Cryosphere Reduction Impacts on Arctic Seabird Ecology

Arctic temperatures are increasing twice as fast than the global average. In fjordic ecosystems of Svalbard, the Atlantification, the process leading to warmer conditions in the area impose new challenges to Arctic living community. Those changes alter cryosphere regime (i.e., ice component covering the surface) and associated species habitats. The black-legged kittiwake is a predator that has been associated to ice-related feeding habitat in the Arctic, promoting its use as indicator of marine ecosystem changes in Svalbard.

This study aims to investigate whether the lost of ice would impact significantly seabird populations. Data is already collected and cover the regime shift process for a decade. Specifically, the objectives to complete under this proposed 3 months internship is first, to complete the writing of my 1st chapter of my PhD thesis and 2) to perform the statistical analyses of my 2nd chapter. Analyses, as the cryosphere and population dynamic modelling, will be prioritised under my stay. Those objectives would necessitate extensive collaborations with local experts. Two papers are expected to be produced from this international internship.

Faculty Supervisor:

Joël Bêty

Student:

Partner:

Universitetet i Tromsø – Norges arktiske universitet

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Life Sciences (not health); Environmental Science and Technology; Water

University:

Université du Québec à Rimouski

Program: