Biological factors affecting total mercury and methylmercury levels in Antarctic penguins

Souza, Juliana Silva; Kasper, Daniele; Cunha, Larissa Schmauder Teixeira da; Soares, Tuany Alves; Pessoa, Adriana Rodrigues de Lira; Carvalho, Gabriel Oliveira de; Costa, Erli Schneider; Niedzielski, Przemysław; Torres, João Paulo Machado

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127713

Cited by 17 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f 14 This supports the hypothesis that MeHg concentrations in aquatic food webs in general are the result of the combination of ecological dynamics influencing dietary exposure and physiological processes responsible for assimilation, transformation and elimination, and environmental factors particular to each area with an impact on contaminant mobility (Chételat et al, 2020;Jędruch and Beldowska, 2020;Kwon et al, 2012;Lemos-Bisi et al, 2012;Souza et al, 2020). Additionally, it has been suggested that in temperate freshwater lakes the level of sulfate in the water can enhance biomagnification, as it can have a strong, almost direct effect on Hg methylation (Gentés et al, 2021).…”

Section: Mercurysupporting

confidence: 57%

Drivers of biomagnification of Hg, As and Se in aquatic food webs: A review

Córdoba-Tovar

Marrugo‐Negrete

Barón

et al. 2022

Environmental Research

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Section: Mercurysupporting

confidence: 57%

Drivers of biomagnification of Hg, As and Se in aquatic food webs: A review

Córdoba-Tovar

Marrugo‐Negrete

Barón

et al. 2022

Environmental Research

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“…However, the low r 2 value indicated that additional factors beyond trophic status contributed to Hg exposure during the prebreeding period. Similar findings have been observed in studies involving Antarctic penguins and other seabirds, providing support for additional metrics to be included in Hg investigations, such as intrinsic (e.g., age) and extrinsic (e.g., sulfur biogeochemistry) factors that have been shown to contribute to inter‐ and intraspecific Hg variation (Bearhop et al 2000; Brasso et al 2012, 2014, 2015; Elliott and Elliott 2016; Polito et al 2016; Souza et al 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…The geographical disparities in Hg exposure observed among populations have been attributed to variation in Hg bioavailability across major water masses and/or dietary differences among populations. However, data used to assess Hg exposure in Adélie penguins occupying breeding territories within the Antarctic Peninsula region derive largely from populations at the South Shetland and South Orkney Islands, and therefore results are biased to that region (Szefer et al 1993; dos Santos et al 2006; Brasso et al 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015; Brasso and Polito 2013; Polito et al 2016; Cipro et al 2017; Souza et al 2020). Information regarding Hg exposure in populations occupying the northeast region of the Antarctic Peninsula is limited to a single study that focused solely on Hg exposure during the prebreeding period, when penguins are away from breeding sites, and overlap in foraging habitat may occur (Brasso et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intraspecific Variation in Mercury, δ¹⁵N, and δ¹³C Among 3 Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) Populations in the Northern Antarctic Peninsula Region

McKenzie

Silvestro

Marti³

et al. 2021

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Mercury (Hg) is a pervasive environmental contaminant that accumulates in the organs and tissues of seabirds at concentrations capable of causing acute or long-term adverse health effects. In the present study, Hg concentrations in Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) egg membranes and chick feathers served as a proxy for Hg bioavailability in the marine environment surrounding the northern Antarctic Peninsula. Stable isotopes were measured in conjunction with Hg to infer information regarding feeding habits (δ 15 N, diet/trophic level; δ 13 C, foraging habitat). The Hg concentrations were low relative to toxicity benchmark values associated with adverse health effects in birds and ranged between 0.006 and 0.080 µg g -1 dry weight (n = 65) in egg membranes and 0.140 to 1.05 µg g -1 fresh weight (n = 38) in feathers. Egg membrane δ 15 N signatures suggested that females from different breeding colonies had similar diets consisting of lower and higher trophic prey prior to arrival to breeding grounds. In contrast, δ 15 N signatures in feathers indicated that chick diet varied by colony. The Hg concentrations demonstrated significant positive relationships with δ 15 N, providing support for the hypothesis of Hg biomagnification up the food chain. The δ 13 C signatures in both tissue types provided evidence of foraging habitat segregation among populations. The differences in Hg exposure and foraging ecology suggest that each colony has localized foraging behaviors by breeding adults that warrant additional investigation.

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“…Sample values for Hg are reported in µg/g dry weight (dw). As most of the Hg present in feathers is MeHg, total Hg content represents MeHg concentration (Kim et al 1996;Bond and Diamond 2009;Souza et al 2020), which is the organic and biohazardous form of Hg.…”

Section: Hg Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury toxicity risk and corticosterone levels across the breeding range of the Yellow-breasted Chat

Mancuso

Hodges

Grosselet³

et al. 2022

Ecotoxicology

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Mercury (Hg) is an environmental contaminant that can negatively impact human and wildlife health. For songbirds, Hg risk may be elevated near riparian habitats due to the transfer of methylmercury (MeHg) from aquatic to terrestrial food webs. We measured Hg levels in tail feathers sampled across the breeding range of the Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens), a riparian songbird species of conservation concern. We assessed the risk of Hg toxicity based on published benchmarks. Simultaneously, we measured corticosterone, a hormone implicated in the stress response system, released via the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. To better understand range-wide trends in Hg and corticosterone, we examined whether age, sex, subspecies, or range position were important predictors. Lastly, we examined whether Hg and corticosterone were correlated. Hg levels in chats were relatively low: 0.30 ± 0.02 µg/g dry weight. 148 out of 150 (98.6%) had Hg levels considered background, and 2 (1.6%) had levels considered low toxicity risk. Hg levels were similar between sexes and subspecies. Younger chats (<1 year) had higher Hg levels than older chats (>1 year). Hg levels were lowest in the northern and central portion of the eastern subspecies’ range. Corticosterone concentrations in feathers averaged 3.68 ± 0.23 pg/mm. Corticosterone levels were similar between ages and sexes. Western chats had higher levels of corticosterone than eastern chats. Hg and corticosterone were not correlated, suggesting these low Hg burdens did not affect the activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. Altogether, the chat has low Hg toxicity risk across its breeding range, despite living in riparian habitats.

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Biological factors affecting total mercury and methylmercury levels in Antarctic penguins

Cited by 17 publications

References 67 publications

Drivers of biomagnification of Hg, As and Se in aquatic food webs: A review

Drivers of biomagnification of Hg, As and Se in aquatic food webs: A review

Intraspecific Variation in Mercury, δ¹⁵N, and δ¹³C Among 3 Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) Populations in the Northern Antarctic Peninsula Region

Mercury toxicity risk and corticosterone levels across the breeding range of the Yellow-breasted Chat

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Biological factors affecting total mercury and methylmercury levels in Antarctic penguins

Cited by 17 publications

References 67 publications

Drivers of biomagnification of Hg, As and Se in aquatic food webs: A review

Drivers of biomagnification of Hg, As and Se in aquatic food webs: A review

Intraspecific Variation in Mercury, δ15N, and δ13C Among 3 Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) Populations in the Northern Antarctic Peninsula Region

Mercury toxicity risk and corticosterone levels across the breeding range of the Yellow-breasted Chat

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Intraspecific Variation in Mercury, δ¹⁵N, and δ¹³C Among 3 Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) Populations in the Northern Antarctic Peninsula Region