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Sontag PT, Godfrey LV, Fraser WR, Hinke JT, Reinfelder JR. Influence of migration range and foraging ecology on mercury accumulation in Southern Ocean penguins. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 951:175154. [PMID: 39153634 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
In order to evaluate mercury (Hg) accumulation patterns in Southern Ocean penguins, we measured Hg concentrations and carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope ratios in body feathers of adult Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), gentoo (Pygoscelis papua), and chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarctica) penguins living near Anvers Island, West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) collected in the 2010/2011 austral summer. With these and data from Pygoscelis and other penguin genera (Eudyptes and Aptenodytes) throughout the Southern Ocean, we modelled Hg variation using δ13C and δ15N values. Mean concentrations of Hg in feathers of Adélie (0.09 ± 0.05 μg g-1) and gentoo (0.16 ± 0.08 μg g-1) penguins from Anvers Island were among the lowest ever reported for the Southern Ocean. However, Hg concentrations in chinstrap penguins (0.80 ± 0.20 μg g-1), which undertake relatively broad longitudinal winter migrations north of expanding sea ice, were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than those in gentoo or Adélie penguins. δ13C and δ15N values for feathers from all three Anvers Island populations were also the lowest among those previously reported for Southern Ocean penguins foraging within Antarctic and subantarctic waters. These observations, along with size distributions of WAP krill, suggest foraging during non-breeding seasons as a primary contributor to higher Hg accumulation in chinstraps relative to other sympatric Pygoscelis along the WAP. δ13C values for all Southern Ocean penguin populations, alone best explained feather Hg concentrations among possible generalized linear models (GLMs) for populations grouped by either breeding site (AICc = 36.9, wi = 0.0590) or Antarctic Frontal Zone (AICc = 36.9, wi = 0.0537). Although Hg feather concentrations can vary locally by species, there was an insignificant species-level effect (wi < 0.001) across the full latitudinal range examined. Therefore, feeding ecology at breeding locations, as tracked by δ13C, control Hg accumulation in penguin populations across the Southern Ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip T Sontag
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
| | - Linda V Godfrey
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Rutgers University, 610 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | | | - Jefferson T Hinke
- Antarctic Ecosystem Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - John R Reinfelder
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
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2
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Mills WF, Bustamante P, Ramírez F, Forero MG, Phillips RA. Mercury Concentrations in Feathers of Albatrosses and Large Petrels at South Georgia: Contemporary Patterns and Comparisons with Past Decades. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2024; 86:363-374. [PMID: 38762667 PMCID: PMC11142957 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-024-01067-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is an environmental contaminant that can negatively impact the health of humans and wildlife. Albatrosses and large petrels show some of the highest levels of Hg contamination among birds, with potential repercussions for reproduction and survival. Here, body feather total Hg (THg) concentrations were determined in breeding adults of five species of albatrosses and large petrels in the foraging guild at South Georgia during the mid-2010s. We tested the effects of species, sex and trophic ecology (inferred from stable isotopes) on THg concentrations and compared our results with published values from past decades. Feather THg concentrations differed significantly among species (range: 1.9-49.6 µg g-1 dw), and were highest in wandering albatrosses Diomedea exulans, intermediate in black-browed albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris and northern giant petrels Macronectes halli, and lowest in southern giant petrels M. giganteus and white-chinned petrels Procellaria aequinoctialis. Females were more contaminated than males in all species, potentially due to differences in distributions and diet composition. Across species, THg concentrations were not correlated with feather δ13C or δ15N values, implying that species effects (e.g., breeding and moulting frequencies) may be more important than trophic effects in explaining feather THg concentrations in this foraging guild. Within species, the only significant correlation was between THg and δ13C in wandering albatrosses, which could reflect higher Hg exposure in subtropical waters. Comparisons with THg concentrations from past studies, which reflect contamination from 10 to > 60 years ago, revealed considerable annual variation and some evidence for increases over time for wandering and black-browed albatrosses since before 1950 and from the late 1980s, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- William F Mills
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK.
- Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Francisco Ramírez
- Departament de Recursos Marins Renovables, Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuela G Forero
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Avda. Américo Vespucio, 26, Isla de la Cartuja, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Richard A Phillips
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
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3
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Gimeno M, Rossell L, Julià L, Giménez J, Sanpera C, Coll M, Bustamante P, Ramírez F. Assessing mercury contamination in Southern Hemisphere marine ecosystems: The role of penguins as effective bioindicators. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 343:123159. [PMID: 38104761 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant known for its significant bioaccumulation and biomagnification capabilities, posing a particular threat to marine environments. Seabirds have been recognized as effective bioindicators of marine pollution, and, among them, penguins present a unique opportunity to serve as a single taxonomic group (Sphenisciformes) for monitoring Hg across distinct marine ecosystems in the Southern Hemisphere. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive systematic review of Hg concentrations, and performed a meta-analysis that took into account the various sources of uncertainty associated with Hg contamination in penguins. Beyond intrinsic species-specific factors shaping Hg levels, our results showed that the penguin community effectively reflects spatial patterns of Hg bioavailability. We identified geographic Hg hotspots in Australia, the Indian Ocean, and Tierra del Fuego, as well as coldspots in Perú and the South Atlantic. Furthermore, specific penguin species, namely the Southern Rockhopper (Eudyptes chrysocome) and Macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus), are highlighted as particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of Hg. Additionally, we identified knowledge gaps in geographic areas such as the Galápagos Islands, South Africa, and the coast of Chile, as well as in species including Fiordland (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus), Snares (Eudyptes robustus), Erect-crested (Eudyptes sclateri), Royal (Eudyptes schlegeli), Yellow-eyed (Megadyptes antipodes), and Galápagos (Spheniscus mendiculus) penguins. Overall, our study contributes to the growing body of literature emphasizing the role of penguins as bioindicators of Hg pollution, but it also highlights areas where further research and data collection are needed for a more comprehensive understanding of Hg contamination in marine ecosystems in the Southern Hemisphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Míriam Gimeno
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av/Diagonal 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laia Rossell
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Julià
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Giménez
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Centro Oceanografico de Málaga (COMA), Fuengirola, Spain
| | - Carolina Sanpera
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Av/Diagonal 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Coll
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS, La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 Rue Descartes, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Francisco Ramírez
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
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Lacombe RM, Barst BD, Pelletier D, Guillemette M, Amyot M, Lavoie RA, Elliott KH. Compound-specific stable nitrogen isotope analysis of amino acids shows that bulk methods provide higher estimates of mercury biomagnification in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 340:122769. [PMID: 37866750 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Compound-specific stable isotope analysis of amino acids (CSIA-AA) provides a method to estimate baseline δ15N values of food chains, allowing less biased estimates of trophic positions for organisms. Greater accuracy in trophic positions can improve estimates of contaminant biomagnification. We calculated trophic positions with various CSIA-AA equations for four species of fish and northern gannets (Morus bassanus) from the Gulf of St. Lawrence. We examined the effect of CSIA-AA-derived trophic positions on mercury biomagnification metrics (trophic magnification factors (TMF) and biomagnification factors) and compared these with trophic position estimates and metrics obtained from traditional bulk stable isotope analysis. The TMFs for the CSIA-AA equations ranged from 10 to 19, and bulk stable isotope analysis produced TMFs of 43, one of the highest TMFs recorded yet in the literature. Biomagnification factors between prey and northern gannets ranged from 20 to 42 using dietary observations and stable isotope mixing models. Our study demonstrates that discrepancies in biomagnification assessed using different approaches may go undetected when using a single approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose M Lacombe
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Rd, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada.
| | - Benjamin D Barst
- Water and Environmental Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1764 Tanana Loop, Fairbanks, AK, 99775-5910, USA.
| | - David Pelletier
- Département de Biologie, Cégep de Rimouski, 60 rue de l'Évêché O, Rimouski, Québec, G5L 4H6, Canada; Département de Biologie, Chimie et Géographie, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 300 allée des Ursulines Rimouski, Québec, G5L 3A1, Canada.
| | - Magella Guillemette
- Département de Biologie, Chimie et Géographie, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 300 allée des Ursulines Rimouski, Québec, G5L 3A1, Canada.
| | - Marc Amyot
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Montreal, 1375 Avenue Thérèse-Lavoie-Roux, Montréal, Québec, H2V 0B3, Canada.
| | - Raphaël A Lavoie
- Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1550 Av. D'Estimauville, Québec, G1J 0C3, Canada.
| | - Kyle H Elliott
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Rd, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada.
