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Cavallo C, Chiaradia A, Deagle BE, Hays GC, Jarman S, McInnes JC, Ropert‐Coudert Y, Sánchez S, Reina RD. Quantifying prey availability using the foraging plasticity of a marine predator, the little penguin. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Cavallo
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton VIC Australia
| | - André Chiaradia
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton VIC Australia
- Conservation Department Phillip Island Nature Parks Cowes VIC Australia
| | - Bruce E. Deagle
- Australian Antarctic Division Kingston TAS Australia
- CSIRO National Research Collections‐Australian National Fish Collection Hobart TAS Australia
| | - Graeme C. Hays
- Centre for Integrative Ecology School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Geelong VIC Australia
| | - Simon Jarman
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia Perth WA Australia
| | - Julie C. McInnes
- Australian Antarctic Division Kingston TAS Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart TAS Australia
| | - Yan Ropert‐Coudert
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé UMR7372 CNRSLa Rochelle Université Villiers‐en‐Bois France
| | - Sonia Sánchez
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton VIC Australia
| | - Richard D. Reina
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton VIC Australia
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Finger A, Lavers JL, Dann P, Kowalczyk ND, Scarpaci C, Nugegoda D, Orbell JD. Metals and metalloids in Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) prey, blood and faeces. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2017; 223:567-574. [PMID: 28159398 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.01.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2016] [Revised: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Piscivorous species like the Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) are particularly at risk of being negatively impacted by pollution due to their heightened exposure through aquatic food chains. Therefore, determining the concentration of heavy metals in the fish prey of seabirds is an essential component of assessing such risk. In this study, we report on arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead and selenium concentrations in three fish species, which are known to comprise a substantial part of the diet of Little Penguins at the urban colony of St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. Metal concentrations in the fish sampled were generally within the expected limits, however, arsenic and mercury were higher than reported elsewhere. Anchovy (Engraulis australis) and sandy sprat (Hyperlophus vittatus) contained higher Hg concentrations than pilchard (Sardinops sagax), while sandy sprat and pilchard contained more selenium. We present these findings together with metal concentrations in Little Penguin blood and faeces, sampled within weeks of the fish collection. Mercury concentrations were highest in the blood, while faeces and fish prey species contained similar concentrations of arsenic and lead, suggesting faeces as a primary route of detoxification for these elements. We also investigated paired blood - faecal samples and found a correlation for selenium only. Preliminary data from stable isotope ratios in penguin blood indicate that changes in penguin blood mercury concentrations cannot be explained by trophic changes in their diet alone, suggesting a variation of bioavailable Hg within this semi-enclosed bay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annett Finger
- Institute for Sustainability & Innovation, College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia.
| | - Jennifer L Lavers
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, 20 Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, Tasmania 7004, Australia
| | - Peter Dann
- Research Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, PO Box 97, Cowes, Victoria 3922, Australia
| | - Nicole D Kowalczyk
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Carol Scarpaci
- Institute for Sustainability & Innovation, College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia
| | - Dayanthi Nugegoda
- RMIT University, School of Science, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - John D Orbell
- Institute for Sustainability & Innovation, College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia
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Mello FV, Roscales JL, Guida YS, Menezes JFS, Vicente A, Costa ES, Jiménez B, Torres JPM. Relationship between legacy and emerging organic pollutants in Antarctic seabirds and their foraging ecology as shown by δ 13C and δ 15N. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 573:1380-1389. [PMID: 27453143 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.07.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Revised: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Foraging ecology and the marine regions exploited by Antarctic seabirds outside of breeding strongly influence their exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs). However, relationships between them are largely unknown, an important knowledge gap given that many species are capital breeders and POPs may be deleterious to seabirds. This study investigates the relationship between Antarctic seabird foraging ecology (measured by δ13C and δ15N) and POPs accumulated in their eggs prior to breeding. Organochlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and dechlorane plus (DP) were measured in eggs of chinstrap, Adélie, and gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica, P. adeliae, P. papua), as well as south polar skua (Catharacta maccormicki), sampled on King George Island. Total POP levels were as follows: skua (3210±3330ng/g lipid weight)>chinstrap (338±128ng/g)>Adélie (287±43.3ng/g)>gentoo (252±49.4ng/g). Trophic position and pre-breeding foraging sites were important in explaining POP accumulation patterns across species. The most recalcitrant compounds were preferentially accumulated in skuas, occupying one trophic level above penguins. In contrast, their Antarctic endemism, coupled with influence from cold condensation of pollutants, likely contributed to penguins exhibiting higher concentrations of more volatile compounds (e.g., hexachlorobenzene, PCB-28 and -52) than skuas. Regional differences in penguin pre-breeding foraging areas did not significantly affect their POP burdens, whereas the trans-equatorial migration and foraging sites of skuas were strongly reflected in their pollutant profiles, especially for PBDEs and DPs. Overall, our results provide new insights on migratory birds as biovectors of POPs, including non-globally regulated compounds such as DP, from northern regions to Antarctica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flávia V Mello
- Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Laboratory of Radioisotopes Eduardo Penna Franca, UFRJ, Carlos Chagas Filho 373, CCS, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Jose L Roscales
- Dept. of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, (IQOG-CSIC), Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Yago S Guida
- Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Laboratory of Radioisotopes Eduardo Penna Franca, UFRJ, Carlos Chagas Filho 373, CCS, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Jorge F S Menezes
- Marco and Louise Mitrani Departament of Desert Ecology, SIDEER, BIDR, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Mideshet Ben-Gurion, 8499000, Israel.
| | - Alba Vicente
- Dept. of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, (IQOG-CSIC), Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Erli S Costa
- Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação, Universidade Estadual do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua 7 de Setembro, 1156 - Centro, Porto Alegre, RSCEP: 90.010-191, Brazil.
| | - Begoña Jiménez
- Dept. of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, (IQOG-CSIC), Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
| | - João Paulo M Torres
- Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Laboratory of Radioisotopes Eduardo Penna Franca, UFRJ, Carlos Chagas Filho 373, CCS, RJ, Brazil.
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Environmental variability drives shifts in the foraging behaviour and reproductive success of an inshore seabird. Oecologia 2015; 178:967-79. [PMID: 25894092 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-015-3294-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Marine animals forage in areas that aggregate prey to maximize their energy intake. However, these foraging 'hot spots' experience environmental variability, which can substantially alter prey availability. To survive and reproduce animals need to modify their foraging in response to these prey shifts. By monitoring their inter-annual foraging behaviours, we can understand which environmental variables affect their foraging efficiency, and can assess how they respond to environmental variability. Here, we monitored the foraging behaviour and isotopic niche of little penguins (Eudyptula minor), over 3 years (2008, 2011, and 2012) of climatic and prey variability within Port Phillip Bay, Australia. During drought (2008), penguins foraged in close proximity to the Yarra River outlet on a predominantly anchovy-based diet. In periods of heavy rainfall, when water depth in the largest tributary into the bay (Yarra River) was high, the total distance travelled, maximum distance travelled, distance to core-range, and size of core- and home-ranges of penguins increased significantly. This larger foraging range was associated with broad dietary diversity and high reproductive success. These results suggest the increased foraging range and dietary diversity of penguins were a means to maximize resource acquisition rather than a strategy to overcome local depletions in prey. Our results demonstrate the significance of the Yarra River in structuring predator-prey interactions in this enclosed bay, as well as the flexible foraging strategies of penguins in response to environmental variability. This plasticity is central to the survival of this small-ranging, resident seabird species.
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