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Cebuhar JD, Negrete J, Rodríguez Pirani LS, Picone AL, Proietti M, Romano RM, Della Védova CO, Casaux R, Secchi ER, Botta S. Anthropogenic debris in three sympatric seal species of the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Sci Total Environ 2024; 922:171273. [PMID: 38408675 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171273] [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: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Litter pollution is a growing concern, including for Antarctica and the species that inhabit this ecosystem. In this study, we investigated the microplastic contamination in three seal species that inhabit the Western Antarctic Peninsula: crabeater (Lobodon carcinophaga), leopard (Hydrurga leptonyx) and Weddell (Leptonychotes weddellii) seals. Given the worldwide ubiquity of this type of contaminant, including the Southern Ocean, we hypothesized that the three seal species would present anthropogenic debris in their feces. We examined 29 scat samples of crabeater (n = 5), leopard (n = 13) and Weddell (n = 11) seals. The chemical composition of the items found were identified using micro-Raman and micro-FTIR spectroscopies. All the samples of the three species presented anthropic particles (frequency of occurrence - %FO - 100 %). Fibers were the predominant debris, but fragments and filaments were also present. Particles smaller than 5 mm (micro debris) were predominant in all the samples. Leopard seals ingested significantly larger micro-debris in comparison with the other seal species. The dominant color was black followed by blue and white. Micro-Raman and micro-FTIR Spectroscopies revealed the presence of different anthropogenic pigments such as reactive blue 238, Indigo 3600 and copper phthalocyanine (blue and green). Carbon black was also detected in the samples, as well as plastic polymers such as polystyrene, polyester and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide, polypropylene and polyurethane These results confirm the presence of anthropogenic contamination in Antarctic seals and highlight the need for actions to mitigate the effects and reduce the contribution of debris in the Antarctic ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieta D Cebuhar
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Av. Itália Km 8 s/n, Rio Grande, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Rio Grande, Brazil.
| | - Javier Negrete
- Laboratório de Predadores Tope, Instituto Antártico Argentino, Av. 25 de Mayo 1147, Villa Lynch, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Calle 64 N° 3, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata 1900, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas Y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz, 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucas S Rodríguez Pirani
- CEQUINOR (UNLP, CCT-CONICET La Plata, associated with CIC), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Blvd. 120 N° 1465, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - A Lorena Picone
- CEQUINOR (UNLP, CCT-CONICET La Plata, associated with CIC), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Blvd. 120 N° 1465, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - Maira Proietti
- Laboratório de Ecologia Molecular Marinha and Projeto Lixo Marinho, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Av. Itália Km 8 s/n, Rio Grande, Brasil Rio Grande, Brazil; The Ocean Cleanup, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rosana M Romano
- CEQUINOR (UNLP, CCT-CONICET La Plata, associated with CIC), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Blvd. 120 N° 1465, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - Carlos O Della Védova
- CEQUINOR (UNLP, CCT-CONICET La Plata, associated with CIC), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Blvd. 120 N° 1465, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - Ricardo Casaux
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), Roca 780, 9200 Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Eduardo R Secchi
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Av. Itália Km 8 s/n, Rio Grande, Brazil
| | - Silvina Botta
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Av. Itália Km 8 s/n, Rio Grande, Brazil
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Di Prinzio CY, Penaluna B, Grech MG, Manzo LM, Miserendino ML, Casaux R. Impact of Chaitén Volcano ashfall on native and exotic fish recovery, recolonization, and abundance. Sci Total Environ 2021; 752:141864. [PMID: 32890832 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The effects of volcanic disturbance on aquatic communities and their recovery are poorly studied. To fill this gap, we explored the effects on fish communities in rivers in Argentina of the 2008 eruption of Chaitén Volcano in southern Chile (42.8° lat. S). The eruption produced volcanic plumes of ash that persisted in the atmosphere for several months. Borne on westerly winds, deposits of tephra crossed the Andes Mountains, reaching the Atlantic coast (Argentina). We compared the pre- and post-eruption abundances of a native catfish Hatcheria macraei, and two introduced trout from rivers covered by the volcanic plumes (Argentina) using Before-After-Control-Impact analysis to explore fish recovery. Total suspended solids from volcanic ashfall, macroinvertebrate abundance and richness, and species ecological attributes influenced the spatial arrangement of fish in rivers. Twenty-one months after the eruption, Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, had not returned to pre-eruption abundances in the sampled rivers, and only four rivers had regained pre-eruption species composition, suggesting that disturbance is still ongoing. The abundance of introduced fishes was strongly, negatively correlated with TSS, suggesting that ashfall affected these fish probably by clogging and abrasion of the gills. Fish recolonized previously occupied habitats 4 days to 9 months after the disturbance. Hatcheria macraei was the slowest to recolonize, whereas O. mykiss were the pioneer fish in 4 rivers following the eruption and recolonized all 5 rivers where they were present prior to the eruption. In one river, the catfish and the Brown Trout, Salmo trutta, were still absent 21 months post-eruption, potentially owing to the lack of riparian cover that would have deflected the entry of ash. Rainbow Trout suffered significant declines in abundance, whereas Brown Trout and catfish generally did not, owing to their ecological attributes. Total fish abundance was negatively correlated with ash thickness, but positively related to prey availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Yanina Di Prinzio
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CONICET-UNPSJB), Roca 780, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina.
