Distribution of metals and trace elements in adult and juvenile penguins from the Antarctic Peninsula area

Abstract

The presence of metals in the Antarctic environment is principally a natural phenomenon caused by geochemical characteristics of the region, although some anthropogenic activities can increase these natural levels. Antarctic penguins present several of the characteristics of useful sentinels of pollution in Antarctica such as they are long-lived species situated at the top of food web. The concentrations of Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, and Pb were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry in samples of liver, kidney, muscle, bone, feather, and stomach contents of gentoo, chinstrap, and Adélie penguin (12 adults, five juveniles) from carcasses of naturally dead individuals collected opportunistically in the Antarctic Peninsula area. The obtained results showed that accumulation and magnification of several elements can be occurring, so that Cd and Se reached levels potentially toxic in some specimens. The presence of human activities seems to be increasing the presence of toxic metals such as Mn, Cr, Ni, or Pb in penguins.

Factors affecting trace element accumulation in livers of avian species from East Poland

“…Despite important biochemical functions on one hand and toxicity on the other, Cr is rarely determined in the livers of birds (Horai et al, 2007). The importance of the liver is not attributed to the accumulation of Cr in birds (Jerez et al, 2013). Experiments seem to indicate the role of the lungs in accumulation of this element, due to registering Cr concentrations 1.5-2.0 times higher than that in the liver (Horai et al, 2007).…”

“…Birds have been recognized as good spatiotemporal integrators of pollutions because of their wide distribution, feeding at different trophic levels, long lifespan, and abundance (Jerez et al, 2013;Kalisinska et al, 2013;Mansouri and Majnoni, 2014). Birds are susceptible to bioaccumulation of pollutants mainly through the consumption of contaminated food.…”

Erythrocytic abnormalities in three Antarctic penguin species along the Antarctic Peninsula: biomonitoring of genomic damage

“…Unfortunately, little information is available about the levels of contaminants in Yalour Island. Jerez et al (2011) studied the presence of trace elements in the feathers of Adélie penguins breeding on this island and found Ni, Cu, Zn, and Se concentrations higher than or similar to those on penguins on King George Island, where human activity is intense (Tin et al 2009) and contaminant levels are considered to be high [e.g., in aerosols (Artaxo et al 1992) and penguins (Cipro et al 2010;Jerez et al 2011Jerez et al , 2013a]. High concentration of trace elements in Yalour Island could be attributed to human activity, because this island is close to the Ukranian Antarctic Research Base Vernadski as well as to natural sources.…”

Polar marine biology science in Portugal and Spain: Recent advances and future perspectives

“…Their results show that northern populations located in the South Shetlands and especially in King George Island have higher levels of elements such as Pb, Cr or Hg (Jerez, 2012;Jerez et al, 2011). These metals show processes of bioaccumulation and signs of biomagnification (Jerez et al, 2013). Regarding POPs, our results show that PCBs, PFCs and phthalates are present in penguins from Deception Island (Jerez, 2012).…”