Metal Dynamics in an Antarctic Food Chain

Nygård, Torgeir; Lie, Elisabeth; Røv, Nils; Steinnes, E.

doi:10.1016/s0025-326x(00)00206-x

Cited by 74 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Factors that affect uptake, accumulation, and biomagnification of metals in birds include exposure pathways, species of the metal, and bioavailability, as well as a number of host factors, such as trophic status, location, foraging behavior, nutrition, body condition, gender, size, genetic variability, and age (Stewart et al, 1997;Debacker et al, 2001;Burger et al, 2003). Marine birds are exposed to a wide range of chemicals because they occupy a wide range of trophic levels, and those at the top of the food chain are susceptible to bioaccumulation of pollutants (Furness and Rainbow, 1990;Lewis and Furness, 1991;Burger and Gochfeld, 2002;Nygard et al, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium in feathers of Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) and Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) from Prince William Sound, Alaska

Burger

Gochfeld

Sullivan

et al. 2008

Science of The Total Environment

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Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury and selenium were analyzed in the feathers of Black-legged Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) from Shoup Bay in Prince William Sound, Alaska to determine if there were age-related differences in metal levels, and in Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani)) from the same region to determine if there were differences in oiled and unoiled birds. Except for mercury, there were no age-related differences in metals levels in the feathers of kittiwakes. Kittiwakes over 13 years of age had the highest levels of mercury. There were no differences in levels of metals in the feathers of oystercatchers from oiled and unoiled regions of Prince William Sound. Except for mercury, the feathers of oystercatchers had significantly higher levels of all metals than those of kittiwakes. Levels of mercury in kittiwake feathers (mean of 2910 ng/g [ppb]) were within the range of many species of seabirds reported for other studies, and were generally below adverse effects levels.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium in feathers of Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) and Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) from Prince William Sound, Alaska

Burger

Gochfeld

Sullivan

et al. 2008

Science of The Total Environment

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“…Increasingly governmental agencies, Tribal Nations, public policy makers, managers, and the public are interested in levels of contaminants in wildlife that could prove a problem to either the wildlife themselves or to organisms that consume them. Marine birds are useful as bioindicatiors of environmental pollution (Walsh 1990;Peakall 1992;Monteiro and Furness 1995;Furness and Camphuysen 1997) because they are exposed to a wide range of chemicals and occupy high trophic levels, making them susceptible to bioaccumulation of pollutants (Lewis and Furness 1991;Burger and Gochfeld 2002;Nygard et al 2001). Since most marine birds nest in colonies, local birds can be followed for many years (Burger and Gochfeld 2004;Scheifler et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury and selenium in feathers in bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and comparison with common eider (Somateria mollissima), glaucous-winged gull (Larus glaucescens), pigeon guillemot (Cepphus columba), and tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) from the Aleutian Chain of Alaska

Burger

Gochfeld

2008

Environ Monit Assess

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Comparison of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury and selenium in feathers in bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and comparison with common eider (Somateria mollissima), glaucous-winged gull (Larus glaucescens), pigeon guillemot (Cepphus columba), and tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) from the Aleutian Chain of Alaska AbstractThere is an abundance of field data for levels of metals from a range of places, but relatively few from the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. In this paper we examine the levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury and selenium in feathers from common eiders (Somateria mollissima), glaucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucescens), pigeon guillemots (Cepphus columba), tufted puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) and bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) from the Aleutian Chain of Alaska. Our primary objective was to test the hypothesis that there are no trophic levels relationships for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury and selenium among these five species of birds breeding in the marine environment of the Aleutians. There were significant interspecific differences in all metal levels. As predicted bald eagles had the highest levels of arsenic, chromium, lead, and manganese, but puffins had the highest levels of selenium, and pigeon guillemot had higher levels of mercury than eagles (although the differences were not significant). Common eiders, at the lowest trophic level had the lowest levels of some metals (chromium, mercury and selenium). However, eiders had higher levels than all other species (except eagles) for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and manganese. Levels of lead were higher in breast than in wing feathers of bald eagles. Except for lead, there were no significant differences in metal levels in feathers of bald eagles nesting on Adak and Amchitka Island; lead was higher on Adak than Amchitka. Eagle chicks tended to have lower levels of manganese than older eagles.

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“…The concentrations of trace metals (Fowler 1977, Stoeppler & Brandt 1979, Locarini & Presley 1995, Nygard et al 2001, anthropogenic radionuclides (Antezana & Fowler 1972, Higgo et al 1977, Marzano et al 2000, Heldal et al 2003 and 210 Po (Cherry et al 1975, Heyraud & Cherry 1979) have been measured in euphausiids from the Antarctic, Pacific, Mediterranean and Atlantic. In all these studies, Meganyctiphanes norvegica, the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba, and other euphausiid species provided a clear link between the plankton and larger organisms and were shown to play an important role in the transfer of these elements in marine ecosystems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasting transfer of polonium-210 and lead-210 across three trophic levels in marine plankton

Stewart

Fowler²,

Teyssié³

et al. 2005

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The naturally occurring radionuclides 210 Po and 210 Pb can be used as geochemical tracers in marine systems, but their interactions with biota in surface waters need to be understood before oceanographic data can be interpreted unambiguously. We compared the food chain dynamics of these radionuclides in plankton assemblages by measuring the uptake and trophic transfer of Po has the potential to build up in food chains and be biologically recycled, whereas 210 Pb would not build up in marine food chains and would display shorter residence times. Since euphausiids comprise an important link between small plankton and larger predatory animals in many marine ecosystems, they may serve as an important conduit of 210 Po to those predators consumed as seafood by humans.

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Metal Dynamics in an Antarctic Food Chain

Cited by 74 publications

References 11 publications

Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium in feathers of Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) and Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) from Prince William Sound, Alaska

Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium in feathers of Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) and Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) from Prince William Sound, Alaska

Contrasting transfer of polonium-210 and lead-210 across three trophic levels in marine plankton

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