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Jiang YY, Zeng YH, Lu RF, Guan KL, Qi XM, Feng Q, Long L, Zhang YT, Zheng X, Luo XJ, Mai BX. Trophic Transfer of Halogenated Organic Pollutants in a Wetland Food Web: Insights from Compound-Specific Nitrogen Isotope of Amino Acids and Food Source Analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:16585-16594. [PMID: 37842981 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
A trophic position (TP) model (TPmix model) that simultaneously considered trophic discrimination factor and βGlu/Phe variations was developed in this study and was first applied to investigate the trophic transfer of halogenated organic pollutants (HOPs) in wetland food webs. The TPmix model characterized the structure of the wetland food web more accurately and significantly improved the reliability of TMF compared to the TPbulk, TPAAs, and TPsimmr models, which were calculated based on the methods of stable nitrogen isotope analysis of bulk, traditional AAs-N-CSIA, and weighted βGlu/Phe, respectively. Food source analysis revealed three interlocking food webs (kingfisher, crab, and frogs) in this wetland. The highest HOP biomagnification capacities (TMFmix) were found in the kingfisher food web (0.24-82.0), followed by the frog (0.08-34.0) and crab (0.56-11.7) food webs. The parabolic trends of TMFmix across combinations of log KOW in the frog food web were distinct from those of aquatic food webs (kingfisher and crab), which may be related to differences in food web composition and HOP bioaccumulation behaviors between aquatic and terrestrial organisms. This study provides a new tool to accurately study the trophic transfer of contaminants in wetlands and terrestrial food webs with diverse species and complex feeding relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ye Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yan-Hong Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Rui-Feng Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ke-Lan Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xue-Meng Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qunjie Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ling Long
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yan-Ting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaobo Zheng
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Bi-Xian Mai
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China
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Quillfeldt P, Bedolla-Guzmán Y, Libertelli MM, Cherel Y, Massaro M, Bustamante P. Mercury in Ten Storm-Petrel Populations from the Antarctic to the Subtropics. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2023:10.1007/s00244-023-01011-3. [PMID: 37438517 PMCID: PMC10374726 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-023-01011-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
The oceans become increasingly contaminated as a result of global industrial production and consumer behaviour, and this affects wildlife in areas far removed from sources of pollution. Migratory seabirds such as storm-petrels may forage in areas with different contaminant levels throughout the annual cycle and may show a carry-over of mercury from the winter quarters to the breeding sites. In this study, we compared mercury levels among seven species of storm-petrels breeding on the Antarctic South Shetlands and subantarctic Kerguelen Islands, in temperate waters of the Chatham Islands, New Zealand, and in temperate waters of the Pacific off Mexico. We tested for differences in the level of contamination associated with breeding and inter-breeding distribution and trophic position. We collected inert body feathers and metabolically active blood samples in ten colonies, reflecting long-term (feathers) and short-term (blood) exposures during different periods ranging from early non-breeding (moult) to late breeding. Feathers represent mercury accumulated over the annual cycle between two successive moults. Mercury concentrations in feathers ranged over more than an order of magnitude among species, being lowest in subantarctic Grey-backed Storm-petrels (0.5 μg g-1 dw) and highest in subtropical Leach's Storm-petrels (7.6 μg g-1 dw, i.e. posing a moderate toxicological risk). Among Antarctic Storm-petrels, Black-bellied Storm-petrels had threefold higher values than Wilson's Storm-petrels, and in both species, birds from the South Shetlands (Antarctica) had threefold higher values than birds from Kerguelen (subantarctic Indian Ocean). Blood represents mercury taken up over several weeks, and showed similar trends, being lowest in Grey-backed Storm-petrels from Kerguelen (0.5 μg g-1 dw) and highest in Leach's Storm-petrels (3.6 μg g-1 dw). Among Antarctic storm-petrels, species differences in the blood samples were similar to those in feathers, but site differences were less consistent. Over the breeding season, mercury decreased in blood samples of Antarctic Wilson's Storm-petrels, but did not change in Wilson's Storm-petrels from Kerguelen or in Antarctic Black-bellied Storm-petrels. In summary, we found that mercury concentrations in storm-petrels varied due to the distribution of species and differences in prey choice. Depending on prey choices, Antarctic storm-petrels can have similar mercury concentrations as temperate species. The lowest contamination was observed in subantarctic species and populations. The study shows how seabirds, which accumulate dietary pollutants in their tissues in the breeding and non-breeding seasons, can be used to survey marine pollution. Storm-petrels with their wide distributions and relatively low trophic levels may be especially useful, but more detailed knowledge on their prey choice and distributions is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Quillfeldt
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Yuliana Bedolla-Guzmán
