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García-Cegarra AM, Martínez-López E. Metal concentrations in feathers of red-legged cormorants (Phalacrocorax gaimardi) and sources of plastic in a nesting colony from northern Chile. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 190:114817. [PMID: 36931167 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114817] [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: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mining industry is increasing the concentrations of heavy metals in coastal ecosystems of northern Chile. The presence of plastic in the nests of red-legged cormorants could be acting as a vector of metal presence in their organism. Here we analyze the source of plastic in the nests of cormorants by characterizing the abundance and type of marine debris in beaches and sea surface and the concentrations of eight metals in their feathers. Plastic was present in overall sampled nests and floating and beach debris are not the main sources of plastic to the nests. Overall analyzed metals were present in the cormorants in the following order: Zn > Cu > Se > Pb > Cd > As > Hg > Cr and Se, Cd and Pb concentrations were above the toxic limit. Further studies should investigate the potential adverse effects that plastics and metals presence may cause in this nesting colony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M García-Cegarra
- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales Alexander von Humboldt, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Chile; Centro de Investigación de Fauna Marina y Avistamiento de Cetáceos, CIFAMAC, Mejillones, Chile.
| | - Emma Martínez-López
- Area of Toxicology, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
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2
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Gilmour ME, Lewis PJ, Paige T, Lavers JL. Persistent organic pollutant (POPs) concentrations from great-winged petrels nesting in Western Australia. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 168:112396. [PMID: 33894588 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Marine animals that traverse coastal and offshore environments are potentially exposed to multiple sources of pollution. Baseline data of pollutant concentrations of these fauna are needed in remote areas as human populations grow and economic development increases because changes may affect local wildlife in unforeseen ways. Persistent organic pollutant (POPs) concentrations were quantified in an understudied seabird, the great-winged petrel (Pterodroma macroptera), that breeds in southern Western Australia. Organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) were measured in adults. Total POPs concentrations ranged 5.6-46.4 ng g-1 ww. The most frequently detected POPs were the dichlorodiethyltrichloroethane (DDT) metabolite 4,4'DDE, the PCB CB-28, and the BFR polybrominated diphenyl ether BDE-99. These results contribute to the limited POPs data in marine fauna in this remote region, and the Southern Hemisphere, adding to the growing body of evidence that remote regions are affected by global trends of POPs distributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan E Gilmour
- Ocean Sciences Department, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Battery Point, Tasmania 7004, Australia.
| | - Phoebe J Lewis
- Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation (EnSuRe), School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - Tanya Paige
- Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation (EnSuRe), School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - Jennifer L Lavers
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Battery Point, Tasmania 7004, Australia
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Mott R, Herrod A, Clarke RH. Transboundary priorities for protection of frigatebird non-breeding habitat in a heavily impacted region. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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Lavers JL, Humphreys-Williams E, Crameri NJ, Bond AL. Trace element concentrations in feathers from three seabird species breeding in the Timor Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 151:110876. [PMID: 32056652 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110876] [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: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Mobile marine predators, such as seabirds, are frequently used as broad samplers of contaminants that are widespread in the marine environment. The Timor Sea off remote Western Australia is a poorly studied, yet rapidly expanding area of offshore development. To provide much needed data on contamination in this region, we quantified trace element concentrations in breast feathers of three seabird species breeding on Bedout Island. While adult Masked Boobies Sula dactylatra exhibited some of the highest concentrations, values for all species were below toxicology thresholds for seabirds and were comparable to those reported in other closely related species. The low concentrations detected in the birds provide a valuable baseline and suggest that the local marine environment around Bedout is in relatively good condition. However, careful monitoring is warranted in light increasing anthropogenic activity in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Lavers
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, 20 Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, Tasmania 7004, Australia.
