1
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Albert C, Moe B, Strøm H, Grémillet D, Brault-Favrou M, Tarroux A, Descamps S, Bråthen VS, Merkel B, Åström J, Amélineau F, Angelier F, Anker-Nilssen T, Chastel O, Christensen-Dalsgaard S, Danielsen J, Elliott K, Erikstad KE, Ezhov A, Fauchald P, Gabrielsen GW, Gavrilo M, Hanssen SA, Helgason HH, Johansen MK, Kolbeinsson Y, Krasnov Y, Langset M, Lemaire J, Lorentsen SH, Olsen B, Patterson A, Plumejeaud-Perreau C, Reiertsen TK, Systad GH, Thompson PM, Lindberg Thórarinsson T, Bustamante P, Fort J. Seabirds reveal mercury distribution across the North Atlantic. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2315513121. [PMID: 38739784 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2315513121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a heterogeneously distributed toxicant affecting wildlife and human health. Yet, the spatial distribution of Hg remains poorly documented, especially in food webs, even though this knowledge is essential to assess large-scale risk of toxicity for the biota and human populations. Here, we used seabirds to assess, at an unprecedented population and geographic magnitude and high resolution, the spatial distribution of Hg in North Atlantic marine food webs. To this end, we combined tracking data of 837 seabirds from seven different species and 27 breeding colonies located across the North Atlantic and Atlantic Arctic together with Hg analyses in feathers representing individual seabird contamination based on their winter distribution. Our results highlight an east-west gradient in Hg concentrations with hot spots around southern Greenland and the east coast of Canada and a cold spot in the Barents and Kara Seas. We hypothesize that those gradients are influenced by eastern (Norwegian Atlantic Current and West Spitsbergen Current) and western (East Greenland Current) oceanic currents and melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet. By tracking spatial Hg contamination in marine ecosystems and through the identification of areas at risk of Hg toxicity, this study provides essential knowledge for international decisions about where the regulation of pollutants should be prioritized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Albert
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés, UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle 17000, France
| | - Børge Moe
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim 7034, Norway
| | - Hallvard Strøm
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø 9296, Norway
| | - David Grémillet
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR5175, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier 34293, France
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Maud Brault-Favrou
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés, UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle 17000, France
| | - Arnaud Tarroux
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Fram Centre, Tromsø 9296, Norway
| | | | | | - Benjamin Merkel
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø 9296, Norway
- Akvaplan-niva, Fram Centre, Tromsø NO-9007, Norway
| | - Jens Åström
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim 7034, Norway
| | - Françoise Amélineau
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR5175, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier 34293, France
| | - Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois 79360, France
| | | | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois 79360, France
| | | | - Johannis Danielsen
- Seabird Ecology Department, Faroe Marine Research Institute, Tórshavn FO-100, Faroe Islands
| | - Kyle Elliott
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | | | - Alexey Ezhov
- Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, Murmansk 183010, Russia
| | - Per Fauchald
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Fram Centre, Tromsø 9296, Norway
| | | | - Maria Gavrilo
- Association Maritime Heritage, Icebreaker "Krassin", Saint-Petersburg RU-199106, Russia
- National Park Russian Arctic, Archangelsk RU-168000, Russia
| | - Sveinn Are Hanssen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Fram Centre, Tromsø 9296, Norway
| | | | | | | | - Yuri Krasnov
- Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, Murmansk 183010, Russia
| | | | - Jérémy Lemaire
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés, UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle 17000, France
| | | | - Bergur Olsen
- Seabird Ecology Department, Faroe Marine Research Institute, Tórshavn FO-100, Faroe Islands
| | - Allison Patterson
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | | | - Tone K Reiertsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Fram Centre, Tromsø 9296, Norway
| | | | - Paul M Thompson
- University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, Lighthouse Field Station, Ross-shire, Cromarty IV11 8YJ, Scotland
| | | | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés, UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle 17000, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris 75005, France
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés, UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle 17000, France
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2
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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. Environ Pollut 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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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3
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Bustamante P, Le Verge T, Bost CA, Brault-Favrou M, Le Corre M, Weimerskirch H, Cherel Y. Mercury contamination in the tropical seabird community from Clipperton Island, eastern Pacific Ocean. Ecotoxicology 2023; 32:1050-1061. [PMID: 37615819 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-023-02691-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) pollution is a global problem affecting remote areas of the open ocean, but the bioaccumulation of this neurotoxic pollutant in tropical top predators remains poorly documented. The objective of this study was to determine Hg contamination of the seabird community nesting on Clipperton Island using blood and feathers to investigate short and longer-term contamination, respectively. We examined the significance of various factors (species, sex, feeding habitat [δ13C] and trophic position [δ15N]) on Hg concentrations in six seabird species. Among species, Great Frigatebirds had the highest Hg concentrations in blood and feathers, boobies had intermediate values, and Brown Noddies and Sooty Terns the lowest. At the interspecific level, although δ13C values segregated boobies from frigatebirds and noddies/terns, Hg concentrations were explained by neither δ13C nor δ15N values. At the intraspecific level, both Hg concentrations in blood and feathers show relatively small variations (16-32 and 26-74%, respectively), suggesting that feeding ecology had low seasonal variation among individuals. Despite most species being sexually dimorphic, differences in Hg contamination according to sex was detected only in Brown Boobies during the breeding period. Indeed, female Brown Boobies feed at a higher trophic level and in a different area than males during this period, resulting in higher blood Hg concentrations. The present study also shows that most of the seabirds sampled at Clipperton Island had little or no exposure to Hg toxicity, with 30% in the no risk category and 70% in the low risk category.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France.