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392, Giessen, Germany
- Grupo de Ecología Y Conservación de Islas, A.C., Ensenada, 22800, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Marcela M Libertelli
- Departamento de Biología de los Predadores Tope, Coordinación Ciencias de la Vida, Instituto Antártico Argentino, Avenida 25 de Mayo 1143, B1650HML, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Melanie Massaro
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, 2640, Australia
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266, CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
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Jiang Y, Zeng Y, Lu R, Zhang Y, Long L, Zheng X, Luo X, Mai B. Application of amino acids nitrogen stable isotopic analysis in bioaccumulation studies of pollutants: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 879:163012. [PMID: 36965734 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Accurately quantifying trophic positions (TP) to describe food web structure is an important element in studying pollutant bioaccumulation. In recent years, compound-specific nitrogen isotopic analysis of amino acids (AAs-N-CSIA) has been progressively applied as a potentially reliable tool for quantifying TP, facilitating a better understanding of pollutant food web transfer. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the analytical procedures, applications, and limitations of AAs-N-CSIA in pollutant (halogenated organic pollutants (HOPs) and heavy metals) bioaccumulation studies. We first summarize studies on the analytical techniques of AAs-N-CSIA, including derivatization, instrumental analysis, and data processing methods. The N-pivaloyl-i-propyl-amino acid ester method is a more suitable AAs derivatization method for quantifying TP. The AAs-N-CSIA application in pollutant bioaccumulation studies (e.g., Hg, MeHg, and HOPs) is discussed, and its application in conjunction with various techniques (e.g., spatial analysis, food source analysis, and compound tracking techniques, etc.) to research the influence of pollutant levels on organisms is summarized. Finally, the limitations of AAs-N-CSIA in pollutant bioaccumulation studies are discussed, including the use of single empirical values of βglu/phe and TDFglu/phe that result in large errors in TP quantification. The weighted βglu/phe and the multi-TDFglu/phe models are still challenging to solve for accurate TP quantification of omnivores; however, factors affecting the variation of βglu/phe and TDFglu/phe are unclear, especially the effect of pollutant bioaccumulation in organisms on internal AA metabolic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiye Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yanhong Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China.
| | - Ruifeng Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yanting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ling Long
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaobo Zheng
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xiaojun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Bixian Mai
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China
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8
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Pollet IL, McFarlane-Tranquilla L, Burgess NM, Diamond AW, Gjerdrum C, Hedd A, Hoeg R, Jones PL, Mauck RA, Montevecchi WA, Pratte I, Ronconi RA, Shutler D, Wilhelm SI, Mallory ML. Factors influencing mercury levels in Leach's storm-petrels at northwest Atlantic colonies. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 860:160464. [PMID: 36427741 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a globally distributed heavy metal, with negative effects on wildlife. Its most toxic form, methylmercury (MeHg), predominates in aquatic systems. Levels of MeHg in marine predators can vary widely among individuals and populations. Leach's storm-petrels (Hydrobates leucorhous) have elevated levels of Hg but the role of Hg in storm-petrel population declines is unknown. In this study, we used egg and blood samples to study variation in Hg exposure among several northwest Atlantic colonies during breeding seasons, thereby evaluating relative toxicity risk within and among colonies. Total mercury (THg) concentrations were higher with increasing colony latitude, and were more pronounced in blood than in eggs. THg concentrations in blood were mostly associated with low toxicity risk in birds from the southern colonies and moderate risks in birds from the northern colonies; however, those values did not affect hatching or fledging success. THg concentrations in both eggs and blood were positively correlated with δ34S, emphasizing the role of sulfate-reducing bacteria in methylation of THg acquired through marine food webs, which is consistent with enriched δ34S profiles. By associating tracking data from foraging trips with THg from blood, we determined that blood THg levels were higher when storm-petrel's intensive search locations were over deeper waters. We conclude that spatial variation in THg concentrations in Leach's storm-petrels is attributable to differences in ocean depth at foraging locations, both at individual and colony levels. Differences in diet among colonies observed previously are the most likely cause for observed blood THg differences. As one of the few pelagic seabird species breeding in Atlantic Canada, with limited overlap in core foraging areas among colonies, Leach's storm-petrels can be used as biomonitors for less sampled offshore pelagic regions. The global trend in Hg emissions combined with legacy levels warrant continued monitoring for toxicity effects in seabirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid L Pollet
- Acadia University, Department of Biology, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada; Birds Canada, PO Box 6436, Sackville, New Brunswick E4L 1G6, Canada.
