(Table 1) Enantiomer fractions of egg yolk and plasma samples from Svalbard glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus)

Glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus) and their eggs from Svalbard (Norwegian Arctic) have been used as biomonitors of contaminants in the marine environment. In this study, the enantiomer fractions (EFs) of chiral chlordanes and atropisomeric polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were determined in the blood plasma of adult male and female glaucous gulls from three breeding colonies in Svalbard. Plasma EFs were similar in magnitude and direction to EFs previously reported in glaucous gulls from other arctic food webs, suggesting overall similarities in the biochemical processes influencing the EFs of bioaccumulated organochlorine (OC) contaminants within the food webs at those locations. Additionally, EFs in yolk of eggs collected concurrently from within the same nesting colonies varied with location, laying date, and OC concentrations, and may be influenced by changes in the local feeding ecology between those colonies. No differences were found between the EFs for any analyte in female gulls compared to those found in egg yolk, indicating that processes involved in the maternal transfer of chlordanes and PCBs to eggs do not modulate the stereochemical ratio between enantiomers. Therefore, the use of eggs as a valuable and noninvasive means of OC biomonitoring may also extend to enantiomer compositions in glaucous gulls, and perhaps also in other seabird species from arctic regions.

(Table 1) Characteristics of Klebsormidium (filamentous green algae) strains from the Antarctic, Arctic and Slovakia

The freezing and desiccation tolerance of 12 Klebsormidium strains, isolated from various habitats (aero-terrestrial, terrestrial, and hydro-terrestrial) from distinct geographical regions (Antarctic - South Shetlands, King George Island, Arctic - Ellesmere Island, Svalbard, Central Europe - Slovakia) were studied. Each strain was exposed to several freezing (-4°C, -40°C, -196°C) and desiccation (+4°C and +20°C) regimes, simulating both natural and semi-natural freeze-thaw and desiccation cycles. The level of resistance (or the survival capacity) was evaluated by chlorophyll a content, viability, and chlorophyll fluorescence evaluations. No statistical differences (Kruskal-Wallis tests) between strains originating from different regions were observed. All strains tested were highly resistant to both freezing and desiccation injuries. Freezing down to -196°C was the most harmful regime for all studied strains. Freezing at -4°C did not influence the survival of studied strains. Further, freezing down to -40°C (at a speed of 4°C/min) was not fatal for most of the strains. RDA analysis showed that certain Antarctic and Arctic strains did not survive desiccation at +4°C; however, freezing at -40°C, as well as desiccation at +20 °C was not fatal to them. On the other hand, other strains from the Antarctic, the Arctic, and Central Europe (Slovakia) survived desiccation at temperatures of +4°C, and freezing down to -40°C. It appears that species of Klebsormidium which occupy an environment where both seasonal and diurnal variations of water availability prevail, are well adapted to freezing and desiccation injuries. Freezing and desiccation tolerance is not species-specific nor is the resilience only found in polar strains as it is also a feature of temperate strains.

Deep drilling of glaciers: Russian projects in the Arctic (1975-1995)

The data collection "Deep Drilling of Glaciers: Soviet-Russian projects in Arctic, 1975-1995" was collected by the following basic considerations: - compilation of deep (>100 m) drilling projects on Arctic glaciers, using data of (a) publications; (b) archives of IGRAN; (c) personal communication of project participants; - documentation of parameters, references. Accuracy of data and techniques applied to determine different parameters are not evaluated. The accuracy of some geochemical parameters (up to 1984 and heavy metalls) is uncertain. Most reconstructions of ice core age and of annual layer thickness are discussed; - digitizing of published diagrams (in case, when original numerical data were lost) and subsequent data conversion to equal range series and adjustment to the common units. Therefore, the equal-range series were calculated from original data or converted from digitized chart values as indicated in the metadata. For the methodological purpose, the equal-range series obtained from original and reconstructed data were compared repeatedly; the systematic difference was less then 5-7%. Special attention should be given to the fact, that the data for individual ice core parameters varies, because some parameters were originally measured or registered. Parameters were converted in equal-range series using 2 m steps; - two or more parameter values were determined, then the mean-weighted (i.e. accounting the sample length) value is assigned to the entire interval; - one parameter value was determined, measured or registered independently from the parameter values in depth intervals which over- and underlie it, then the value is assigned to the entire interval; - one parameter value was determined, measured or registered for two adjoining depth intervals, then the specific value is assigned to the depth interval, which represents >75% of sample length ; if each of adjoining depth intervals represents <75% of sample length, then the correspondent parameter value is assigned to both intervals of depth. This collection of ice core data (version 2000) was made available through the EU funded QUEEN project by S.M. Arkhipov, Moscow.