Colonial Marine Birds Influence Island Soil Chemistry Through Biotransport of Trace Elements

Mahon, Lewis; Tomlik, Molly D.; White, Chris E.; Milton, G. Randy; Spooner, Ian

doi:10.1007/s11270-015-2314-9

Cited by 29 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Our study has shown that seabird colonies, as a consequence of bio-transportation processes, play an important role in increasing the content of and changing the distribution of heavy metals in arctic soils, and that this is a widely described phenomenon (Godzik, 1991;Headley, 1996;Blais et al, 2005;Michelutti et al, 2010;Mallory et al, 2015). This is indicated by the highest scores of Zn, Mn, Cu, and Cd contents in the peat under the avian colony, which is the direct receiver of those inputs (the second point of the transect), and is in agreement with other studies (e.g., Brimble et al, 2009;Michelutti et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…Marked values are significant at p < 0.05 (p values were adjusted using Holm's method). Explanations: PT = total P, OP = organic P, IP = inorganic P, Pi-L = labile inorganic P, Pi-FeAl = inorganic P associated with Fe and Al, Pi-CaMg = inorganic P associated with Ca and Mg, Po-HuAc = organic P associated with humic acids, Po-Res = residual organic P. analyzed elements in the sediment can be (a) the processes of weathering/type and composition of the in situ bedrock; (b) denudation (surface runoff erosion, mass movements, deflation), leaching, accumulation, and other agencies (Gulińska et al, 2003;Mallory et al, 2015); (c) accumulation of atmospheric pollutants transported in the form of dust or gases (Plichta and Kuczyńska, 1991;Steinnes and Friedland, 2006;Rumam et al, 2013;Kozak et al, 2015); (d) biogenic accumulation (in the case of Spitsbergen, mainly related to birds). Each type of delivery is related to specific relationships among the elements.…”

Section: Tablementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Seabirds are the key organisms in the Arctic acting as biovectors and influencing energy and nutrient transportation from marine to land ecosystems (Tatur, 1989;Godzik, 1991;Headley, 1996;Ligęza and Smal, 2003;Michelutti et al, 2009Michelutti et al, , 2010Mallory et al, 2015). From marine areas of foraging, birds carry nutrients to breeding areas, where they release them through defecation, regurgitation, dropping food, or mortality (Blais et al, 2005;Ellis et al, 2006;Mulder et al, 2011;Bauer and Hoye, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the bio-transportation of organic materials, transportation of pollutants and their concentration in the proximity of breeding areas can also be observed (Blais et al, 2005;Brimble et al, 2009;Mallory et al, 2015). Seabirds are the main source of the terrestrial environment's pollution because their food consists of organisms that are high in the food chain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a result of bioaccumulation and biomagnification, these organisms contain a high concentration of pollutants, including heavy metals originating from the marine environment (Buckman et al, 2005;Campbell et al, 2005;Mallory and Braune, 2012). Enrichment of the terrestrial environment with heavy metals in the proximity of seabird breeding areas is documented for the polar (Godzik, 1991;Headley, 1996;Bargagli et al, 1998;Sun et al, 2004;Zhu et al, 2005;Evenset et al, 2007;Mallory et al, 2015) and temperate zones, as well as the tropical zone (Otero Perez, 1998;Hawke et al, 1999;Garcia et al, 2002;Liu et al, 2006). The efficiency of pollutant introduction to the terrestrial environment by seabirds is also visible in terms of the heavy metal content in flora.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

The Influence of Seabirds on the Concentration of Selected Heavy Metals in Organic Soil on the Bellsund Coast, Western Spitsbergen

Ziółek

Bartmiński

Stach

2017

Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Section: Tablementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

The Influence of Seabirds on the Concentration of Selected Heavy Metals in Organic Soil on the Bellsund Coast, Western Spitsbergen

Ziółek

Bartmiński

Stach

2017

Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research

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Assessing long‐term diatom changes in sub‐Arctic ponds receiving high fluxes of seabird nutrients

Hargan,

Duda,

Michelutti

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Algal bioindicators, such as diatoms, often show subdued responses to eutrophication in Arctic lakes because climate‐related changes (e.g., ice cover) tend to be the overriding factors influencing assemblage composition. Here, we examined how sub‐Arctic ponds historically receiving high nutrient inputs from nesting seabirds have responded to recent climate change. We present diatom data obtained from 12 sediment cores in seaduck‐affected ponds located on islands through Hudson Strait, Canada. All study cores show consistently elevated values of sedimentary ẟ15N, an established proxy for tracking marine‐derived nutrients, indicating seabirds have been present on these islands for at least the duration of the sediment records (~100 to 400 years). We document diverse epiphytic diatom assemblages to the base of all sediment cores, which is in marked contrast to seabird‐free Arctic ponds—these oligotrophic sites typically record epilithic diatom flora prior to recent warming. Diatoms are likely responding indirectly to seabird nutrients via habitat as nutrients promote the growth of mosses supporting epiphytic diatom communities. This masks the typical diatom response to increased warming in the Arctic, which also results in habitat changes and the growth of mosses around the pond edges. Changes in sedimentary chlorophyll a were not consistently synchronous with large changes in ẟ15N values, suggesting that primary production in ponds is not responding linearly to changes in seabird‐derived nitrogen. Across all ponds, we recorded shifts in diatom epiphytic assemblages (e.g., increases in % relative abundance of many Nitzschia species) that often align with increases in chlorophyll a. The changes in diatoms and chlorophyll a, although variable, are most likely driven by climate change as they are generally consistent with longer ice‐free conditions and growing seasons. Together, our results show that to effectively use diatoms in animal population reconstructions across the sub‐Arctic and Arctic, a strong understanding of eutrophication and climate change, based on supplementary proxies, is also required.

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Biotransport of metallic trace elements from marine to terrestrial ecosystems by seabirds

Shoji

Elliott

Aris‐Brosou

et al. 2018

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Physical systems, such as currents and winds, have traditionally been considered responsible for transporting contaminants. Although evidence is mounting that animals play a role in this process through their movements, we still know little about how such contaminant biotransport occurs and the extent of effects at deposition sites. In the present study, we address this question by studying how rhinoceros auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata), a seabird that occurs in immense colonies (∼300 000 pairs at our study site, Teuri Island), affect contaminant levels at their colony and at nearby sites. More specifically, we hypothesize that contaminants are transported and deposited by seabirds at their colony and that these contaminants are passed on locally to the terrestrial ecosystem. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the concentration of 9 heavy metal and metalloids, as well as δ13C and δ15N stable isotopes, in bird tissues, plants, and soil, both within and outside of the colony. The results show that rhinoceros auklets transport marine‐derived mercury (Hg), possibly from their wintering location, and deposit Hg via their feces at their breeding site, thereby contaminating plants and soils within the breeding colony. The present study confirms not only that animals can transport contaminants from marine to terrestrial ecosystems, potentially over unexpectedly long distances, but also that bird tissues contribute locally to plant contamination. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:106–114. © 2018 SETAC

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Colonial Marine Birds Influence Island Soil Chemistry Through Biotransport of Trace Elements

Cited by 29 publications

References 39 publications

The Influence of Seabirds on the Concentration of Selected Heavy Metals in Organic Soil on the Bellsund Coast, Western Spitsbergen

The Influence of Seabirds on the Concentration of Selected Heavy Metals in Organic Soil on the Bellsund Coast, Western Spitsbergen

Assessing long‐term diatom changes in sub‐Arctic ponds receiving high fluxes of seabird nutrients

Biotransport of metallic trace elements from marine to terrestrial ecosystems by seabirds

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