Mercury exposure driven by geographic and trophic factors in Magellanic penguins from Tierra del Fuego. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dodino, Samanta; Riccialdelli, Luciana; Polito, Michael J.; Pütz, Klemens; Brasso, Rebecka L.; Raya Rey, Andrea
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 174(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: Seabirds -- Mercury -- Trophic niche -- Contamination niche -- Austral Ocean; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113184
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: Penguins accumulate mercury due to their long-life span together with their high trophic position. We sampled adult and juveniles' feathers from three colonies of Spheniscus magellanicus from Tierra del Fuego along an inshore-offshore corridor. We integrated toxicological information (mercury concentrations) and foraging biomarkers (δ 13 C, δ 15 N) into a common data analysis framework (isotopic niche analysis) to evaluate the influence of age, location, and foraging behaviors on mercury concentrations. Adults had higher feather mercury concentrations, δ 13 C, and δ 15 N values compared to juveniles. Also, adult and juvenile feather mercury concentrations differed between colonies, with lower mercury concentrations at the nearest inshore colony relative to the farther offshore colonies. Trophic position and the isotopic niche analyses suggest that this geographic gradient in mercury concentrations is due to differences in colonies' foraging areas. Understanding penguins' exposure to mercury derived from local food webs is a crucial first step in evaluating the impacts of this heavy metal on their conservation status. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: Hg contamination differed between colony location and individual ages. A geographic [Hg] gradient was explained by differences in foraging areas. Adults showed higher Hg concentrations respect to juveniles. Trophic positions did not explain Hg biomagnification.