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Pollet IL, Acmc S, Kelly BG, Baak JE, Hanifen KE, Maddox ML, Provencher JF, Mallory ML. The relationship between plastic ingestion and trace element concentrations in Arctic seabirds. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 203:116509. [PMID: 38788276 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116509] [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: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Seabirds ingest contaminants linked to their prey's tissues, but also adsorbed to ingested plastic debris. To explore relationships between ingested plastics and trace elements concentrations, we analyzed 25 essential non-essential trace elements in liver tissue in relation to plastic content in the gastrointestinal tract in adults of four species of Arctic seabirds with different propensity to ingest plastic. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) provided a clear separation between species based on element concentrations, but not among individuals with and without plastics. Molybdenum, copper, vanadium, and zinc were strong drivers of the LDA, separating northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) from other species (60.4 % of explained between-group variance). Selenium, vanadium, zinc, and mercury were drivers separating black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) from the other species (19.3 % of explained between-group variance). This study suggests that ingestion of plastic particles has little influence on the burden of essential and non-essential trace elements in Arctic seabird species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid L Pollet
- Acadia University, Biology Department, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada.
| | - Sululiit Acmc
- Sululiit ACMC - Environment and Climate Change Canada, P.O. Box 1870, Iqaluit, Nunavut X0A 0H0, Canada
| | - Brendan G Kelly
- Sululiit ACMC - Environment and Climate Change Canada, P.O. Box 1870, Iqaluit, Nunavut X0A 0H0, Canada
| | - Julia E Baak
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada; Sululiit ACMC - Environment and Climate Change Canada, P.O. Box 1870, Iqaluit, Nunavut X0A 0H0, Canada
| | | | - Mark L Maddox
- Acadia University, Biology Department, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Jennifer F Provencher
- National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Raven Road, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Mark L Mallory
- Acadia University, Biology Department, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
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Chapman J, Williamson BJ, Couto A, Zampollo A, Davies IM, Scott BE. Integrated survey methodologies provide process-driven framework for marine renewable energy environmental impact assessment. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 198:106532. [PMID: 38718523 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106532] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Environmental interactions of marine renewable energy developments vary from fine-scale direct (e.g. potential collision) to indirect wide-scale hydrodynamic changes altering oceanographic features. Current UK Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and associated Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) guidelines have limited focus on underlying processes affecting distribution and movements (hence vulnerability) of top predators. This study integrates multi-trophic ship survey (active acoustics and observer data) with an upward-facing seabed platform and 3-dimensional hydrodynamic model as a process-driven framework to investigate predator-prey linkages between seabirds and fish schools. Observer-only data highlighted the need to measure physical drivers of variance in species abundances and distributions. Active acoustics indicated that in situ (preferable to modelled) data were needed to identify temporal changes in hydrodynamics to predict prey and consequently top predator presence. Revising methods to identify key habitats and environmental covariates within current regulatory frameworks will enable more robust and transferable EIA and HRA processes and outputs, and at larger scales for cumulative and strategic-level assessments, enabling future modelling of ecosystem impacts from both climate change and renewable energy extraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Chapman
- School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Building, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - Benjamin J Williamson
- School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Building, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, AB24 2TZ, UK; Environmental Research Institute, University of Highlands and Islands, Thurso, KW14 7EE, UK.
| | - Ana Couto
- School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Building, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - Arianna Zampollo
- School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Building, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - Ian M Davies
- Scottish Government Marine Directorate, 375 Victoria Road, Aberdeen, AB11 9DB, UK
| | - Beth E Scott
- School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Building, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, AB24 2TZ, UK
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Merkel FR, Labansen AL, Autzen TF, Simon M, Hermannsen L. Quantifying marine traffic intensity in Northwest Greenland and the potential disturbance of two seabird colonies. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115398. [PMID: 37657192 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115398] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Marine traffic poses a growing threat to wildlife in the marine environment, including Arctic seabirds, which are exposed to high vessel densities when breeding in coastal areas. However, little is known about the magnitude of the problem. Here, we utilized underwater acoustic monitoring to quantify marine traffic and above-water disturbances at two thick-billed murre colonies in Greenland in 2016. We detected a total of 307 vessels, and only 4 % was known from automatic monitoring systems. Based on proximity, noise emission, and boating behavior, we classified 11 vessels as disturbing and an additional 12 as potentially disturbing for the seabirds. One colony facing population decline was located closest to the main boating route and experienced 2-5 times more disturbances than the other (increasing) colony, suggesting a negative impact of marine traffic. Our study shows that underwater acoustics can be a useful method to quantify above-water disturbances of seabird colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flemming Ravn Merkel