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, 75005, Paris, France.
| | - Thibault Le Verge
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Charles-André Bost
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Maud Brault-Favrou
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Matthieu Le Corre
- UMR ENTROPIE (Université de La Réunion, IRD, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de Nouvelle-Calédonie), Université de La Réunion, 15 Avenue René Cassin, CS92003, Saint Denis cedex, 997744, La Réunion, France
| | - Henri Weimerskirch
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
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4
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Chastel O, Fort J, Ackerman JT, Albert C, Angelier F, Basu N, Blévin P, Brault-Favrou M, Bustnes JO, Bustamante P, Danielsen J, Descamps S, Dietz R, Erikstad KE, Eulaers I, Ezhov A, Fleishman AB, Gabrielsen GW, Gavrilo M, Gilchrist G, Gilg O, Gíslason S, Golubova E, Goutte A, Grémillet D, Hallgrimsson GT, Hansen ES, Hanssen SA, Hatch S, Huffeldt NP, Jakubas D, Jónsson JE, Kitaysky AS, Kolbeinsson Y, Krasnov Y, Letcher RJ, Linnebjerg JF, Mallory M, Merkel FR, Moe B, Montevecchi WJ, Mosbech A, Olsen B, Orben RA, Provencher JF, Ragnarsdottir SB, Reiertsen TK, Rojek N, Romano M, Søndergaard J, Strøm H, Takahashi A, Tartu S, Thórarinsson TL, Thiebot JB, Will AP, Wilson S, Wojczulanis-Jakubas K, Yannic G. Mercury contamination and potential health risks to Arctic seabirds and shorebirds. Sci Total Environ 2022; 844:156944. [PMID: 35752241 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Since the last Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) effort to review biological effects of mercury (Hg) on Arctic biota in 2011 and 2018, there has been a considerable number of new Arctic bird studies. This review article provides contemporary Hg exposure and potential health risk for 36 Arctic seabird and shorebird species, representing a larger portion of the Arctic than during previous AMAP assessments now also including parts of the Russian Arctic. To assess risk to birds, we used Hg toxicity benchmarks established for blood and converted to egg, liver, and feather tissues. Several Arctic seabird populations showed Hg concentrations that exceeded toxicity benchmarks, with 50 % of individual birds exceeding the "no adverse health effect" level. In particular, 5 % of all studied birds were considered to be at moderate or higher risk to Hg toxicity. However, most seabirds (95 %) were generally at lower risk to Hg toxicity. The highest Hg contamination was observed in seabirds breeding in the western Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Most Arctic shorebirds exhibited low Hg concentrations, with approximately 45 % of individuals categorized at no risk, 2.5 % at high risk category, and no individual at severe risk. Although the majority Arctic-breeding seabirds and shorebirds appeared at lower risk to Hg toxicity, recent studies have reported deleterious effects of Hg on some pituitary hormones, genotoxicity, and reproductive performance. Adult survival appeared unaffected by Hg exposure, although long-term banding studies incorporating Hg are still limited. Although Hg contamination across the Arctic is considered low for most bird species, Hg in combination with other stressors, including other contaminants, diseases, parasites, and climate change, may still cause adverse effects. Future investigations on the global impact of Hg on Arctic birds should be conducted within a multi-stressor framework. This information helps to address Article 22 (Effectiveness Evaluation) of the Minamata Convention on Mercury as a global pollutant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS- La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France.
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 17000 La Rochelle, France.
| | - Joshua T Ackerman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA 95620, United States.
| | - Céline Albert
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS- La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Niladri Basu
- McGill University, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Montreal, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | | | - Maud Brault-Favrou
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Jan Ove Bustnes
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, FRAM Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 17000 La Rochelle, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 75005 Paris, France
| | | | | | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | - Igor Eulaers
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram center, 9296 Tromsø, Norway; Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Alexey Ezhov
- Murmansk Marine Biological Institute Russian Academy of Science, 183010 Vladimirskaya str. 17 Murmansk, Russia
| | - Abram B Fleishman
- Conservation Metrics, Inc., Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Maria Gavrilo
- Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, 199397 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Grant Gilchrist
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Raven Road, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ont., Canada K1A 0H3
| | - Olivier Gilg
- Laboratoire Chrono-environnement, UMR 6249, Université de Bourgogne Franche Comté, 25000 Besançon, France; Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique, 16 rue de Vernot, F-21440 Francheville, France
| | - Sindri Gíslason
- Southwest Iceland Nature Research Centre, Gardvegur 1, 245 Sudurnesjabaer, Iceland
| | - Elena Golubova
- Laboratory of Ornithology, Institute of Biological Problems of the North, RU-685000 Magadan, Portovaya Str., 18, Russia
| | - Aurélie Goutte
- EPHE, PSL Research University, UMR 7619 METIS, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - David Grémillet
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), UMR 5175 Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France,; Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Gunnar T Hallgrimsson
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, 102 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Erpur S Hansen
- South Iceland Nature Research Centre, Ægisgata 2, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
| | | | - Scott Hatch
- Institute for Seabird Research and Conservation, Anchorage, 99516-3185, AK, USA
| | - Nicholas P Huffeldt
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Dariusz Jakubas
- Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdansk, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Jón Einar Jónsson
- University of Iceland's Research Center at Snæfellsnes, 340 Stykkishólmur, Iceland
| | - Alexander S Kitaysky
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Arctic Biology, Department of Biology & Wildlife, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7000, United States of America
| | | | - Yuri Krasnov
- Murmansk Marine Biological Institute Russian Academy of Science, 183010 Vladimirskaya str. 17 Murmansk, Russia
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Raven Road, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ont., Canada K1A 0H3
| | | | - Mark Mallory
- Biology, Acadia University Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Flemming Ravn Merkel
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Børge Moe
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - William J Montevecchi
- Memorial Univerisity of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, Newoundland A1C 3X9, Canada
| | - Anders Mosbech
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Bergur Olsen
- Faroe Marine Reseaqrch Institute, Nóatún 1, FO-110 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
| | - Rachael A Orben
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, OR, USA
| | - Jennifer F Provencher
- Science & Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3
| | | | - Tone K Reiertsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, FRAM Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Nora Rojek
