First experiences with tools for monitoring and

predicting non-indigenous species (NIS) in the Arctic

Klaas Kaag, Andrea Sneekes, Hilde van Pelt, Martine van den Heuvel-Greve, Anneke van den Brink, Bas Bolman & Jeroen Jansen

P.O. Box 57, 1780 AB Den Helder, The Netherlands

email: klaas.kaag@wur.nl

IMARES

Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies

A scientific institute for strategic and applied marine ecological research in support of maritime policies and innovations.

Sustainable maritime economy and seafood production in harmony with the protection of the seas.

IMARES in the (Ant)arctic

� TripleP@Sea – Standards and guidelines

for ‘sustainable development’ (4 PhDs)

� SYMBIOSIS – Modelling oil spill effects on

zooplankton and cod

� Arctic Handbook – Generic EIA

� EIA Arctic Naval Operations

� Scientific Expedition Edgeøya Spitsbergen

(SEES.NL)

� Contaminants in the Arctic (‘Silent snow’)

� Association of Polar Early Career

Scientists (APECS)

� Antarctic expeditions (>30 yr)

Global warming

1980 2012

Recent Arctic developments

� Decrease in sea ice coverage results in an increase of human activities:

Offshore oil & gas explorationHarbour development and shipping

Tourism Fishery

What are the risks?

� Introductions of non-indigenous species in the Arctic

� Transfer of NIS via the Arctic

25-30 % of North Sea invaders by ballast water

25% as hull fouling

Non-Indigenous Species in the Arctic

� Gollasch (2006): 18 NIS in European Arctic waters

� Ruiz et al. (2006): 12 NIS in Alaskan waters

� Hines & Ruiz (2000): 24 NIS & 29 cryptogenic species

� Ware et al. (2012): Probably no established NIS in high Arctic (Svalbard area), but planktonic species in ballast water able to survive local conditions

Transfer of NIS through the Arctic

� Shorter trips, result in increased survival of ‘passengers’

� Lewis et al. (2003): transfer of potential NIS in and on ships in Antarctic

� Lewis et al. (2003): Regrowth experiments show different species compared to direct analysis of ballast water

� DNA analysis of viable organisms

DNA barcoding: a short DNA sequence that can characterize every species on the planet

DNA metabarcoding: automated identification of multiple species in an environmental sample

DNA barcoding as monitoring tool

Biodiversity description:species listspecies richness

Biodiversity description

- Species list

- Species richness

- Compare sources

DNA based biodiversity assessmentDNA barcoding as monitoring tool

Ballast water treatment

�2004 Ballast Water Management Convention

�14 guidelines

�Reducing load of non-indigenous species in ballast water, without harming the receiving environment

Temperate biased test facilities

Testing restricted to productive season (April-September)

in order to meet challenge conditions specified in G8

Seasonal biased testing

But,

� Shipping occurs all year round

� Organisms are present all year round

� Treatment should work all year round

�Winter tests difficult but not impossible

Specific Arctic challenges

� Low temperatures

�High productivity

�Difficult conditions

Consequences of low temperatures

� Metabolism slow

� Sensitivity low

� Sensitive life stages last longer

� Reproductive rate slower

� Chemical processes slower

� Do Arctic species react the same as temperate species in winter?

� Insensitive life stages (resting eggs; cysts)

Effects of temperature on toxicity

� Toxicity generally increases with

temperature. Heugens et al 2001

� Toxicity of hypochlorite and

chloramine increases with

increasing temperature. Capuzzo 1979

� Some pesticides more toxic at

lower temperatures. Weston et al 2009

� Most studies in range 15 to 30 °C

� Little is known about BW biocides

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Positive Negative Optimum No correlation

136 tests

15 substances

no biocides used for BW

Effects of low temperatures on toxicity

� Most effort related to oil & gas. Petroleum hydrocarbons and POP’s most problematic in Arctic. MacDonalds & Brewer 1996

� Arctic species less sensitive to heavy metals. Chapman & McPherson 1993; Chapman et al 2006

� Sensitivity for oil and some PAHs comparable for Arctic and temperate species. Hoop et al 2011

� Longer exposure times may be more realistic. Chapman & Riddle 2005

� Adaptation to low temperatures may result in increased effects. Camus et al 2004

Are active substances different?

� Not persistent

� Effect instantaneous

� At low temperatures more persistent

� But organisms less sensitive

� Does this change efficacy or ecological risk?

First testing experiences

� Standard test organisms

� Adapted to different temperatures

� Compare standard test temperature with low temperature

� Compare reference toxicant with BW biocide

First testing experiences

PERACLEAN(r) Ocean

� Low sensitivity due to slow biological processes

� Higher exposure due to slower degradation

� Net results similar or higher toxicity

Comparison with reference toxicant (K2Cr2O7)

� Lower sensitivity...

� Similar exposure (no degradation)

� Net result less toxicity

Testing experiencesB. plicatilis (marine)

* *

**

Testing experiencesB. calyciflorus (freshwater)

Temp °C

LC

50 (

mg

/l)

5 10 15 20 25 300

1

2

3

4PO

Temp °C

LC

50 (

mg

/l)

5 10 15 20 25 300

10

20

30

40K2Cr2O7

Testing experiences

� Acute effects (1 day)

● less toxicity at low temperature

� Chronic effects (5 days)

● higher toxicity at low temperature

● growth (recovery) at both temperatures

● much slower at 5°C

cilates (marine)

Preliminary conclusions

� Low temperature testing is slow process

� Biocide shows different response than persistent toxicants

� Different results for marine and freshwater tests

� Different for long-term exposure

� Thanks to Evonik Industries AG for co-funding this research

Further research

� Sensitivity of natural communities

● 4 seasons

� Dutch Arctic Centre Svalbard

● testing of local species

� Laboratory

● compare effects of BW biocides at different temperature for

different species

● interactions with salinity

� Joint Industry Projects

Thank you for your attention