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland; Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Aili Lage Labansen
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Thyge Feldskou Autzen
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Malene Simon
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Line Hermannsen
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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Eby A, Patterson A, Sorenson G, Lazarus T, Whelan S, Elliott KH, Gilchrist HG, Love OP. Lower nutritional state and foraging success in an Arctic seabird despite behaviorally flexible responses to environmental change. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9923. [PMID: 37091555 PMCID: PMC10119025 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The degree to which individuals adjust foraging behavior in response to environmental variability can impact foraging success, leading to downstream impacts on fitness and population dynamics. We examined the foraging flexibility, average daily energy expenditure, and foraging success of an ice-associated Arctic seabird, the thick-billed murre (Uria lomvia) in response to broad-scale environmental conditions at two different-sized, low Arctic colonies located <300 km apart. First, we compared foraging behavior (measured via GPS units), average daily energy expenditure (estimated from GPS derived activity budgets), and foraging success (nutritional state measured via nutritional biomarkers pre- and post- GPS deployment) of murres at two colonies, which differ greatly in size: 30,000 pairs breed on Coats Island, Nunavut, and 400,000 pairs breed on Digges Island, Nunavut. Second, we tested whether colony size within the same marine ecosystem altered foraging behavior in response to broad-scale environmental variability. Third, we tested whether environmentally induced foraging flexibility influenced the foraging success of murres. Murres at the larger colony foraged farther and longer but made fewer trips, resulting in a lower nutritional state and lower foraging success compared to birds at the smaller colony. Foraging behavior and foraging success varied in response to environmental variation, with murres at both colonies making longer, more distant foraging trips in high ice regimes during incubation, suggesting flexibility in responding to environmental variability. However, only birds at the larger colony showed this same flexibility during chick rearing. Foraging success at both colonies was higher during high ice regimes, suggesting greater prey availability. Overall, murres from the larger colony exhibited lower foraging success, and their foraging behavior showed stronger responses to changes in broad-scale conditions such as sea ice regime. Taken together, this suggests that larger Arctic seabird colonies have higher behavioral and demographic sensitivity to environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Eby
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of WindsorWindsorOntarioN9B 3P4Canada
| | - Allison Patterson
- Department of Natural Resource SciencesMcGill UniversitySte Anne‐de‐BellevueQuebecH9X 3V9Canada
| | - Graham Sorenson
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of WindsorWindsorOntarioN9B 3P4Canada
- Present address:
Atlantic Region OfficeBirds CanadaSackvilleNew BrunswickE4L 1G6Canada
| | - Thomas Lazarus
- Department of Natural Resource SciencesMcGill UniversitySte Anne‐de‐BellevueQuebecH9X 3V9Canada
| | - Shannon Whelan
- Department of Natural Resource SciencesMcGill UniversitySte Anne‐de‐BellevueQuebecH9X 3V9Canada
| | - Kyle H. Elliott
- Department of Natural Resource SciencesMcGill UniversitySte Anne‐de‐BellevueQuebecH9X 3V9Canada
| | - H. Grant Gilchrist
- Environment and Climate Change CanadaNational Wildlife Research Centre1125 Colonel By Drive, Raven RoadOttawaOntarioK1A OH3Canada
| | - Oliver P. Love
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of WindsorWindsorOntarioN9B 3P4Canada
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Quillfeldt P, Bange A, Boutet A, Orben RA, Baylis AMM. Breeding Thin-Billed Prions Use Marine Habitats Ranging from Inshore to Distant Antarctic Waters. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12223131. [PMID: 36428358 PMCID: PMC9686775 DOI: 10.3390/ani12223131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pelagic seabirds cover large distances efficiently and thus may reach a variety of marine habitats during breeding. Previous studies using stable isotope data and geolocators suggested that Thin-billed Prions breeding in the Falkland Islands in the Southwest Atlantic may forage in temperate waters over the Patagonian Shelf or cross the Drake Passage to forage in Antarctic waters south of the Polar Front. We deployed miniature GPS dataloggers to track Thin-billed prions in the Falkland Islands during incubation (3 seasons) and chick-rearing (2 seasons). Thin-billed Prions had a wide distribution during incubation, covering latitudes between 43 and 60° S, with trip lengths of ca. 2000 km over seven days, on average. Thin-billed Prions from two nearby sites (60 km apart) were spatially segregated in their incubation trips, with New Island Thin-billed Prions foraging over the Patagonian Shelf, compared to Thin-billed Prions from Bird Island, that foraged in the region of the Polar Front. During chick-rearing, Thin-billed Prions from New Island undertook both long trips to the Patagonian Shelf and south of the Polar Front (30% of trips were 5-11 days), and short trips (70% of trips were 1-4 days) when they foraged more locally, including in inshore waters around the Falkland Islands. Females carried out more trips to distant sites. Thus, Thin-billed showed a high flexibility in foraging areas, habitats and foraging trip durations, which enable them to benefit from both, temperate and Antarctic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Quillfeldt
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392 Giessen, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Andreas Bange
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Aude Boutet
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Rachael A. Orben
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, USA
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