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Maritime Wildlife Refuge, Homer, AK, USA
| | - Marc Romano
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Maritime Wildlife Refuge, Homer, AK, USA
| | - Jens Søndergaard
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Hallvard Strøm
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram center, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Akinori Takahashi
- National Institute of Polar Research, 10-3 Midori-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-8518, Japan
| | - Sabrina Tartu
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS- La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | | | - Jean-Baptiste Thiebot
- National Institute of Polar Research, 10-3 Midori-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-8518, Japan
| | - Alexis P Will
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Arctic Biology, Department of Biology & Wildlife, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7000, United States of America; National Institute of Polar Research, 10-3 Midori-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-8518, Japan
| | - Simon Wilson
- Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) Secretariat, The Fram Centre, Box 6606, Stakkevollan, 9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Glenn Yannic
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, 38000 Grenoble, France
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5
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Lemaire J, Brischoux F, Marquis O, Mangione R, Caut S, Brault-Favrou M, Churlaud C, Bustamante P. Relationships between stable isotopes and trace element concentrations in the crocodilian community of French Guiana. Sci Total Environ 2022; 837:155846. [PMID: 35561901 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Trace elements in the blood of crocodilians and the factors that influence their concentrations are overall poorly documented. However, determination of influencing factors is crucial to assess the relevance of caimans as bioindicators of environmental contamination, and potential toxicological impact of trace elements on these reptiles. In the present study, we determined the concentrations of 14 trace elements (Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, Mn, Ni, Se, V, and Zn) in the blood of four French Guiana caiman species (the Spectacled Caiman Caiman crocodilus [n = 34], the Black Caiman Melanosuchus niger [n = 25], the Dwarf Caiman Paleosuchus palpebrosus [n = 5] and the Smooth-fronted Caiman Paleosuchus trigonatus [n = 20]) from 8 different sites, and further investigated the influence of individual body size and stable isotopes as proxies of foraging habitat and trophic position on trace element concentrations. Trophic position was identified to be an important factor influencing trace element concentrations in the four caiman species and explained interspecific variations. These findings highlight the need to consider trophic ecology when crocodilians are used as bioindicators of trace element contamination in environmental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémy Lemaire
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France; Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France.
| | - François Brischoux
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Oliver Marquis
- Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Parc Zoologique de Paris, 53 avenue de Saint Maurice, 75012 Paris, France
| | - Rosanna Mangione
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, CH-3032 Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
| | - Stéphane Caut
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), Departamento de Etologia y Conservation de La Biodiversidad - Estacion Biologica de Doñana - C/Americo Vespucio, S/n (Isla de La Cartuja), E-41092 Sevilla, Spain; ANIMAVEG Conservation, 58 Avenue Du Président Salvador Allende, F-94800 Villejuif, France
| | - 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
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, 75005 Paris, France
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6
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Noger-Huet É, Vagner M, Le Grand F, Graziano N, Bideau A, Brault-Favrou M, Churlaud C, Bustamante P, Lacoue-Labarthe T. Risk and benefit assessment of seafood consumption harvested from the Pertuis Charentais region of France. Environ Pollut 2022; 292:118388. [PMID: 34699922 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Seafood is well recognized as a major source of Long Chain n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (LC n-3 PUFA, especially ecosapentaenoic acid, i.e. EPA and docosaheaxaenoic acid, i.e. DHA) and essential trace elements (As, Cu, Fe, Mn, Se, and Zn). It is also a source of non-essential trace elements (Ag, Cd, Hg, Pb) that can be deleterious for health even at low concentrations. Edible parts of sixteen species (fish, cephalopods, crustaceans and bivalves) of great importance in the Pertuis Charentais region, one of the main shellfish farming and fishing areas along the french coastline, were sampled in winter and analyzed to determine their fatty acid (FA) composition and trace element concentrations. Based on these analyses, a suite of indices was calculated to estimate risk and benefit of seafood consumption: the n-6/n-3 ratio, the atherogenic index, the thrombogenic index, the EPA + DHA daily recommended portion, as well as the maximum safe consumption. The results showed that fish contributed the most to LC n-3 PUFA supply, while bivalves and crustaceans were more beneficial in essential trace elements. Whatever the species, the concentrations of non-essential elements were not limiting for seafood consumption, as important amounts of the analyzed species can be eaten daily or weekly before becoming hazardous to consumers. Yet, concentrations of Hg in dogfish and seabass can become a concern for frequent seafood consumers (>three meals a week), confirming that varying seafood items is a key point for consumers to optimize the benefits of diverse seafood resources. Considering FA composition, whiting and pilchard are the most beneficial fish species for human diet, while surmullet was the least beneficial one. However, using an index integrating the relative risk due to Hg content, the surmullet appears as one of the most beneficial. This study provides a temporal shot of the quality of marine resources consumed in winter period in the studied area and highlights the complexity of a quantitative risk and benefit assessment with respect to the biochemical attributes of selected seafood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élise Noger-Huet
- UMR LIENSs, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17 000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Marie Vagner
- UMR LIENSs, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17 000, La Rochelle, France; UMR LEMAR, Univ Brest, IRD, CNRS, Ifremer, Place Nicolas Copernic, Plouzané, 29 280, France
| | - Fabienne Le Grand
- UMR LEMAR, Univ Brest, IRD, CNRS, Ifremer, Place Nicolas Copernic, Plouzané, 29 280, France
| | - Nicolas Graziano
- UMR LEMAR, Univ Brest, IRD, CNRS, Ifremer, Place Nicolas Copernic, Plouzané, 29 280, France
| | - Antoine Bideau
- UMR LEMAR, Univ Brest, IRD, CNRS, Ifremer, Place Nicolas Copernic, Plouzané, 29 280, France
| | - Maud Brault-Favrou
- UMR LIENSs, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17 000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Carine Churlaud
- UMR LIENSs, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17 000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Paco Bustamante
- UMR LIENSs, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17 000, La Rochelle, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes 75005, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Lacoue-Labarthe
- UMR LIENSs, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17 000, La Rochelle, France.
