Trace Metal Concentrations in the Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) from Southern Victoria, Australia

Choong, B.; Allinson, Graeme; Salzman, Scott; Overeem, Rebecca L.

doi:10.1007/s00128-007-9015-z

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 5 publications

(2 reference statements)

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“…While previous studies have reported mercury concentrations from muscle, liver, and kidney of Little penguins (see Gibbs, 1995;Choong et al, 2007) this is the first study to document feather mercury concentrations in this species-a tissue more readily comparable with other seabird biomonitoring efforts. Differences in dietary preferences provided explanatory power for variations in mercury exposure detected between the populations of Little penguins from St. Kilda and Phillip Island (Table 1, Fig.…”

Section: Mercury 'Hot Spot' For Little Penguins In Port Phillip Baymentioning

confidence: 90%

A comprehensive assessment of mercury exposure in penguin populations throughout the Southern Hemisphere: Using trophic calculations to identify sources of population-level variation

Brasso

Chiaradia

Polito

et al. 2015

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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Section: Mercury 'Hot Spot' For Little Penguins In Port Phillip Baymentioning

confidence: 90%

A comprehensive assessment of mercury exposure in penguin populations throughout the Southern Hemisphere: Using trophic calculations to identify sources of population-level variation

Brasso

Chiaradia

Polito

et al. 2015

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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“…by sacrificing randomly selected members of a population (Bacher, 1985;Smichowski et al, 2006), or opportunistically, i.e. starved or killed 'by misadventure' (Lock et al, 1992;Gibbs, 1995;Choong et al, 2007). While the former has ethical implications and cannot be applied to species of conservation concern, the latter carries potentially unquantified biases including (1) the sample not being representative of a random cross-section of the population, (2) unknown provenance, (3) unknown cause of death, and (4) altered lipid content in a starved organ which can lead to falsely elevated elemental concentrations (Bryan et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) as an indicator of coastal trace metal pollution

Finger

Lavers

Dann

et al. 2015

Environmental Pollution

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“…b Toxicity thresholds are reports from the scientific literature that establish a hepatic concentration of heavy metal that is associated with confirmed toxicity in bird species. c Little penguin Australian data from Choong et al (2007). d Little penguin New Zealand data from Lock et al (1992).…”

Section: Heavy Metal Assaysmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of a mortality cluster in wild adult yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) at Otago Peninsula, New Zealand

Gartrell

Agnew²,

Alley

et al. 2017

Avian Pathology

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We investigated an epidemic mortality cluster of yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) that involved 67 moribund or dead birds found on various beaches of the Otago Peninsula, New Zealand, between 21 January and 20 March 2013. Twenty-four carcases were examined post-mortem. Histological lesions of pulmonary, hepatic and splenic erythrophagocytosis and haemosiderosis were found in 23 of 24 birds. Fifteen birds also had haemoglobin-like protein droplets within renal tubular epithelial cells. Despite consistent histological lesions, a cause of death could not be established. Virology, bacteriology and molecular tests for avian influenza, avian paramyxovirus-1, avipoxvirus, Chlamydia psittaci, Plasmodium spp., Babesia spp., Leucocytozoon spp. and Toxoplasma gondii were negative. Tissue concentrations of a range of heavy metals (n = 4 birds) were consistent with low level exposure, while examination of proventricular contents and mucus failed to detect any marine biotoxins or Clostridium botulinum toxin. Hepatic concentrations of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (n = 5 birds) were similar to background concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons previously found in yellow-eyed penguins from the South Island of New Zealand, but there were significantly higher concentrations of 1-methylnapthelene and 2-methylnapthelene in the birds found dead in this mortality cluster. The biological significance of this finding is unclear. A temporal investigation of the epidemic did not indicate either a common source or propagative epidemic pattern. Although our investigation did not definitively implicate a toxic or infectious agent, we could not rule out causes such as toxic marine organisms or mycoplasmosis. Further investigations should therefore by carried out in the event of future mortality clusters.

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Trace Metal Concentrations in the Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) from Southern Victoria, Australia

Cited by 8 publications

References 5 publications

A comprehensive assessment of mercury exposure in penguin populations throughout the Southern Hemisphere: Using trophic calculations to identify sources of population-level variation

A comprehensive assessment of mercury exposure in penguin populations throughout the Southern Hemisphere: Using trophic calculations to identify sources of population-level variation

The Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) as an indicator of coastal trace metal pollution

Investigation of a mortality cluster in wild adult yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) at Otago Peninsula, New Zealand

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