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Cruz-Flores M, Lemaire J, Brault-Favrou M, Christensen-Dalsgaard S, Churlaud C, Descamps S, Elliott K, Erikstad KE, Ezhov A, Gavrilo M, Grémillet D, Guillou G, Hatch S, Huffeldt NP, Kitaysky AS, Kolbeinsson Y, Krasnov Y, Langset M, Leclaire S, Linnebjerg JF, Lorentzen E, Mallory ML, Merkel FR, Montevecchi W, Mosbech A, Patterson A, Perret S, Provencher JF, Reiertsen TK, Renner H, Strøm H, Takahashi A, Thiebot JB, Thórarinsson TL, Will A, Bustamante P, Fort J. Spatial distribution of selenium-mercury in Arctic seabirds. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 343:123110. [PMID: 38086506 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123110] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a metallic trace element toxic for humans and wildlife that can originate from natural and anthropic sources. Hg spatial gradients have been found in seabirds from the Arctic and other oceans, suggesting contrasting toxicity risks across regions. Selenium (Se) plays a protective role against Hg toxicity, but its spatial distribution has been much less investigated than that of Hg. From 2015 to 2017, we measured spatial co-exposure of Hg and Se in blood samples of two seabird species, the Brünnich's guillemot (Uria lomvia) and the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) from 17 colonies in the Arctic and subarctic regions, and we calculated their molar ratios (Se:Hg), as a measure of Hg sequestration by Se and, therefore, of Hg exposure risk. We also evaluated concentration differences between species and ocean basins (Pacific-Arctic and Atlantic-Arctic), and examined the influence of trophic ecology on Hg and Se concentrations using nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes. In the Atlantic-Arctic ocean, we found a negative west-to-east gradient of Hg and Se for guillemots, and a positive west-to-east gradient of Se for kittiwakes, suggesting that these species are better protected from Hg toxicity in the European Arctic. Differences in Se gradients between species suggest that they do not follow environmental Se spatial variations. This, together with the absence of a general pattern for isotopes influence on trace element concentrations, could be due to foraging ecology differences between species. In both oceans, the two species showed similar Hg concentrations, but guillemots showed lower Se concentrations and Se:Hg than kittiwakes, suggesting a higher Hg toxicity risk in guillemots. Within species, neither Hg, nor Se or Se:Hg differed between both oceans. Our study highlights the importance of considering Se together with Hg, along with different species and regions, when evaluating Hg toxic effects on marine predators in international monitoring programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Cruz-Flores
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France.
| | - Jérémy Lemaire
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France; Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Maud Brault-Favrou
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | | | - Carine Churlaud
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | | | - Kyle Elliott
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University. Ste Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada H9X 3V9
| | | | - Alexey Ezhov
- Murmansk Marine Biological Institute Russian Academy of Science, 183010 Vladimirskaya Str. 17, Murmansk, Russia
| | - Maria Gavrilo
- Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute. 199397 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - David Grémillet
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France; Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Gaël Guillou
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Scott Hatch
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center. Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
| | - Nicholas Per Huffeldt
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland; Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University. 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Alexander S Kitaysky
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Arctic Biology, Department of Biology & Wildlife. Fairbanks, AK 99775-7000, USA
| | | | - Yuri Krasnov
- Murmansk Marine Biological Institute Russian Academy of Science, 183010 Vladimirskaya Str. 17, Murmansk, Russia
| | | | - Sarah Leclaire
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB), UMR 5174, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD. 31062 Toulouse, France
| | | | | | - Mark L Mallory
- Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Flemming R Merkel
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland; Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University. 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - William Montevecchi
- Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. St. John's, Newfoundland A1C 3X9, Canada
| | - Anders Mosbech
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University. 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Allison Patterson
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University. Ste Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada H9X 3V9
| | - Samuel Perret
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Jennifer F Provencher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0H3
| | - Tone K Reiertsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, FRAM Centre. 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Heather Renner
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Maritime Wildlife Refuge, Homer, AK, USA
| | - Hallvard Strøm
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre. 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Akinori Takahashi
- National Institute of Polar Research, 10-3 Midori-cho, Tachikawa. Tokyo 190-8518, Japan
| | - Jean-Baptiste Thiebot
- National Institute of Polar Research, 10-3 Midori-cho, Tachikawa. Tokyo 190-8518, Japan; Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-8611, Japan
| | | | - Alexis Will
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Arctic Biology, Department of Biology & Wildlife. Fairbanks, AK 99775-7000, USA; World Wildlife Fund, US Arctic Program, 810 N Street, Suite 300, Anchorage AK 99501, USA
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
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Smith RA, Fort J, Legagneux P, Chastel O, Mallory ML, Bustamante P, Danielsen J, Hanssen SA, Einar Jónsson J, Magnúsdóttir E, Moe B, Parenteau C, Parkinson KJL, Parsons GJ, Tertitski G, Love OP. Do foraging ecology and contaminants interactively predict parenting hormone levels in common eider? Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 337:114261. [PMID: 36907529 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Global climate change is causing abiotic shifts such as higher air and ocean temperatures, and disappearing sea ice in Arctic ecosystems. These changes influence Arctic-breeding seabird foraging ecology by altering prey availability and selection, affecting individual body condition, reproductive success, and exposure to contaminants such as mercury (Hg). The cumulative effects of alterations to foraging ecology and Hg exposure may interactively alter the secretion of key reproductive hormones such as prolactin (PRL), important for parental attachment to eggs and offspring and overall reproductive success. However, more research is needed to investigate the relationships between these potential links. Using data collected from 106 incubating female common eiders (Somateria mollissima) at six Arctic and sub-Arctic colonies, we examined whether the relationship between individual foraging ecology (assessed using δ13C, δ15N) and total Hg (THg) exposure predicted PRL levels. We found a significant, complex interaction between δ13C, δ15N and THg on PRL, suggesting that individuals cumulatively foraging at lower trophic levels, in phytoplankton-dominant environments, and with the highest THg levels had the most constant significant relationship PRL levels. Cumulatively, these three interactive variables resulted in lowered PRL. Overall, results demonstrate the potential downstream and cumulative implications of environmentally induced changes in foraging ecology, in combination with THg exposure, on hormones known to influence reproductive success in seabirds. These findings are notable in the context of continuing environmental and food web changes in Arctic systems, which may make seabird populations more susceptible to ongoing stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reyd A Smith
- University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada.
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Pierre Legagneux
- Université Laval, Département de Biologie and Centre d'Études Nordiques, Québec City, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada; Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Mark L Mallory
- Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 17000 La Rochelle, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, 75005 Paris, France
| | | | - Sveinn A Hanssen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Sognsveien 68, N-0855 Oslo, Norway
| | - Jón Einar Jónsson
- University of Iceland's Research Centre at Snæfellsnes, Hafnargata 3, 340, Stykkishólmur, Iceland
| | - Ellen Magnúsdóttir
- University of Iceland's Research Centre at Snæfellsnes, Hafnargata 3, 340, Stykkishólmur, Iceland
| | - Børge Moe
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, PB 5685 Torgarden, N-7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Charline Parenteau
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | | | - Glen J Parsons
- Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 4E5, Canada
| | - Grigori Tertitski
- Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119017, Russian Federation
| | - Oliver P Love
- University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada
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3
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Smith RA, Albonaimi SS, Hennin HL, Gilchrist HG, Fort J, Parkinson KJL, Provencher JF, Love OP. Exposure to cumulative stressors affects the laying phenology and incubation behaviour of an Arctic-breeding marine bird. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 807:150882. [PMID: 34627894 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife are exposed to multiple stressors across life-history stages, the effects of which can be amplified as human activity surges globally. In Arctic regions, increasing air and ocean temperatures, more severe weather systems, and exposure to environmental contaminants all represent stressors occurring simultaneously. While Arctic vertebrates, including marine birds, are expected to be at risk of adverse effects from these individual stressors, few studies have researched their combined impacts on breeding behaviour and reproductive success. The interactive effects of environmental conditions and mercury (Hg) contamination on laying phenology and incubation behaviour were examined in female common eiders (Somateria mollissima, mitiq, ᒥᑎᖅ ᐊᒪᐅᓕᒡᔪᐊᖅ) nesting at Canada's largest Arctic breeding colony. Conditions with higher pre-breeding air temperatures were linked to females with higher egg Hg concentrations laying earlier than those with lower Hg values. Furthermore, examination of a total of 190 days of incubation behaviour from 61 eiders across two years revealed a negative relationship between wind speed and the frequency of incubation interruptions. Importantly, exposure to higher air temperatures combined with lower Hg concentrations was significantly correlated with increased incubation interruptions. Although previous research has shown that warmer spring temperatures could afford lower quality females more time to improve body condition to successfully lay, results suggest these females may face stronger cumulative fitness costs during incubation in warmer years, potentially in combination with the effects of Hg on physiological stress and hormone secretion. This study highlights how multiple stressors exposure, driven by human-induced environmental changes, can have a complex influence on reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reyd A Smith
- University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada.
| | | | - Holly L Hennin
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K0A 1H0, Canada
| | - H Grant Gilchrist
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K0A 1H0, Canada
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | | | - Jennifer F Provencher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K0A 1H0, Canada
| | - Oliver P Love
- University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada
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