| | - Brooke Penaluna
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States of America
| | - Marta Gladys Grech
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CONICET-UNPSJB), Roca 780, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Luz María Manzo
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CONICET-UNPSJB), Roca 780, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
| | - María Laura Miserendino
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CONICET-UNPSJB), Roca 780, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Ricardo Casaux
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CONICET-UNPSJB), Roca 780, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
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Juáres MA, Casaux R, Negrete J, Rios A, Castillo M, Coria NR, Santos MM. Update of the population size and breeding performance of gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) at Stranger Point/Cabo Funes, South Shetland Islands. Polar Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-019-02614-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Di Prinzio CY, Omad G, Miserendino ML, Casaux R. Selective foraging by non-native rainbow trout on invertebrates in Patagonian streams in Argentina. Zool Stud 2015; 54:e29. [PMID: 31966116 DOI: 10.1186/s40555-015-0108-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2014] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is well known that fish predation alters ecosystem processes by top-down effects. Salmonids are described as aggressive, visually and size-selective predators. Thus, prey selection by the non-native rainbow trout was examined on a seasonal basis at two streams: Nant y Fall (NyF) and Cabeza de Vaca (CVA) at Patagonia, a region where this kind of information is lacking. RESULTS The benthos density at NyF was higher than that at CVA, and at both streams, riffles supported higher macroinvertebrate densities than pools. The diet of trouts from both streams was dominated by aquatic macroinvertebrates, was diverse, and was varied seasonally. The individuals represented in the stomachcontents were among the largest available at the streams. Diet diversity peaked during spring at NyF and during summer at CVA, whereas at both streams, the niche width peaked during spring. Preyselectivity varied seasonally. The selected preys included both aquatic (Gasteropoda, Crustacea, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, and Odonata) and terrestrial organisms (adult dipterans, Oligochaeta, Araneae, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, Orthoptera, and Hemiptera). Some infaunal invertebrates like oligochaetes and some small Coleoptera and Diptera larvae (mainly Chironomidae) were not selected by trouts. CONCLUSIONS Despite of the overall dominance of trichopteran species, the composition of the diet of the rainbow trout varied seasonally. This fish positively selected both aquatic and terrestrial organisms. We observed that in both streams, trouts consumed the larger individuals available in those environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Yanina Di Prinzio
- Consejo Nacional de Investigación en Ciencia y Tecnología (CONICET), Rivadavia 1917, 1033 Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), Sarmiento 890, 9200 Esquel, Argentina.,Laboratorio de Investigación en Ecología y Sistemática Animal (LIESA), Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia, Sarmiento 890, 9200 Esquel, Argentina
| | - Guillermo Omad
- Consejo Nacional de Investigación en Ciencia y Tecnología (CONICET), Rivadavia 1917, 1033 Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), Sarmiento 890, 9200 Esquel, Argentina.,Laboratorio de Investigación en Ecología y Sistemática Animal (LIESA), Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia, Sarmiento 890, 9200 Esquel, Argentina
| | - María Laura Miserendino
- Consejo Nacional de Investigación en Ciencia y Tecnología (CONICET), Rivadavia 1917, 1033 Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), Sarmiento 890, 9200 Esquel, Argentina.,Laboratorio de Investigación en Ecología y Sistemática Animal (LIESA), Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia, Sarmiento 890, 9200 Esquel, Argentina
| | - Ricardo Casaux
- Consejo Nacional de Investigación en Ciencia y Tecnología (CONICET), Rivadavia 1917, 1033 Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), Sarmiento 890, 9200 Esquel, Argentina.,Laboratorio de Investigación en Ecología y Sistemática Animal (LIESA), Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia, Sarmiento 890, 9200 Esquel, Argentina.,Instituto Antártico Argentino, Cerrito 1248, 1010 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Miserendino ML, Casaux R, Archangelsky M, Di Prinzio CY, Brand C, Kutschker AM. Assessing land-use effects on water quality, in-stream habitat, riparian ecosystems and biodiversity in Patagonian northwest streams. Sci Total Environ 2011; 409:612-624. [PMID: 21094515 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.10.