| | | | - Neil M Burgess
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Antony W Diamond
- Atlantic Laboratory for Avian Research, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Carina Gjerdrum
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 45 Alderney Drive, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 2N6, Canada
| | - April Hedd
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Rielle Hoeg
- Acadia University, Department of Biology, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada; Birds Canada, PO Box 6436, Sackville, New Brunswick E4L 1G6, Canada
| | | | | | - William A Montevecchi
- Psychology Department, Memorial University, St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador A1C 3C9, Canada
| | - Isabeau Pratte
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 45 Alderney Drive, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 2N6, Canada
| | - Robert A Ronconi
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 45 Alderney Drive, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 2N6, Canada
| | - Dave Shutler
- Acadia University, Department of Biology, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Sabina I Wilhelm
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Mark L Mallory
- Acadia University, Department of Biology, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada
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9
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Lois NA, Balza U, Brasso R, Dodino S, Pütz K, Polito MJ, Riccialdelli L, Ciancio J, Quillfeldt P, Mahler B, Rey AR. Mercury and stable isotopes portray colony-specific foraging grounds in southern rockhopper penguins over the Patagonian Shelf. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 184:114137. [PMID: 36183510 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Mercury pollution is a serious global environmental issue and the characterization of its distribution and its driving forces should be urgently included in research agendas. We report unusually high mercury (Hg) concentrations (>5 μg/g) along with stable isotopes values in feathers of southern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome) from colonies in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. We found a highly heterogenous prevalence of Hg throughout the study area and over a three-fold higher mean Hg concentration in southernmost colonies. Variation in Hg concentrations among colonies is primarily explained by site, rather than by trophic position. We provide further support to the existence of a Hg hotspot in the food web of the Patagonian Shelf and spatially restrict it to the southern tip of South America. Our findings highlight the need for regional and colony-based seabird conservation management when high local variability and plasticity in foraging habits is evident.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás A Lois
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires (DEGE-FCEyN-UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (IEGEBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Ulises Balza
- Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CADIC-CONICET), Ushuaia, Argentina
| | - Rebecka Brasso
- Weber State University, Ogden, UT, United States of America
| | - Samanta Dodino
- Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CADIC-CONICET), Ushuaia, Argentina
| | | | - Michael J Polito
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Luciana Riccialdelli
- Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CADIC-CONICET), Ushuaia, Argentina
| | - Javier Ciancio
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR-CONICET), Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Petra Quillfeldt
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Bettina Mahler
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires (DEGE-FCEyN-UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (IEGEBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrea Raya Rey
- Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CADIC-CONICET), Ushuaia, Argentina; Instituto de Ciencias Polares, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego (ICPA-UNTdF), Ushuaia, Argentina; Wildlife Conservation Society, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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10
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Choy ES, Blight LK, Elliott JE, Hobson KA, Zanuttig M, Elliott KH. Stable Mercury Trends Support a Long-Term Diet Shift Away from Marine Foraging in Salish Sea Glaucous-Winged Gulls over the Last Century. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:12097-12105. [PMID: 35946869 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Marine predators are monitored as indicators of pollution, but such trends can be complicated by variation in diet. Glaucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucescens) have experienced a dietary shift over the past century, from mainly marine to including more terrestrial/freshwater inputs, with unknown impacts on mercury (Hg) trends. We examined 109-year trends in total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in glaucous-winged gull feathers (1887-1996) from the Salish Sea. Adult flank feathers had higher MeHg concentrations than immature feathers, and males head feathers had higher THg concentrations than females. Overall, we found no evidence of a trend in feather MeHg or THg concentrations over time from 1887 to 1996. In the same individuals, δ15N, δ13C, and δ34S declined over time in gull feathers. In comparison, egg THg concentrations declined from 1970 to 2019 in two species of cormorants, likely reflecting decreases in local Hg sources. We conclude that diet shifts through time may have countered increased Hg deposition from long-range transport in glaucous-winged gulls. The lack of Hg trends over time in glaucous-winged gull feathers provides additional support that these gulls have decreased the amount of marine forage fish in their diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily S Choy