| | - Emma Humphreys-Williams
- Imaging and Analysis Centre, Core Research Labs, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J Crameri
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, 20 Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, Tasmania 7004, Australia
| | - Alexander L Bond
- Bird Group, Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Akeman Street, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 6AP, United Kingdom
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Clay TA, Oppel S, Lavers JL, Phillips RA, Brooke MDL. Divergent foraging strategies during incubation of an unusually wide-ranging seabird, the Murphy's petrel. MARINE BIOLOGY 2019; 166:8. [PMID: 30595609 PMCID: PMC6295288 DOI: 10.1007/s00227-018-3451-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Divergent foraging strategies may emerge within a population due to a combination of physiological and environmental factors; yet to persist, neither strategy should offer a consistent selective advantage over the alternative in the long term. Murphy's petrels Pterodroma ultima from Henderson Island (24°20'S, 128°20'W) in the South Pacific Ocean are highly vagile, and exhibit two distinct foraging trip types during incubation; similar proportions of birds undertake either looping trips around the South Pacific Gyre to waters off Peru (hereafter "East") or trips south-west of the colony towards the Subtropical Front ("South") (mean maximum ranges of c. 3800 or 2000 km from the colony, respectively). However, the relative benefits of the distinct trip types remain unclear. Through tracking birds with GPS and salt-water immersion loggers in 2015, the fine-scale foraging behaviour was examined for East (trip durations: 14.1-19.8 days, maximum ranges 2387-4823 km) and South trips (12.9-25.8 days, 1565-1991 km). Data on behaviour classified from GPS tracks, the number of wet bouts per hour (a proxy for landing rates) and wind speeds, were used to distinguish two distinct foraging modes: birds on East trips spent more time in directed movement, whereas those on South trips spent a greater proportion of time in area-restricted search (ARS) behaviour. East trips were associated with higher overall mass gain, and wet bouts occurred in equal proportions during directed movement and ARS behaviour. This suggests that in unproductive marine environments, it may be more profitable to maximise area covered to increase the chances of encountering prey. Analysis of lower-resolution geolocator data (collected from 2011 to 2014) indicated that individuals were largely consistent in trip type between years. Since birds that conducted East trips were 19% lighter on departure from the colony and experienced more frequent tailwinds on foraging trips, we speculate that these birds may benefit from reduced movement costs, whilst also experiencing reduced competition for foraging opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A. Clay
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ UK
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GP UK
| | - Steffen Oppel
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EZ UK
| | - Jennifer L. Lavers
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EZ UK
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, 20 Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, Hobart, TAS 7004 Australia
| | - Richard A. Phillips
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET UK
| | - M. de L. Brooke
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ UK
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Massaro M, Chick A, Kennedy ES, Whitsed R. Post-reintroduction distribution and habitat preferences of a spatially limited island bird species. Anim Conserv 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Massaro
- School of Environmental Sciences; Charles Sturt University; Albury NSW Australia
- Institute for Land; Water and Society; Charles Sturt University; Albury NSW Australia
| | - A. Chick
- Department of Conservation, Te Papa Atawhai, Science and Policy; Christchurch New Zealand
| | - E. S. Kennedy
- Department of Conservation, Te Papa Atawhai, Science and Policy; Christchurch New Zealand
| | - R. Whitsed
- School of Environmental Sciences; Charles Sturt University; Albury NSW Australia
- Institute for Land; Water and Society; Charles Sturt University; Albury NSW Australia
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Mott R, Herrod A, Clarke RH. Interpopulation resource partitioning of Lesser Frigatebirds and the influence of environmental context. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:8583-8594. [PMID: 28031809 PMCID: PMC5167043 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Conspecific individuals inhabiting nearby breeding colonies are expected to compete strongly for food resources owing to the constraints imposed by shared morphology, physiology, and behavior on foraging strategy. Consequently, colony‐specific foraging patterns that effectively partition the available resources may be displayed. This study aimed to determine whether intraspecific resource partitioning occurs in two nearby colonies of Lesser Frigatebirds (Fregata ariel). A combination of stable isotope analysis and GPS tracking was used to assess dietary and spatial partitioning of foraging resources during the 2013 and 2014 breeding seasons. These results were compared to vessel‐derived estimates of prey availability, local primary productivity, and estimates of reproductive output to suggest potential drivers and implications of any observed partitioning. Isotopic data indicated a more neritic source of provisioned resources for near‐fledged chicks at an inshore colony, whereas their offshore counterparts were provisioned with resources with a more pelagic signal. Deep pelagic waters (>200 m) had higher availability of a preferred prey type despite a trend for lower primary productivity. Differences in foraging ecology between the two populations may have contributed to markedly different reproductive outputs. These findings suggest environmental context influences dietary and spatial aspects of foraging ecology. Furthermore, the effect of colony‐specific foraging patterns on population demography warrants further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan Mott
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Vic. Australia
| | - Ashley Herrod
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Vic. Australia
| | - Rohan H Clarke
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Vic. Australia
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Bouchet PJ, Meeuwig JJ. Drifting baited stereo-videography: a novel sampling tool for surveying pelagic wildlife in offshore marine reserves. Ecosphere 2015. [DOI: 10.1890/es14-00380.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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