Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Volume 284, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117209
Keywords
Marine pollution; Heavy metal; Antarctic seabird; Stable isotopes
Categories
Funding
- Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) through CNPq/MCT [557049/2009-1]
- Brazilian Foundation for the Coordination and Improvement of Higher Level or Education Personnel (CAPES) [88881.154725/2017-01 88887.154724/2017-00]
- Wallonie Bruxelles International (WBI, from Belgium)
- Rio de Janeiro State Government Research Agency [FAPERJ -E-26/111.505/2010, E -26/210.464/2019 (249593)]
- CNPq [08733/2019-3]
- Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) through Universal Call CNPq Project from PRD [432518/2016-9]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Contaminant levels are lower in Antarctica due to low anthropogenic activities, with the northern region of the Antarctic Peninsula experiencing the most pressure. Penguins in different locations and species showed variations in trace element concentrations and stable isotope values influenced by geographical, intraspecific (ontogenetic and gender-related), and interspecific differences in feeding habits. The bioaccumulation of trace elements in penguins may also be influenced by natural enrichment in the environment as well as human activities.
Contaminant levels are lower in Antarctica than elsewhere in the world because of its low anthropogenic activities. However, the northern region of the Antarctic Peninsula, is close to South America and experiences the greatest anthropogenic pressure in Antarctica. Here, we investigated, in two Antarctic Peninsula islands, intra and interspecific factors that influence the concentrations of 17 trace elements (TEs) in blood and feathers of three penguin species breeding sympatrically in relation to their trophic ecology assessed via a stable isotopic approach (C, N and S). Geographical location, foraging zone (delta C-13 and delta S-34) and diet influences the interspecific difference, and sex and maturity stage diet influence the intraspecific difference of Pygoscelis penguins. Penguins from Livingston showed higher values (mean, ng. g(-1), dry weight - dw) of Zn (103), Mn (0.3), and Fe (95) than those from King George Island (Zn: 80, Mn: 1.9, and Fe: 11). Gender-related differences were observed, as males showed significantly higher values (mean, ng. g(-1), dw) of Rb (3.4) and delta N-15 in blood of gentoo, and Ca (1344) in Adelie feathers. Chicks of gentoo and Adelie presented higher Zn, Mg, Ca, and Sr and lower C-13 values in blood than adults. The highest concentrations (mean, ng. g(-1), dw) of Cd (0.2) and Cu (26), and the lowest delta N-15 values were found in chinstrap. Geographical, intraspecific (i.e., ontogenetic and gender-related) and interspecific differences in feeding seemed to have influenced TE and stable isotope values in these animals. The TE bioaccumulation by penguins may have also been influenced by natural enrichment in environmental levels of these elements, which seems to be the case for Fe, Zn, and Mn. However, the high level of some of the TEs (Mn, Cd, and Cr) may reflect the increase of local and global human activities. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available