Research summary
Arctic and northern ecosystems face two simultaneous, critical environmental challenges: the climate crisis and chemical pollution. Climate change is already driving increases in extreme climatic events, such as heat waves, wildfires, atmospheric rivers, and sea ice loss. Meanwhile, Arctic wildlife is being exposed to an increasingly complex mixture of environmental contaminants. Dr. Melissa McKinney, Canada Research Chair in Ecological Change and Environmental Stressors, is evaluating the interactions between these two major environmental stressors in the Arctic.
She and her research team are trying to figure out what predator diets can tell us about decades-long trends in marine mammal populations and how changes in mammals’ diets influence the accumulation of contaminants in their bodies. They are also developing and applying cutting-edge ecological tracer tools to advance the fields of climate change ecology and ecotoxicology. Their findings will inform policy-makers and spur action on climate change and environmental pollution to safeguard Arctic and northern species.