Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority unilab.no Ph: +47 7775 0170 Norwegian Forest enjoyable and interesting book about our beloved research www.nrpa.no and Landscape Institute community in the High North. Tveit is not least skilled at Regional office Northern Norway Fram Centre AS creating portraits of the individuals who were key to devel- SINTEF NORD AS POB 2270, N-9269 Tromsø Ph: +47 7775 02 00 Ph: +47 4786 5400 Ph: +47-6494 8000 opments in Ny-Ålesund in the inter-war period. People like www.sintef.no Ferdinand, the master carpenter, and Berta, the caretaker. Fram Centre Hjalmar Johansens gate 14 N – 9296 Tromsø – Phone: +47 77 75 02 00 Fax: +47 77 75 02 01 E-mail: [email protected] www.framsenteret.no