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Fromant A, Arnould JPY, Delord K, Sutton GJ, Carravieri A, Bustamante P, Miskelly CM, Kato A, Brault-Favrou M, Cherel Y, Bost CA. Stage-dependent niche segregation: insights from a multi-dimensional approach of two sympatric sibling seabirds. Oecologia 2022; 199:537-548. [PMID: 35606670 PMCID: PMC9309125 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05181-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Niche theory predicts that to reduce competition for the same resource, sympatric ecologically similar species should exploit divergent niches and segregate in one or more dimensions. Seasonal variations in environmental conditions and energy requirements can influence the mechanisms and the degree of niche segregation. However, studies have overlooked the multi-dimensional aspect of niche segregation over the whole annual cycle, and key facets of species co-existence still remain ambiguous. The present study provides insights into the niche use and partitioning of two morphologically and ecologically similar seabirds, the common (CDP, Pelecanoides urinatrix) and the South Georgian diving petrel (SGDP, Pelecanoides georgicus). Using phenology, at-sea distribution, diving behavior and isotopic data (during the incubation, chick-rearing and non-breeding periods), we show that the degree of partitioning was highly stage-dependent. During the breeding season, the greater niche segregation during chick-rearing than incubation supported the hypothesis that resource partitioning increases during energetically demanding periods. During the post breeding period, while species-specific latitudinal differences were expected (species specific water mass preference), CDP and SGDP also migrated in divergent directions. This segregation in migration area may not be only a response to the selective pressure arising from competition avoidance between sympatric species, but instead, could reflect past evolutionary divergence. Such stage-dependent and context-dependent niche segregation demonstrates the importance of integrative approaches combining techniques from different fields, throughout the entire annual cycle, to better understand the co-existence of ecologically similar species. This is particularly relevant in order to fully understand the short and long-term effects of ongoing environmental changes on species distributions and communities.This work demonstrates the need of integrative multi-dimensional approaches combining concepts and techniques from different fields to understand the mechanism and causal factors of niche segregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aymeric Fromant
- grid.1021.20000 0001 0526 7079School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC 3125 Australia ,grid.452338.b0000 0004 0638 6741Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS–La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - John P. Y. Arnould
- grid.1021.20000 0001 0526 7079School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC 3125 Australia
| | - Karine Delord
- grid.452338.b0000 0004 0638 6741Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS–La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Grace J. Sutton
- grid.1021.20000 0001 0526 7079School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC 3125 Australia
| | - Alice Carravieri
- grid.11698.370000 0001 2169 7335Littoral Environnement Et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS–La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Paco Bustamante
- grid.11698.370000 0001 2169 7335Littoral Environnement Et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS–La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France ,grid.440891.00000 0001 1931 4817Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Colin M. Miskelly
- grid.488640.60000 0004 0483 4475Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, PO Box 467, Wellington, 6140 New Zealand
| | - Akiko Kato
- grid.452338.b0000 0004 0638 6741Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS–La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Maud Brault-Favrou
- grid.11698.370000 0001 2169 7335Littoral Environnement Et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS–La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Yves Cherel
- grid.452338.b0000 0004 0638 6741Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS–La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Charles-André Bost
- grid.452338.b0000 0004 0638 6741Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS–La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
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8
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Lemaire J, Bustamante P, Mangione R, Marquis O, Churlaud C, Brault-Favrou M, Parenteau C, Brischoux F. Lead, mercury, and selenium alter physiological functions in wild caimans (Caiman crocodilus). Environ Pollut 2021; 286:117549. [PMID: 34438486 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Environmental contaminants affect ecosystems worldwide and have deleterious effects on biota. Non-essential mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) concentrations are well documented in some taxa and are described to cause multiple detrimental effects on human and wildlife. Additionally, essential selenium (Se) is known to be toxic at high concentrations but, at lower concentrations, Se can protect organisms against Hg toxicity. Crocodilians are known to bioaccumulate contaminants. However, the effects of these contaminants on physiological processes remain poorly studied. In the present study, we quantified Hg, Pb and Se concentrations in spectacled caimans (Caiman crocodilus) and investigated the effects of these contaminants on several physiological processes linked to osmoregulatory, hepatic, endocrine and renal functions measured through blood parameters in 23 individuals. Mercury was related to disruption of osmoregulation (sodium levels), hepatic function (alkaline phosphatase levels) and endocrine processes (corticosterone levels). Lead was related to disruption of hepatic functions (glucose and alanine aminotransferase levels). Selenium was not related to any parameters, but the Se:Hg molar ratio was positively related to the Na+ and corticosterone concentrations, suggesting a potential protective effect against Hg toxicity. Overall, our results suggest that Hg and Pb alter physiological mechanisms in wild caimans and highlight the need to thoroughly investigate the consequences of trace element contamination in crocodilians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémy Lemaire
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France; Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France.
