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Bauer ADB, Linhares BDA, Nunes GT, Costa PG, Zebral YD, Bianchini A, Bugoni L. Temporal changes in metal and arsenic concentrations in blood and feathers of tropical seabirds after one of the largest environmental disasters associated with mining. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 248:118240. [PMID: 38266903 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118240] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Monitoring of contaminant levels in wildlife over time is a tool for assessing the presence and persistence of environmental impacts at ecosystem, community and population levels. Tropical seabirds breeding in the Abrolhos Archipelago, 70 km off the Brazilian coast, forage in areas under the influence of the Doce River discharge. In 2015, the Fundão Dam collapsed and released ca 60 million tons of iron ore tailings into the ocean. In the present study, red-billed tropicbirds Phaethon aethereus and brown boobies Sula leucogaster breeding in Abrolhos were monitored over four years (2019-2022) for metal (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Hg, Pb, Cd) and metalloid (As) concentrations in blood and feathers. Over six sampling events, metal (loid) concentrations showed strong temporal variation in both tissues. Overall, feathers showed greater element concentrations than blood, with stronger correlations between elements, especially Mn and the nonessential As, Cd, Hg and Pb. Mn is one of the major chemical markers of the Fundão Dam tailings. Metal (loid) concentrations in the tropical seabirds evaluated were above suggested threshold levels for most nonessential elements (As, Cd and Pb), especially in February 2021, when metal (loid) concentrations peaked in feathers. In this case, values were orders of magnitude higher than those observed in other sampling events. This occurred one year after a major rainy season in the Doce River basin, which increased river discharge of contaminated mud into the ocean, where contaminants are further remobilized by winds and currents, resulting in transference through the marine food web. This finding is consistent to what has been observed for other ecosystem compartments monitored in the region under the influence of the Doce River. Our findings highlight the utility of using tropical seabirds as sentinels of marine pollution, revealing strong temporal patterns in metal (loid) concentrations associated to bottom-up climatic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur de Barros Bauer
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Conservação, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade - NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 27965-045, Macaé, RJ, Brazil
| | - Bruno de Andrade Linhares
- Laboratório de Aves Aquáticas e Tartarugas Marinhas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
| | - Guilherme Tavares Nunes
- Centro de Estudos Costeiros, Limnológicos e Marinhos, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 95625-000, Imbé, RS, Brazil
| | - Patricia Gomes Costa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Yuri Dornelles Zebral
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Adalto Bianchini
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Leandro Bugoni
- Laboratório de Aves Aquáticas e Tartarugas Marinhas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
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van Beest FM, Schmidt NM, Stewart L, Hansen LH, Michelsen A, Mosbacher JB, Gilbert H, Le Roux G, Hansson SV. Geochemical landscapes as drivers of wildlife reproductive success: Insights from a high-Arctic ecosystem. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 903:166567. [PMID: 37633375 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
The bioavailability of essential and non-essential elements in vegetation is expected to influence the performance of free-ranging terrestrial herbivores. However, attempts to relate the use of geochemical landscapes by animal populations directly to reproductive output are currently lacking. Here we measured concentrations of 14 essential and non-essential elements in soil and vegetation samples collected in the Zackenberg valley, northeast Greenland, and linked these to environmental conditions to spatially predict and map geochemical landscapes. We then used long-term (1996-2021) survey data of muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) to quantify annual variation in the relative use of essential and non-essential elements in vegetated sites and their relationship to calf recruitment the following year. Results showed that the relative use of the geochemical landscape by muskoxen varied substantially between years and differed among elements. Selection for vegetated sites with higher levels of the essential elements N, Cu, Se, and Mo was positively linked to annual calf recruitment. In contrast, selection for vegetated sites with higher concentrations of the non-essential elements As and Pb was negatively correlated to annual calf recruitment. Based on the concentrations measured in our study, we found no apparent associations between annual calf recruitment and levels of C, Mn, Co, Zn, Cd, Ba, Hg, and C:N ratio in the vegetation. We conclude that the spatial distribution and access to essential and non-essential elements are important drivers of reproductive output in muskoxen, which may also apply to other wildlife populations. The value of geochemical landscapes to assess habitat-performance relationships is likely to increase under future environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floris M van Beest
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 1, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - Niels Martin Schmidt
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 1, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Lærke Stewart
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Gullbringvegen 36, 3800 Bø, Norway
| | - Lars H Hansen
