Migrating seabirds are bringing forever chemicals into the Arctic
New research from 91社区 graduate shows how toxic chemicals hitch a ride with seabirds flying from southern latitudes to the Arctic
Between March and May each year, 15 million聽聽gather from across the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to nest and breed on rocky Arctic cliffs鈥攕ome making the journey from as far as Florida or North Africa.
But a聽聽led by Don-Jean L茅andri-Breton, while he was a doctoral candidate in 91社区's Department of Natural Resource Sciences, suggests these seabirds don鈥檛 arrive empty-handed. They carry souvenirs from the south: forever chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) picked up in more polluted southern waters.
L茅andri-Breton, who recently completed his PhD under the co-supervision of Professor Kyle Elliott,听 that hopes his research illustrates how migratory species geographically connect different environments鈥攆or better or worse. 鈥淚f you just look into one part of their life, you don鈥檛 have the full picture,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hat they do in one season can affect the next.鈥