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Rosanna Mangione
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, CH-3032, Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Marquis
- Sorbonne Université, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Parc Zoologique de Paris, 53 Avenue de Saint Maurice, 75012 Paris, France
| | - Carine Churlaud
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Maud Brault-Favrou
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Charline Parenteau
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France
| | - François Brischoux
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France
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9
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Minet A, Manceau A, Valada-Mennuni A, Brault-Favrou M, Churlaud C, Fort J, Nguyen T, Spitz J, Bustamante P, Lacoue-Labarthe T. Mercury in the tissues of five cephalopods species: First data on the nervous system. Sci Total Environ 2021; 759:143907. [PMID: 33333333 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg), one of the elements most toxic to biota, accumulates within organisms throughout their lifespan and biomagnifies along trophic chain. Due to their key role in marine systems, cephalopods constitute a major vector of Hg in predators. Further, they grow rapidly and display complex behaviours, which can be altered by neurotoxic Hg. This study investigated Hg concentrations within 81 cephalopod specimens sampled in the Bay of Biscay, which belonged to five species: Eledone cirrhosa, Sepia officinalis, Loligo vulgaris, Todaropsis eblanae and Illex coindetii. Hg concentrations were measured in the digestive gland, the mantle muscle and the optic lobes of the brain. The digestive gland and the mantle were tissues with the most concentrated Hg among all species considered (up to 1.50 μg.g-1 dw), except E. cirrhosa. This benthic cephalopod had 1.3-fold higher Hg concentrations in the brain (up to 1.89 μg.g-1 dw) than in the mantle, while other species had 2-fold lower concentrations of Hg in the brain than in the mantle. Brain-Hg concentrations can be predicted from muscle-Hg concentrations for a given species, which facilitates the assessment of Hg toxicokinetics in cephalopods. In the most contaminated E. cirrhosa individual, the chemical form of Hg in its digestive gland, mantle muscle and optic lobes, was determined using High energy-Resolution X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (HR XANES) spectroscopy. In the digestive gland, 33 ± 11% of total Hg was inorganic Hg speciated as a dicysteinate complex (Hg(Cys)2), which suggested that the demethylation of dietary MeHg occurs in this organ. All Hg found in the mantle muscle and the optic lobes is methylated and bound to one cysteinyl group (MeHgCys complex), which implies that dietary MeHg is distributed to these tissues via the bloodstream. These results raised the questions regarding interspecific differences observed regarding Hg brain concentrations and the possible effect of Hg on cephalopod functional brain plasticity and behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Minet
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Alain Manceau
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, ISTerre, CNRS, CS 40700, 38058 Grenoble, France
| | - Anaïs Valada-Mennuni
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - 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
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Thành Nguyen
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France; Université des Sciences et des Technologies de Hanoï (USTH), 18 Hoàng Quốc Việt, Nghĩa Đô, Cầu Giấy, Hà Nội, Viet Nam
| | - Jérôme Spitz
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 5 Allées de l'Océan, 17000 La Rochelle, France; Observatoire PELAGIS, UMS 3462 CNRS -La Rochelle Université, 5 Allées de l'Océan, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Thomas Lacoue-Labarthe
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France.
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10
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Binkowski LJ, Fort J, Brault-Favrou M, Gallien F, Le Guillou G, Chastel O, Bustamante P. Foraging ecology drives mercury contamination in chick gulls from the English Channel. Chemosphere 2021; 267:128622. [PMID: 33162157 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Although mercury (Hg) occurs naturally, human activity is currently the greatest source of release and the ocean receives Hg inputs by rivers and atmospheric deposition. Seabirds including chicks serve as valuable bioindicators of Hg contamination, reflecting local contamination around the colony. This study investigates the ecological drivers (trophic position and foraging habitat) influencing Hg concentrations in blood and feathers of chicks of three sympatric marine gull species. Chicks were sampled between 2015 and 2017 in the Seine Estuary, one of the most Hg contaminated rivers in Europe, and in the Normand-Breton Gulf (the Chausey Islands), 200 km west, as a reference site with limited contaminant inputs. The trophic status of the chicks was evaluated based on the relative abundance of stable isotopes (δ13C, δ15N and δ34S). There was a tight correlation between Hg concentrations, as well as the abundance of stable isotopes, in blood and feathers. Great black-backed gull had the highest blood Hg concentrations of the species (1.80 ± 0.92 μg⋅g-1 dry weight (dw)); the Lesser black-backed gull had intermediate concentrations (0.61 ± 0.18 μg⋅g-1 dw); and the European herring gull had the lowest (0.37 ± 0.26 μg⋅g-1 dw). Individuals with the highest trophic position showed consistently the highest Hg concentrations. The positive relationship between Hg concentrations and the feeding habitat (marine vs terrestrial) indicated that the main source of Hg for gulls in the English Channel is marine prey. This exposure led to relatively high Hg concentrations in Great black-backed gull, which may produce toxic effects to individuals with potential consequences for their populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukasz J Binkowski
- Institute of Biology, Pedagogical University of Krakow, Podchorazych 2, 30-084 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Maud Brault-Favrou
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Fabrice Gallien
- Groupe Ornithologique Normand, 181 Rue d'Auge, 14000 Caen, France
| | | | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 Rue Descartes, 75005 Paris, France
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11
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Carravieri A, Warner NA, Herzke D, Brault-Favrou M, Tarroux A, Fort J, Bustamante P, Descamps S. Trophic and fitness correlates of mercury and organochlorine compound residues in egg-laying Antarctic petrels. Environ Res 2021; 193:110518. [PMID: 33245882 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the drivers and effects of exposure to contaminants such as mercury (Hg) and organochlorine compounds (OCs) in Antarctic wildlife is still limited. Yet, Hg and OCs have known physiological and fitness effects in animals, with consequences on their populations. Here we measured total Hg (a proxy of methyl-Hg) in blood cells and feathers, and 12 OCs (seven polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs, and five organochlorine pesticides, OCPs) in plasma of 30 breeding female Antarctic petrels Thalassoica antarctica from one of the largest colonies in Antarctica (Svarthamaren, Dronning Maud Land). This colony is declining and there is poor documentation on the potential role played by contaminants on individual physiology and fitness. Carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope values measured in the females' blood cells and feathers served as proxies of their feeding ecology during the pre-laying (austral spring) and moulting (winter) periods, respectively. We document feather Hg concentrations (mean ± SD, 2.41 ± 0.83 μg g-1 dry weight, dw) for the first time in this species. Blood cell Hg concentrations (1.38 ± 0.43 μg g-1 dw) were almost twice as high as those reported in a recent study, and increased with pre-laying trophic position (blood cell δ15N). Moulting trophic ecology did not predict blood Hg concentrations. PCB concentrations were very low (Σ7PCBs, 0.35 ± 0.31 ng g-1 wet weight, ww). Among OCPs, HCB (1.02 ± 0.36 ng g-1 ww) and p, p'-DDE (1.02 ± 1.49 ng g-1 ww) residues were comparable to those of ecologically-similar polar seabirds, while Mirex residues (0.72 ± 0.35 ng g-1 ww) were higher. PCB and OCP concentrations showed no clear relationship with pre-laying or moulting feeding ecology, indicating that other factors overcome dietary drivers. OC residues were inversely related to body condition, suggesting stronger release of OCs into the circulation of egg-laying females upon depletion of their lipid reserves. Egg volume, hatching success, chick body condition and survival were not related to maternal Hg or OC concentrations. Legacy contaminant exposure does not seem to represent a threat for the breeding fraction of this population over the short term. Yet, exposure to contaminants, especially Mirex, and other concurring environmental stressors should be monitored over the long-term in this declining population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Carravieri
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS- La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle, 17000, France.
| | - Nicholas A Warner
- NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Fram Centre, Tromsø, NO-9296, Norway; UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Hansine Hansens veg 18, Tromsø, 9037, Norway
| | - Dorte Herzke
- NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Fram Centre, Tromsø, NO-9296, Norway; UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Hansine Hansens veg 18, Tromsø, 9037, Norway
| | - Maud Brault-Favrou
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS- La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle, 17000, France
| | - Arnaud Tarroux
- NINA-Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Fram Centre, Tromsø, NO-9296, Norway
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS- La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle, 17000, France
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS- La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle, 17000, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 Rue Descartes, Paris, 75005, France
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Albert C, Helgason HH, Brault-Favrou M, Robertson GJ, Descamps S, Amélineau F, Danielsen J, Dietz R, Elliott K, Erikstad KE, Eulaers I, Ezhov A, Fitzsimmons MG, Gavrilo M, Golubova E, Grémillet D, Hatch S, Huffeldt NP, Jakubas D, Kitaysky A, Kolbeinsson Y, Krasnov Y, Lorentsen SH, Lorentzen E, Mallory ML, Merkel B, Merkel FR, Montevecchi W, Mosbech A, Olsen B, Orben RA, Patterson A, Provencher J, Plumejeaud C, Pratte I, Reiertsen TK, Renner H, Rojek N, Romano M, Strøm H, Systad GH, Takahashi A, Thiebot JB, Thórarinsson TL, Will AP, Wojczulanis-Jakubas K, Bustamante P, Fort J. Seasonal variation of mercury contamination in Arctic seabirds: A pan-Arctic assessment. Sci Total Environ 2021; 750:142201. [PMID: 33182207 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a natural trace element found in high concentrations in top predators, including Arctic seabirds. Most current knowledge about Hg concentrations in Arctic seabirds relates to exposure during the summer breeding period when researchers can easily access seabirds at colonies. However, the few studies focused on winter have shown higher Hg concentrations during the non-breeding period than breeding period in several tissues. Hence, improving knowledge about Hg exposure during the non-breeding period is crucial to understanding the threats and risks encountered by these species year-round. We used feathers of nine migratory alcid species occurring at high latitudes to study bird Hg exposure during both the breeding and non-breeding periods. Overall, Hg concentrations during the non-breeding period were ~3 times higher than during the breeding period. In addition, spatial differences were apparent within and between the Atlantic and Pacific regions. While Hg concentrations during the non-breeding period were ~9 times and ~3 times higher than during the breeding period for the West and East Atlantic respectively, Hg concentrations in the Pacific during the non-breeding period were only ~1.7 times higher than during the breeding period. In addition, individual Hg concentrations during the non-breeding period for most of the seabird colonies were above 5 μg g-1 dry weight (dw), which is considered to be the threshold at which deleterious effects are observed, suggesting that some breeding populations might be vulnerable to non-breeding Hg exposure. Since wintering area locations, and migration routes may influence seasonal Hg concentrations, it is crucial to improve our knowledge about spatial ecotoxicology to fully understand the risks associated with Hg contamination in Arctic seabirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Albert
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, FR-17000 La Rochelle, France.
| | - Hálfdán Helgi Helgason
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Framcentre, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Maud Brault-Favrou
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, FR-17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Gregory J Robertson
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment Climate Change Canada, 6 Bruce Street, Mount Pearl, NL A1N 4T3, Canada
| | - Sébastien Descamps
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Framcentre, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Françoise Amélineau
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE) UMR 5175, CNRS - Université de Montpellier - Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier - EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Jóhannis Danielsen
- The Faroese Marine Research Institute, Nóatún 1, FO-100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
| | - Rune Dietz
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Kyle Elliott
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Kjell Einar Erikstad
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), FRAM - High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment, PO Box 6606, Langnes, NO-9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Igor Eulaers
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Alexey Ezhov
- Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, 17 Vladimirskaya street, 183010 Murmansk, Russia
| | - Michelle G Fitzsimmons
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment Climate Change Canada, 6 Bruce Street, Mount Pearl, NL A1N 4T3, Canada
| | - Maria Gavrilo
- Association Maritime Heritage, RU - 199106, Icebreaker "Krassin", The Lieutenant Schmidt emb., 23 Line, Saint-Petersburg, Russia; National Park Russian Arctic, RU-168000, Sovetskikh kosmonavtov ave., 57, Archangelsk, Russia
| | - Elena Golubova
- Laboratory of Ornithology, Institute of Biological Problems of the North, RU-685000 Magadan, Portovaya Str., 18, Russia
| | - David Grémillet
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE) UMR 5175, CNRS - Université de Montpellier - Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier - EPHE, Montpellier, France; FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, UCT, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372-CNRS, La Rochelle Université, France
| | - Scott Hatch
- Institute for Seabird Research and Conservation, Anchorage 99516-3185, AK, USA
| | - Nicholas P Huffeldt
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Dariusz Jakubas
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Biology, Dept. of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Wita Stwosza 59, PL-80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Alexander Kitaysky
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - Yann Kolbeinsson
- Northeast Iceland Nature Research Centre, Hafnarstétt 3, 640 Húsavík, Iceland
| | - Yuri Krasnov
- Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, 17 Vladimirskaya street, 183010 Murmansk, Russia
| | - Svein-Håkon Lorentsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Høgskoleringen 9, NO-7034 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Erlend Lorentzen
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Framcentre, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Mark L Mallory
- Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville B4P 2R6, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Benjamin Merkel
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Framcentre, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Flemming Ravn Merkel
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 570, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - William Montevecchi
- Psychology Department, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland A1M 2Y8, Canada
| | - Anders Mosbech
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Bergur Olsen
- The Faroese Marine Research Institute, Nóatún 1, FO-100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
| | - Rachael A Orben
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Dr., Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - Allison Patterson
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Jennifer Provencher
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Place Vincent Massey, 351 St. Joseph Blvd, Hull, Quebec K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Christine Plumejeaud
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, FR-17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Isabeau Pratte
- Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville B4P 2R6, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Tone Kristin Reiertsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), FRAM - High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment, PO Box 6606, Langnes, NO-9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Heather Renner
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Maritime Wildlife Refuge, Homer, AK, USA
| | - Nora Rojek
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Maritime Wildlife Refuge, Homer, AK, USA
| | - Marc Romano
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Maritime Wildlife Refuge, Homer, AK, USA
| | - Hallvard Strøm
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Framcentre, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Geir Helge Systad
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Thormøhlensgate 55, N0-5006 Bergen, 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
| | | | - Alexis P Will
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - Katarzyna Wojczulanis-Jakubas
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Biology, Dept. of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Wita Stwosza 59, PL-80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, FR-17000 La Rochelle, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, FR-17000 La Rochelle, France.