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 1, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Anders Michelsen
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Hugo Gilbert
- Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement (UMR- 5245), CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Avenue de l'Agrobiopole, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France
| | - Gaël Le Roux
- Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement (UMR- 5245), CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Avenue de l'Agrobiopole, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France
| | - Sophia V Hansson
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement (UMR- 5245), CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Avenue de l'Agrobiopole, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France
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Miguel C, Vianna MRM, de Deus Santos MR. Doce river mining tailings can be an influencing factor in loggerhead turtles reproductive success in Brazil. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 196:115601. [PMID: 37783165 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115601] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
In November 2015, a tailings dam ruptured and affected the second largest nesting site of loggerhead sea turtles in Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate the reproductive success, and trace elements in female's plasma, freshly laid eggs, unhatched eggs, and dead hatchlings of loggerhead turtles that nest in the coastal area exposed to the mining waste (Povoação, Espírito Santo state) and compare them with animals from an area that was not affected by the tailings (Praia do Forte, Bahia state). Plasma concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Fe, and Zn were significantly higher in samples from Povoação in comparison to turtles from Praia do Forte. In Povoação, unhatched eggs and dead hatchlings had higher As, Cu, Hg, Mn, and Zn concentrations than freshly laid eggs, and trace elements correlated with the hatching and emergence success. Our findings suggest that the higher concentrations of some metals may influence the incubation period and reproductive success of loggerheads in the affected area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Miguel
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Laboratório de Biologia e Desenvolvimento do Sistema Nervoso, Avenida Ipiranga 6681 (Prédio 12, Bloco D, Sala 301), Porto Alegre, RS CEP 90619-900, Brazil; Projeto Chelonia mydas- Instituto Marcos Daniel, Av. Eugênio Pachêco de Queirós, s/n, Vitória, ES, CEP 29092-170, Brazil.
| | - Monica Ryff Moreira Vianna
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Laboratório de Biologia e Desenvolvimento do Sistema Nervoso, Avenida Ipiranga 6681 (Prédio 12, Bloco D, Sala 301), Porto Alegre, RS CEP 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Renan de Deus Santos
- Projeto Chelonia mydas- Instituto Marcos Daniel, Av. Eugênio Pachêco de Queirós, s/n, Vitória, ES, CEP 29092-170, Brazil
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Lima GDS, Menegario AA, Suarez CA, Kamazuka SH, Gemeiner H, Sánchez-Sarmiento AM, Ferioli RB, Barreto AS. Pelagic and estuarine birds as sentinels of metal(loid)s in the South Atlantic Ocean: Ecological niches as main factors acting on bioaccumulation. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 326:121452. [PMID: 36958663 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121452] [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: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Activities related to the offshore exploration and production of oil and natural gas provide economic development and an essential energy source. However, besides the risk of petroleum hydrocarbon contamination, these activities can also be sources of metals and metalloids for marine organism contamination. In this research, we evaluated the potential use of two pelagic (black-browed albatross Thalassarche melanophris and yellow-nosed albatross T. chlororhynchos) and one estuarine bird species (neotropical cormorant Nannopterum brasilianus) as sentinels of contamination of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, Mo, Zn, Ni, Ba, V, and Hg in an area under influence of oil and gas activities. The analyses were carried out in samples collected from 2015 to 2022 from 97 individuals. A factor alert; an adaptation from the contamination factor is proposed to identify individuals with high concentrations that possibly suffered contamination by anthropogenic origin. Grouping all species, the metal(loid)s with the highest concentrations were in decreasing order: Zn > Cu > Mn > Hg > As > Cd > Mo > V > Cr > Ba > Ni > Pb. Similar concentrations were observed for V, Mn, Cr and Pb among the three species. Pelagic birds showed higher levels of concentrations for Hg, As and Cd. Based on the correlations and multivariate analysis performed, the results indicate that the ecological niche factor has greater relevance in the bioaccumulation of these elements compared to the habitat. Although some individuals showed high concentrations in part of the trace elements, suggesting exposure to anthropic sources, the direct influence of oil production and exploration activities was not observed, suggesting that activities on the continent are the primary contamination source. The results of this work highlight the role of seabirds as sentinels for metal(loid)s, contributing to the knowledge of the occurrence of contaminants in the South Atlantic Ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Dos Santos Lima
- Environmental Studies Center (CEA), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Av. 24-A, 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
| | - Amauri Antonio Menegario
- Environmental Studies Center (CEA), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Av. 24-A, 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.
