Penguins; Polar environment; Stable isotopes; Trophic ecology; General Medicine; General Chemistry; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Engineering; Pollution; Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis; Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Abstract :
[en] Although naturally present in the environment, mercury (Hg) input is significantly amplified by anthropogenic activities on a global scale, leading to a growing concern about the recent increase in Hg levels observed in Antarctica. This study investigated total mercury (THg) concentrations in feathers and eggs of resident and migratory Antarctic seabirds. Stable isotope data (δ15N, δ13C, and δ34S) were employed to ascertain the key factors influencing the exposure of these species to Hg. We gathered feathers and eggs from three resident species - Adélie, Gentoo, and Chinstrap penguins, as well as five migratory species - Snowy Sheathbill, Antarctic Tern, Southern Giant Petrel, Kelp Gull, and South Polar Skua. These samples were collected from Admiralty Bay, King George Island, in the Antarctica Peninsula. For all species, THg concentrations were higher in feathers (mean ± SD: 2267 ± 2480 ng g-1 dw) than in eggs (906 ± 1461 ng g-1 dw). Species occupying higher trophic positions, such as the Southern Giant Petrel (5667 ± 1500 ng g-1 dw) and South Polar Skua (4216 ± 1101 ng. g-1 dw), exhibited higher THg levels in their feathers than those at lower positions, like Antarctic Tern (1254 ± 400 ng g-1 dw) and Chinstrap Penguin (910 ± 364 ng g-1 dw). The δ15N values, which serve as a proxy for the trophic position, significantly correlated with THg concentrations. These findings reveal that trophic position influences THg concentrations in Antarctic seabirds. Migration did not appear to significantly affect the exposure of seabirds to THg, contrary to initial expectations. This research highlights the importance of evaluating the impacts of THg contamination on the Antarctic ecosystem by considering a variety of species. This multi-species approach offers critical insights into the factors that may potentially influence the exposure of these species to contaminants.
Research Center/Unit :
FOCUS - Freshwater and OCeanic science Unit of reSearch - ULiège
Padilha, J A G ; Radioisotope Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, CBMA - Centre for Molecular and Environmental Biology/ARNET-Aquatic Research Network & IB-S, Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal, IB-S, Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal. Electronic address: janeide.padilha@bio.uminho.pt
Souza-Kasprzyk, J; Radioisotope Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 8, 61-614, Poznan, Poland
Pinzone, Marianna ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanographie biologique ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Freshwater and OCeanic science Unit of reSearch (FOCUS)
Prohaska, G; Radioisotope Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Espejo, W; Department of Animal Science, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, P.O. Box 537, Chillán, Chile
Leite, A; CBMA - Centre for Molecular and Environmental Biology/ARNET-Aquatic Research Network & IB-S, Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal, IB-S, Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
Santos, S; CBMA - Centre for Molecular and Environmental Biology/ARNET-Aquatic Research Network & IB-S, Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal, IB-S, Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
Cunha, L S T ; Radioisotope Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Costa, E S; Mestrado Profissional Em Ambiente e Sustentabilidade. Universidade Estadual Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Rua Assis Brasil, 842, Centro, São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Pessôa, A R; Radioisotope Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Torres, J P M ; Radioisotope Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Lepoint, Gilles ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Freshwater and OCeanic science Unit of reSearch (FOCUS) ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Laboratoire d'Ecologie trophique et isotopique
Das, Krishna ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanographie biologique ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Freshwater and OCeanic science Unit of reSearch (FOCUS)
Dorneles, Paulo Renato ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanographie biologique ; Radioisotope Laboratory, Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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