Rising toxins found in bowhead whales, harvested for subsistence purposes by Alaska Native communities, reveal that ocean warming is causing higher concentrations of algal toxins in Arctic food webs, according to new research published in the journal Nature.

Impact on Coastal Communities

Researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) were part of a multi-institutional study that focused on this critical issue. The presence of algal toxins threatens food security for coastal communities in Alaska that rely on marine life for sustenance. These communities, including the North Slope Borough in Barrow, Alaska, are now seeking assistance from researchers to understand and monitor the emergence of algal toxins in the Arctic ecosystems they depend on.

Raphaela Stimmelmayr, a wildlife veterinarian with the North Slope Borough, emphasized the need for reliable tools such as field tests to detect algal toxins in traditional foods in real-time. This information is crucial for making informed decisions about the safety of consuming marine wildlife.

Research Findings

Kathi Lefebvre, a research scientist at NOAA Fisheries, led a study that spanned over two decades and involved testing bowhead whales harvested in the Beaufort Sea off the North Slope of Alaska. The research team discovered increasing concentrations of toxins such as domoic acid and saxitoxin in the whales, attributed to ocean warming and loss of sea ice.

By analyzing data from a monitoring mooring in the Beaufort Sea, the researchers linked toxin levels in the whales to environmental conditions. They found that warmer ocean temperatures and reduced sea ice cover correlated with higher toxin concentrations in the food web.

Collaborative Research Efforts

The study highlighted the importance of collaboration among tribal, state, and federal governments, academic institutions, and private organizations in addressing Arctic environmental challenges. By combining traditional ecological knowledge with scientific expertise in oceanography, climatology, and food web ecology, the researchers were able to gain valuable insights into the impact of algal toxins on marine subsistence resources.

This comprehensive research underscores the necessity for continued monitoring of harmful algal blooms in the Arctic to safeguard the food security and safety of indigenous communities relying on marine resources.