| | - Carlos Alfredo Suarez
- Environmental Studies Center (CEA), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Av. 24-A, 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
| | - Silvia Harumi Kamazuka
- Environmental Studies Center (CEA), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Av. 24-A, 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
| | - Hendryk Gemeiner
- Environmental Studies Center (CEA), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Av. 24-A, 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil; Basin Studies Laboratory (LEBAC), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Avenida 24-A, 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
| | - Angélica Maria Sánchez-Sarmiento
- Argonauta Institute for Coastal and Marine Conservation, Av. Governador Abreu Sodré, 1067, 11695-240, Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Raquel Beneton Ferioli
- Argonauta Institute for Coastal and Marine Conservation, Av. Governador Abreu Sodré, 1067, 11695-240, Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - André Silva Barreto
- Biodiversity Informatics and Geomatic Laboratory (LIBGeo), University of Vale do Itajaí (UNIVALI), Rua Uruguai, 458, 88302-901, Itajaí, SC, Brazil
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Linhares BDA, Bugoni L. Seabirds subsidize terrestrial food webs and coral reefs in a tropical rat-invaded archipelago. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2733. [PMID: 36057541 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Allochthonous resource fluxes mediated by organisms crossing ecosystem boundaries may be essential for supporting the structure and function of resource-limited environments, such as tropical islands and surrounding coral reefs. However, invasive species, such as black rats, thrive on tropical islands and disrupt the natural pathways of nutrient subsidies by reducing seabird colonies. Here, we used stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon to examine the role of seabirds in subsidizing the terrestrial food webs and adjacent coral reefs in the Abrolhos Archipelago, Southwest Atlantic Ocean. By sampling invasive rats and multiple ecosystem compartments (soil, plants, grasshoppers, tarantulas, and lizards) within and outside seabird colonies, we showed that seabird subsidies led to an overall enrichment in 15 N across the food web on islands. However, contrary to other studies, δ15 N values were consistently lower within the seabird colonies, suggesting that a higher seabird presence might produce a localized depletion in 15 N in small islands influenced by seabirds. In contrast, the nitrogen content (%N) in plants and soils was higher inside the colonies, corresponding to a higher effect of seabirds at the base of the trophic web. Among consumers, lizards and invasive rats seemed to obtain allochthonous resources from subsidized terrestrial organisms outside the colony. Inside the colony, however, they showed a more direct consumption of marine matter, suggesting that subsidies benefit these native and invasive animals both directly and indirectly. Nonetheless, in coral reefs, scleractinian corals assimilated seabird-derived nitrogen only around the two smaller and lower-elevation islands, as demonstrated by the substantially higher δ15 N values in relation to the reference areas. This provides evidence that island morphology may influence the incorporation of seabird nutrients in coral reefs around rat-invaded islands, likely because guano lixiviation toward seawater is facilitated in small and low-elevation terrains. Overall, these results showed that seabirds affected small islands across all trophic levels within and outside colonies and that these effects spread outward to coral reefs, evidencing resiliency of seabird subsidies even within a rat-invaded archipelago. Because rats are consumers of seabird chicks and eggs, however, rat eradication could potentially benefit the terrestrial and nearshore ecosystems through increased subsides carried by seabirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno de Andrade Linhares
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Rio Grande, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Laboratório de Aves Aquáticas e Tartarugas Marinhas (LAATM), Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Rio Grande, Brazil
| | - Leandro Bugoni
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Laboratório de Aves Aquáticas e Tartarugas Marinhas (LAATM), Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Rio Grande, Brazil
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Seabirds Health and Conservation Medicine in Brazil. J Nat Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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