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2010] [Revised: 10/14/2010] [Accepted: 10/16/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Changes in land-use practices have affected the integrity and quality of water resources worldwide. In Patagonia there is a strong concern about the ecological status of surface waters because these changes are rapidly occurring in the region. To test the hypothesis that greater intensity of land-use will have negative effects on water quality, stream habitat and biodiversity we assessed benthic macroinvertebrates, riparian/littoral invertebrates, fish and birds from the riparian corridor and environmental variables of 15 rivers (Patagonia) subjected to a gradient of land-use practices (non-managed native forest, managed native forest, pine plantations, pasture, urbanization). A total of 158 macroinvertebrate taxa, 105 riparian/littoral invertebrate taxa, 5 fish species, 34 bird species, and 15 aquatic plant species, were recorded considering all sites. Urban land-use produced the most significant changes in streams including physical features, conductivity, nutrients, habitat condition, riparian quality and invertebrate metrics. Pasture and managed native forest sites appeared in an intermediate situation. The highest values of fish and bird abundance and diversity were observed at disturbed sites; this might be explained by the opportunistic behavior displayed by these communities which let them take advantage of increased trophic resources in these environments. As expected, non-managed native forest sites showed the highest integrity of ecological conditions and also great biodiversity of benthic communities. Macroinvertebrate metrics that reflected good water quality were positively related to forest land cover and negatively related to urban and pasture land cover. However, by offering stream edge areas, pasture sites still supported rich communities of riparian/littoral invertebrates, increasing overall biodiversity. Macroinvertebrates were good indicators of land-use impact and water quality conditions and resulted useful tools to early alert of disturbances in streams. Fish and birds having a greater ability of dispersion and capacity to move quickly from disturbances would reflect changes at a higher scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Laura Miserendino
- CONICET Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Ecología y Sistemática Animal-Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Argentina.
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Casaux R, Baroni A, Ramón A, Carlini A, Bertolin M, DiPrinzio CY. Diet of the Leopard Seal Hydrurga leptonyx at the Danco Coast, Antarctic Peninsula. Polar Biol 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-008-0567-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Casaux R, Baroni A, Ramón A, Favero M, Silva P. Aspects of the foraging behaviour of the Antarctic Tern Sterna vittata gaini at Harmony Point, South Shetland Islands. Polar Biol 2007. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-007-0362-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
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Carlini AR, Daneri GA, Márquez MEI, Bornemann H, Panarello H, Casaux R, Ramdohr S, Plötz J. Food consumption estimates of southern elephant seal females during their post-breeding aquatic phase at King George Island. Polar Biol 2005. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-005-0004-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Casaux R, Bellizia L, Baroni A. The diet of the Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella at Harmony Point, South Shetland Islands: evidence of opportunistic foraging on penguins? Polar Biol 2004. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-003-0559-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Casaux R, Baroni A, Arrighetti F, Ram�n A, Carlini A. Geographical variation in the diet of the Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella. Polar Biol 2003. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-003-0554-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Casaux R, Baroni A, Carlini A. The diet of the Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella at Harmony Point, Nelson Island, South Shetland Islands. Polar Biol 1998. [DOI: 10.1007/s003000050324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Casaux R. The contrasting diet of Harpagifer antarcticus (Notothenioidei, Harpagiferidae) at two localities of the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Polar Biol 1998. [DOI: 10.1007/s003000050246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Casaux R, Coria N, Barrera-Oro E. Fish in the diet of the Antarctic shag Phalacrocorax bransfieldensis at Laurie Island, South Orkney Islands. Polar Biol 1997. [DOI: 10.1007/s003000050179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Coria N, Casaux R, Favero M, Pilva P. Analysis of the stomach content of the blue-eyed shag Phalacrocorax atriceps bransfieldensis at Nelson Island, South Shetland Islands. Polar Biol 1995. [DOI: 10.1007/bf00238485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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