Transport of nutrients and contaminants from ocean to island by emperor penguins from Amanda Bay, East Antarctic

Huang, Tao; Sun, Liguang; Wang, Yuhong; Chu, Zhuding; Qin, Xianyan; Yang, Liwei

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.08.082

Cited by 45 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Nesting birds introduce nutrients to ecosystems low in nutrients, thus changing soil trophy and habitat conditions (Stempniewicz et al 2006;Smykla et al 2007;Jakubas et al 2008;Huang et al 2014;Zwolnicki et al 2015). This, in turn, causes changes in the quantity and mass of vascular plant communities and cyanobacterial and algal assemblages in the vicinity of nesting locations (Elvebakk 1994;Matuła et al 2007;Zmudczyńska et al 2009;Richter et al 2009;Kolb et al 2010;Ellis et al 2011;Mulder et al 2011;Richter et al 2014Richter et al , 2015aWojciechowska et al 2015;Zmudczyńska-Skarbek et al 2015a, b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cyanobacterial and algal diversity in the vicinity of two different seabird colonies in Spitsbergen

Pietryka¹,

Richter²,

Matuła³

2016

Polish Polar Research

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Abstract:The aim of the study was to compare cyanobacterial and algal assemblages occurring in ornithocoprophilous habitats formed under the influence of two seabird colonies (mixed colony of piscivorous Uria lomvia and Rissa tridactyla and planktivorous Alle alle) nesting on the southwest side of Hornsund (Spitsbergen). Various influences of the bird colonies (e.g. surface trophy, treading) lead to the formation of ornithogenic habitats with quantitatively and qualitatively diverse cyanobacterial and algal assemblages. Only 6 species common to both habitats were identified, but due to their different proportions the similarity ended there. Cyanobacterial and algal assemblages of both ornithogenic habitats also react rather differently to the intensity of the bird colonies' influence. The assemblages located directly beneath piscivorous bird nests were characterized by a larger number of species, which decreased the farther from the colony it was. Cyanobacterial and algal assemblages located directly next to planktivorous bird nests were species poor, but species richness increased at locations farther from their direct influence. The obtained results confirmed that bird colonies characterized by different diet and behavior influenced the formation of two separate, quantitatively and qualitatively different cyanobacterial and algal assemblages. Species such as Eucapsis sp., Gleocapsopsis sp., Gloeothece sp., Woronichinia sp., Hematococcus sp. were characteristic for algae and cyanobacteria assemblages in the vicinity of piscivorous bird colonies, whereas Aphanocapsa sp., Gloeothece sp., Komvophoron minutum, Pseudanabaena sp., Gloeocystis sp. 2 occurred in the vicinity of planktivorous bird colonies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cyanobacterial and algal diversity in the vicinity of two different seabird colonies in Spitsbergen

Pietryka¹,

Richter²,

Matuła³

2016

Polish Polar Research

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“…Mão de Ferro et al, 2013). The biologically mediated transport, however, is typically ignored (Blais et al, 2007(Blais et al, , 2005, but might represent an important input at the local (Huang et al, 2014) or regional (Blais et al, 2007) scales, not only in polar environments but also in semi-arid ones for instance (Garcia et al, 2002). This transfer from the sea to the land is reported not only for trace elements, but to other contaminants as well (Negoita et al, 2003;Roosens et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seabird colonies as relevant sources of pollutants in Antarctic ecosystems: Part 1 - Trace elements

et al. 2018

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Global distillation is classically pointed as the biggest responsible for contaminant inputs in Polar ecosystems. Mercury (Hg) and other trace elements (TEs) also present natural sources, whereas the biologically mediated input is typically ignored. However, bioaccumulation and biomagnification combined with the fact that seabirds gather in large numbers into large colonies and excrete on land might represent an important local TEs input. A previous work suggested these colonies as sources of not only nutrients, but also organic contaminants. To evaluate a similar hypothesis for TEs, samples of lichen (n = 55), mosses (n = 58) and soil (n = 37) were collected in 13 locations within the South Shetlands Archipelago during the austral summers of 2013-14 and 2014-15. They were divided in: "colony" (within the colony itself for soil and bordering it for vegetation) and "control" (at least 50 m away from colony interference), analysed for TEs (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, V, and Zn) and stable isotopes (C and N). In most cases, soil seems the best matrix to assess colonies as TEs sources, as it presented more differences between control/colony sites than vegetation. Colonies are clearly local sources of organic matter, Cd, Hg and likely of As, Se and Zn. Conversely, Co, Cr, Ni and Pb come presumably from other sources, natural or anthropogenic. In general, isotopes were more useful for interpreting vegetation data due to fractionation of absorbed animal-derived organic matter. Other local Hg sources could be inferred from high levels in control sites, location and wind patterns.

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“…Therefore, the impact of cormorants on various elements of both the terrestrial and aquatic environment has been largely addressed in different studies. The birds breed on land but forage on water so they represent a very important intermediate link in some food webs Skov et al, 2014) and a factor facilitating the relocation of matter and possibly also some microbial agents between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems (Marion et al, 1994;Huang et al, 2014). A large number of potential outcomes of cormorant presence has been demonstrated, including soil fertilization, eutrophication, changes in terrestrial and aquatic vegetation, loss of biodiversity, dispersion of certain pathogens and food web modifications.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The complexity of ecological impacts induced by great cormorants

Klimaszyk

Rzymski

2015

Hydrobiologia

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Following decades of global extermination, the general population of the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo L.) is on the rise. The lack of regular predators, highly skilled fish rapacity, rapid metabolism, significant rate of excretion and ability to form large nesting colonies on relatively small areas lead to numerous environmental consequences of cormorant presence. Here we comprehensively review the occurrence and distribution of this species and, in particular, its multi-faceted impact on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and the main routes through which these impacts are being manifested. The bird-induced chemical loading and its biological and ecological consequences, and the effects on microbial pollution and pathogen dispersion are discussed in particular. The need for further investigation to fully elucidate particular effects is stressed throughout the paper. It is concluded that the environmental effects of great cormorants are rather complex, can lead to serious ecosystem modifications and that the presence of these birds should be taken into consideration in ecological assessment and monitoring.

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Transport of nutrients and contaminants from ocean to island by emperor penguins from Amanda Bay, East Antarctic

Cited by 45 publications

References 38 publications

Cyanobacterial and algal diversity in the vicinity of two different seabird colonies in Spitsbergen

Cyanobacterial and algal diversity in the vicinity of two different seabird colonies in Spitsbergen

Seabird colonies as relevant sources of pollutants in Antarctic ecosystems: Part 1 - Trace elements

The complexity of ecological impacts induced by great cormorants

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