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Louise K Blight
- School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
- Procellaria Research & Consulting, Victoria, British Columbia V9A 5C3, Canada
| | - John E Elliott
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pacific Wildlife Research Centre, Delta, British Columbia V4K 3N2, Canada
| | - Keith A Hobson
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A5B7, Canada
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3H5, Canada
| | - Michelle Zanuttig
- National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Kyle H Elliott
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
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11
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Pollet IL, Provencher JF, McFarlane Tranquilla L, Burgess NM, Mallory ML. Mercury levels in North Atlantic seabirds: A synthesis. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 181:113884. [PMID: 35809474 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is globally-distributed, with severe toxic effects on wildlife. Methylmercury biomagnifies within food webs, so long-lived, top predators such as seabirds are prone to high mercury concentrations. We synthesized historical and contemporary data on mercury concentrations in seabirds from the North Atlantic. We collected 614 values determined from 39 species and 115 locations, ranging from 1895 to 1940 and from 1970 to 2020. Highest blood-equivalent Hg values were in Phalacrocoracidae. For the same species/tissue/collection site, blood-equivalent values were lower during pre-1940 than post-1970 period. In almost 5 % of post-1970 values, mean blood-equivalent Hg concentrations were above those considered to pose severe risks of adverse effects, and 21 % were above the high-risk effect. We found an imbalance in sample effort and did not find Hg values for many species. We argue that stronger, trans-Atlantic Hg monitoring schemes are required to coordinate research and better compare trends across a wide scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid L Pollet
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada; Birds Canada, 43 Main Street, Sackville, NB E4L 1G6, Canada.
| | - Jennifer F Provencher
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada
| | | | - Neil M Burgess
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, 6 Bruce Street, Mount Pearl, NL A1N 4T3, Canada
| | - Mark L Mallory
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada
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12
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Quillfeldt P, Cherel Y, Navarro J, Phillips RA, Masello JF, Suazo CG, Delord K, Bustamante P. Variation Among Species and Populations, and Carry-Over Effects of Winter Exposure on Mercury Accumulation in Small Petrels. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.915199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Even in areas as remote as the Southern Ocean, marine organisms are exposed to contaminants that arrive through long-range atmospheric transport, such as mercury (Hg), a highly toxic metal. In previous studies in the Southern Ocean, inter-specific differences in Hg contamination in seabirds was generally related to their distribution and trophic position. However, the Blue Petrel (Halobaena caerulea) was a notable exception among small seabirds, with higher Hg levels than expected. In this study, we compared the Hg contamination of Blue Petrels and Thin-billed Prions (Pachyptila belcheri), which both spend the non-breeding season in polar waters, with that of Antarctic Prions (Pachyptila desolata), which spend the winter in subtropical waters. We collected body feathers and blood samples, representing exposure during different time-frames. Hg concentrations in feathers, which reflect contamination throughout the annual cycle, were related to δ13C values, and varied with ocean basin and species. Blue Petrels from breeding colonies in the southeast Pacific Ocean had much higher feather Hg concentrations than expected after accounting for latitude and their low trophic positions. Both Hg concentrations and δ15N in blood samples of Blue Petrels were much lower at the end than at the start of the breeding period, indicating a marked decline in Hg contamination and trophic positions, and the carry-over of Hg burdens between the wintering and breeding periods. Elevated Hg levels may reflect greater reliance on myctophids or foraging in sea-ice environments. Our study underlines that carry-over of Hg concentrations in prey consumed in winter may determine body Hg burdens well into the breeding season.
