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We present the results of our studies of the helminth fauna and the diet of the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758) in the Gorodetskiy bird colonies on the Rybachiy Peninsula (Murman coast of the Barents Sea) carried out in 2006–2008 and in 2018–2020. We did not find any noticeable changes in the species diversity of the helminth fauna of the kittiwakes, the proportion of the dominant parasite species and the values of most quantitative infection indices between the two study periods. At the same time, there was a marked decrease in the mean abundance of the dominant cestode species (Alcataenia larina Krabbe, 1869 and Tetrabothrius erostris Loennberg, 1889) in 2018–2020 as compared to 2006–2008. The changes in parasitology of birds found in our study appear to be largely determined by fluctuations of abiotic conditions (increased water and air temperature) and the state of the food supply (size structure of the zooplankton) in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wild aquatic birds serve as the natural reservoir for avian influenza virus (AIV), a disease with significant implications for avian and mammalian health. Climate change is predicted to impact the dynamics of AIV, particularly in areas such as the Arctic, but the baseline data needed to detect these shifts is often unavailable. In this study, plasma from two species of gulls breeding on the high-Arctic Svalbard archipelago were screened for antibodies to AIV., Results: AIV antibodies were found in black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) samples from multiple years, as well as in glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreous) samples., Conclusions: Despite small sample sizes, evidence of exposure to AIV was found among Svalbard gulls. A wider survey of Svalbard avian species is warranted to establish knowledge on the extent of AIV exposure on Svalbard and to determine whether active infections are present.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) may cause detrimental effects on physiological function and reproduction of Arctic animals. However, there is a paucity of information on the link between PFASs and oxidative stress, which can have potential detrimental effects on key fitness traits, such as cellular homeostasis or reproduction. We have examined the correlations between multiple blood-based markers of oxidative status and several perfluoroalkyl acids (i.e., with 8 or more carbons) in male Arctic black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) during the pre-laying period. Higher protein oxidative damage was found in those birds having higher concentrations of perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA), perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTriA) and perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTeA). Lower plasmatic non-enzymatic micro-molecular antioxidants were found in those birds having higher concentrations of perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA), PFDoA and PFTeA. Effect size estimates showed that the significant correlations between PFASs and oxidative status markers were intermediate to strong. The non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity (including antioxidants of protein origin) was significantly lower in those birds having higher plasma concentration of linear perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOSlin). In contrast, the activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes was not associated with any PFAS compounds. Our results suggest that increased oxidative stress might be one consequence of long-chain PFAS exposure. Experimental work will be needed to demonstrate whether PFASs cause toxic effects on free-living vertebrates through increased oxidative stress., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)