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Costantini D, Bustamante P, Brault-Favrou M, Dell'Omo G. Patterns of mercury exposure and relationships with isotopes and markers of oxidative status in chicks of a Mediterranean seabird. Environ Pollut 2020; 260:114095. [PMID: 32041034 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The Mediterranean basin is a hotspot of mercury (Hg) contamination owing to intense anthropogenic emissions, volcanic activity and oligotrophic conditions. Little work has been done to assess the sources of Hg exposure for seabirds and, particularly, the physiological consequences of Hg bioaccumulation. In this study, we (i) describe the individual and temporal variation in blood concentration of total Hg (THg) over three breeding seasons, (ii) identify the factors that affect the THg exposure and (iii) determine the individual- and population-level connections between THg and blood-based markers of oxidative status in chicks of Scopoli's shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea) breeding on the island of Linosa in the southern Mediterranean. We carried out the work on chicks near fledging because they are fed with prey captured near the colony, thus their Hg levels reflect local contamination. The concentration of THg in erythrocytes varied from 0.23 to 4.29 μg g-1 dw. Chicks that were fed upon higher trophic level prey (i.e., higher δ15N values) had higher THg levels. Individual variation in THg concentrations was not explained by parental identity, sex nor δ13C values. There was significant variation in THg among chicks born from the same mother in different years. We found significant correlations between THg and markers of oxidative status; however, these correlations were no longer significant when we took into account the annual variation in mean values of all metrics. Males with higher values of body condition index had higher blood THg, while THg and body condition index were not correlated in females. Our data indicate that THg levels were moderate to high if compared to other seabirds. However, there is little evidence for harmful short-term detrimental effects owing to THg exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Costantini
- Unité Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation (PhyMA), Muséum National D'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP32, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France; Ornis italica, Piazza Crati 15, 00199, Rome, Italy.
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés, UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Maud Brault-Favrou
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés, UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
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Carravieri A, Fort J, Tarroux A, Cherel Y, Love OP, Prieur S, Brault-Favrou M, Bustamante P, Descamps S. Mercury exposure and short-term consequences on physiology and reproduction in Antarctic petrels. Environ Pollut 2018; 237:824-831. [PMID: 29146204 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a pervasive contaminant reaching Antarctic environments through atmospheric transport and deposition. Seabirds as meso to top predators can accumulate high quantities of Hg through diet. Reproduction is one of the most sensitive endpoints of Hg toxicity in marine birds. Yet, few studies have explored Hg exposure and effects in Antarctic seabirds, where increasing environmental perturbations challenge animal populations. This study focuses on the Antarctic petrel Thalassoica antarctica from Svarthamaren, Antarctica, where the world's largest breeding population is thought to be in decline. Hg and the stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C, proxy of feeding habitat) and nitrogen (δ15N, trophic position/diet) were measured in red blood cells from 266 individuals over two breeding years (2012-13, 2013-14). Our aims were to 1) quantify the influence of individual traits (size and sex) and feeding ecology (foraging location, δ13C and δ15N values) on Hg exposure, and 2) test the relationship between Hg concentrations with body condition and breeding output (hatching success and chick survival). Hg concentrations in Antarctic petrels (mean ± SD, 0.84 ± 0.25, min-max, 0.42-2.71 μg g-1 dw) were relatively low when compared to other Antarctic seabirds. Hg concentrations increased significantly with δ15N values, indicating that individuals with a higher trophic level (i.e. feeding more on fish) had higher Hg exposure. By contrast, Hg exposure was not driven by feeding habitat (inferred from both foraging location and δ13C values), suggesting that Hg transfer to predators in Antarctic waters is relatively homogeneous over a large geographical scale. Hg concentrations were not related to body condition, hatching date and short-term breeding output. At present, Hg exposure is likely not of concern for this population. Nevertheless, further studies on other fitness parameters and long-term breeding output are warranted because Hg can have long-term population-level effects without consequences on current breeding success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Carravieri
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France.
