Publicação

Body feather mercury and arsenic concentrations in five species of seabirds from the Falkland Islands

Ver documento

Detalhes bibliográficos
Resumo:Several pollutants, including heavy metals, magnify along the food chain, and top predators such as seabirds can be used to monitor their trends in the marine environment. We studied mercury and arsenic contamination in body feathers in penguins, petrels and cormorants in three islands of the Falklands Islands. There were significant differences among species and sites in the concentration of trace elements in feathers. Black-browed albatrosses and gentoo penguins had consistently high mercury concentrations on New Island, while Rockhopper penguins and imperial shags presented considerably higher concentrations at Beauchene Island. Mercury levels in black-browed albatrosses increased since 1986 on one of the islands, probably reflecting world-wide emission trends. Rockhopper penguins exhibited high arsenic levels, but levels were less variable among species, and were not correlated with mercury levels, suggesting low biomagnification. These results provide a reference line for bioindication studies using feathers from species on the Falkland Islands.
Autores principais:Furtado, Ricardo
Outros Autores:Pereira, Maria Eduarda; Granadeiro, José Pedro; Catry, Paulo
Assunto:Mercury Arsenic Southern Ocean Patagonian Shelf Trophic level
Ano:2019
País:Portugal
Tipo de documento:artigo
Tipo de acesso:acesso restrito
Instituição associada:Ispa-Instituto Universitário
Idioma:inglês
Origem:Repositório do Ispa - Instituto Universitário

Registos relacionados

Atividades financiadas

Carregando projetos financiados...

Registos relacionados