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13
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Le Croizier G, Point D, Renedo M, Munaron JM, Espinoza P, Amezcua-Martinez F, Lanco Bertrand S, Lorrain A. Mercury concentrations, biomagnification and isotopic discrimination factors in two seabird species from the Humboldt Current ecosystem. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 177:113481. [PMID: 35245770 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Assessing mercury (Hg) biomagnification requires the description of prey-predator relationships, for each species and ecosystem, usually based on carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses. Here, we analyzed two seabirds from the Humboldt Current ecosystem, the Guanay cormorant (Phalacrocorax bougainvillii) and the Peruvian booby (Sula variegata), as well as their main prey, the Peruvian anchovy (Engraulis ringens). We reported Hg concentrations, Hg biomagnification (BMF) and isotopic discrimination factors (Δ13C and Δ15N) in seabird whole blood. BMFs and Δ13C in our study (on wild birds where diet was not controlled) were similar to other piscivorous seabirds previously studied in captive settings, but Δ15N were lower than most captive experiments. We observed lower Hg concentrations in Humboldt seabirds compared to other oligotrophic ecosystems, possibly due to Hg biodilution in the high biomass of the first trophic levels. This work calls for a better characterization of Hg trophic dynamics in productive upwelling ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaël Le Croizier
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Joel Montes Camarena S/N, Mazatlán, Sin. México 82040, Mexico.
| | - David Point
- UMR Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), Observatoire Midi Pyrénées (OMP), 14 avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Marina Renedo
- UMR Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), Observatoire Midi Pyrénées (OMP), 14 avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | | | - Pepe Espinoza
- Laboratorio de Ecología Trófica, Instituto del Mar del Perú, Esquina Gamarra y General Valle S/N Chucuito Callao, Lima, Peru; Carrera de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Biológicas, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru
| | - Felipe Amezcua-Martinez
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Joel Montes Camarena S/N, Mazatlán, Sin. México 82040, Mexico
| | - Sophie Lanco Bertrand
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), MARBEC (Univ. Montpellier, Ifremer, CNRS, IRD), Avenue Jean Monnet, 34200 Sète, France
| | - Anne Lorrain
- Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, F-29280 Plouzané, France
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14
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Cui J, Halbrook RS, Zang S, Masdo MA, Han S. Evaluation of homing pigeon feather tissue as a biomonitor of environmental metal concentrations in China. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2021; 30:1521-1526. [PMID: 33755844 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-021-02387-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Biomonitoring provides direct evidence of the bioavailability and accumulation of toxic elements in the environment, and homing pigeons have been proposed as a biomonitor of atmospheric pollution. We evaluated metal concentrations in homing pigeon feather tissue as a biomonitoring tool. We measured cadmium, lead, and mercury concentrations in feathers collected from 5-6-yo homing pigeons from Guangzhou, Beijing, and Harbin, China during 2011, and feathers of 1, 5, and 10-yo homing pigeons collected from Guangzhou, Beijing, and Harbin, China during 2015-16. We compared metal concentrations in feathers between sexes and among ages and evaluated spatio-temporal differences. Correlations between feather metal concentrations and previously evaluated kidney and liver metal concentrations are reported. There were no significant differences in feather metal concentrations between male and female pigeons or among 1, 5, and 10-yo pigeons. Cadmium, lead, and mercury concentrations in feathers of 1-yo pigeons were significantly correlated with concentrations in liver and kidney tissues, although the correlations were not consistent. Spatio-temporal differences in feather metal concentrations suggest the usefulness of feathers in identifying areas of concern and remedial effectiveness. Homing pigeon feather metal concentrations appear to be useful as a screening biomonitoring tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Cui
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, 150025, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
- School of Management, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, 150025, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Richard S Halbrook
- Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory and Department of Zoology (Emeritus), Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
| | - Shuying Zang
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, 150025, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China.
- Heilongjiang Province Cold Region Ecological Safety Collaborative and Innovation Center, Harbin, 150025, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China.
| | | | - Shuang Han
- Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, People's Republic of China
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