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 du CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Arnaud Tarroux
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Oliver P Love
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Solène Prieur
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 du CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Maud Brault-Favrou
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 du CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 du CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
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Slimani T, El Hassani MS, El Mouden EH, Bonnet M, Bustamante P, Brischoux F, Brault-Favrou M, Bonnet X. Large-scale geographic patterns of mercury contamination in Morocco revealed by freshwater turtles. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2018; 25:2350-2360. [PMID: 29124637 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-0643-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a toxic contaminant present in most aquatic ecosystems. High concentrations pose serious threats to organisms and to human health. Because previous studies focused on few countries, environmental hazard due to Hg contamination remains obscure in many geographic areas, and for example limited information is available in North Africa. We examined total Hg contamination in 13 sites in Morocco (12 rivers and one lake) spread over a large area, 400 km north-south and 350 km west-east, that encompasses different biogeographic zones separated by the Atlas Mountains. Due to their longevity and sedentary habits, we used freshwater turtles as biological probes to monitor Hg exposure. Keratinized tissues reflect long-term Hg exposure; thus, we assayed Hg concentration in the claws of > 200 individuals and supplemented these data with blood Hg concentrations of > 60 individuals (a tissue that provides shorter term Hg exposure integration). The results provide the first large-scale picture of Hg contamination in the aquatic freshwater systems of Morocco. Comparisons with previous studies revealed that some of the sites were highly contaminated (e.g. mean Hg concentrations were above 5 μg g-1, a very high level in keratinized tissues) whereas other sites presented moderate or baseline levels. Unexpectedly, all highly contaminated sites were found in less densely populated areas, while more densely urbanized northern sites, even the sewers of large cities, were not highly contaminated. We hypothesize that silver mining activities in the southern High Atlas and in the Anti-Atlas contaminate rivers of the catchment basins over long distances. These findings indicate that fish, water consumption and contamination levels in local people should be further scrutinized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahar Slimani
- Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Laboratory Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Cadi Ayyad University, P.O. Box 2390, 40000, Marrakesh, Morocco
| | - Mohamed Said El Hassani
- Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Laboratory Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Cadi Ayyad University, P.O. Box 2390, 40000, Marrakesh, Morocco
| | - El Hassan El Mouden
- Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Laboratory Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Cadi Ayyad University, P.O. Box 2390, 40000, Marrakesh, Morocco
| | - Marine Bonnet
- Centre d'Etude Biologique de Chizé, UMR 7372, CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 79360, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266, CNRS-Université de la Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - François Brischoux
- Centre d'Etude Biologique de Chizé, UMR 7372, CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 79360, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Maud Brault-Favrou
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266, CNRS-Université de la Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Xavier Bonnet
- Centre d'Etude Biologique de Chizé, UMR 7372, CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 79360, Villiers en Bois, France.
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Carravieri A, Cherel Y, Brault-Favrou M, Churlaud C, Peluhet L, Labadie P, Budzinski H, Chastel O, Bustamante P. From Antarctica to the subtropics: Contrasted geographical concentrations of selenium, mercury, and persistent organic pollutants in skua chicks (Catharacta spp.). Environ Pollut 2017; 228:464-473. [PMID: 28570991 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.05.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Revised: 05/07/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Seabirds integrate bioaccumulative contaminants via food intake and have revealed geographical trends of contamination in a variety of ecosystems. Pre-fledging seabird chicks are particularly interesting as bioindicators of chemical contamination, because concentrations in their tissues reflect primarily dietary sources from the local environment. Here we measured 14 trace elements and 18 persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in blood of chicks of skuas that breed in four sites encompassing a large latitudinal range within the southern Indian Ocean, from Antarctica (Adélie Land, south polar skua Catharacta maccormicki), through subantarctic areas (Crozet and Kerguelen Islands, brown skua C. lonnbergi), to the subtropics (Amsterdam Island, C. lonnbergi). Stables isotopes of carbon (δ13C, feeding habitat) and nitrogen (δ15N, trophic position) were also measured to control for the influence of feeding habits on contaminant burdens. Concentrations of mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) were very high at all the four sites, with Amsterdam birds having the highest concentrations ever reported in chicks worldwide (4.0 ± 0.8 and 646 ± 123 μg g-1 dry weight, respectively). Blood Hg concentrations showed a clear latitudinal pattern, increasing from chicks in Antarctica to chicks in the subantarctic and subtropical islands. Interestingly, blood Se concentrations showed similar between-population differences to Hg, suggesting its involvement in protective mechanisms against Hg toxicity. Chicks' POPs pattern was largely dominated by organochlorine pesticides, in particular DDT metabolites and hexachlorobenzene (HCB). Skua chicks from subantarctic islands presented high concentrations and diversity of POPs. By contrast, chicks from the Antarctic site overall had the lowest concentrations and diversity of both metallic and organic contaminants, with the exception of HCB and arsenic. Skua populations from these sites, being naturally exposed to different quantities of contaminants, are potentially good models for testing toxic effects in developing chicks in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Carravieri
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France.
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Maud Brault-Favrou
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-Université de la Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Carine Churlaud
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-Université de la Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Laurent Peluhet
- CNRS, UMR 5805 EPOC (LPTC Research group), Université de Bordeaux, 351 Cours de la Libération, F 33405 Talence Cedex, France
| | - Pierre Labadie
- CNRS, UMR 5805 EPOC (LPTC Research group), Université de Bordeaux, 351 Cours de la Libération, F 33405 Talence Cedex, France
| | - Hélène Budzinski
- CNRS, UMR 5805 EPOC (LPTC Research group), Université de Bordeaux, 351 Cours de la Libération, F 33405 Talence Cedex, France
| | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-Université de la Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
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Carravieri A, Cherel Y, Blévin P, Brault-Favrou M, Chastel O, Bustamante P. Mercury exposure in a large subantarctic avian community. Environ Pollut 2014; 190:51-57. [PMID: 24727293 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2014.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2013] [Revised: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) contamination poses potential threats to ecosystems worldwide. In order to study Hg bioavailability in the poorly documented southern Indian Ocean, Hg exposure was investigated in the large avian community of Kerguelen Islands. Adults of 27 species (480 individuals) showed a wide range of feather Hg concentrations, from 0.4 ± 0.1 to 16.6 ± 3.8 μg g(-1) dry weight in Wilson's storm petrels and wandering albatrosses, respectively. Hg concentrations increased roughly in the order crustacean- < fish- ≤ squid- ≤ carrion-consumers, confirming that diet, rather than taxonomy, is an important driver of avian Hg exposure. Adults presented higher Hg concentrations than chicks, due to a longer duration of exposure, with the only exception being the subantarctic skua, likely because of feeding habits' differences of the two age-classes in this species. High Hg concentrations were reported for three species of the poorly known gadfly petrels, which merit further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Carravieri
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMRi 7266 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France; Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, BP 14, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France.
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, BP 14, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Pierre Blévin
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, BP 14, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Maud Brault-Favrou
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMRi 7266 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, BP 14, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMRi 7266 CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
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