Trace metals in Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) livers from Bird Island, South Georgia

Malcolm, Heath; Boyd, Ian L.; Osborn, Daniel; French, M. C.; Freestone, P.

doi:10.1016/0025-326x(94)90275-5

Cited by 27 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…At Bird Island, northern giant petrel males, which showed the lowest concentration of mercury among giant petrels, are known to feed extensively on carrion of Antarctic fur seal. Although important concentrations of mercury were found in the liver of Antarctic fur seals (215 000 ng g -1 dry weight, Malcolm et al 1994), concentrations in muscle seem to be very low (< 50 ng g -1 wet weight; De Moreno et al 1997), as would be expected from a species that feeds primarily on krill (Croxall & Pilcher 1984, Reid & Arnould 1996. However, a comprehensive sampling of potential preys around Bird Island and studies of their mercury levels are needed before reaching clear conclusions on these differences.…”

Section: Intraspecific Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Feather mercury levels in seabirds at South Georgia: influence of trophic position, sex and age

Becker¹,

González‐Solís²,

Behrends³

et al. 2002

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

116

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We studied the mercury contamination of 13 species of seabirds breeding on Bird Island, South Georgia, in 1998. Total mercury concentrations in body feather samples of birds caught at their breeding colonies were determined. Among the species, grey-headed albatross (8933 ng g ) the lowest body feather mercury concentrations. Mercury levels were negatively correlated with the proportion of crustaceans (mainly krill) in the species' diets, suggesting that the trophic level is the most important factor in explaining the variation of mercury concentrations in Antarctic seabirds. In 4 species studied for age effects among adult birds (grey-headed and black-browed albatross, northern and southern giant petrel), no age-dependent variation in mercury levels was found. Sex differences were also assessed: female gentoo penguins had lower mercury levels than males, which may be related to the elimination of part of the mercury body burden by females into eggs. In contrast, northern giant petrel males had lower levels than females, which may be related to a higher consumption by males of carrion from Antarctic fur seals. In grey-headed albatrosses, mercury levels were 113% higher than in 1989, when this species was investigated at the same site, indicating a possible increase in mercury pollution of the Southern Ocean during the last decade.

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Section: Intraspecific Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Feather mercury levels in seabirds at South Georgia: influence of trophic position, sex and age

Becker¹,

González‐Solís²,

Behrends³

et al. 2002

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

116

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“…Krill and particularly cephalopods generally contain high levels of cadmium (Honda et al 1987, Gerpe et al 2000, and thus seabird and cetacean species feeding more extensively on these taxa usually show higher levels of cadmium (Muirhead & Furness 1988, Thompson 1990, Bowles 1999, Stewart et al 1999. In contrast, although Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella seem to accumulate important quantities of cadmium in the liver (Malcolm et al 1994), carrion (muscle) from this species shows low levels of this metal (de Moreno et al 1997).…”

Section: Intersexual Differencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metals and selenium as bioindicators of geographic and trophic segregation in giant petrels Macronectes spp.

González‐Solís

Sanpera²,

Ruíz³

2002

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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We analysed concentrations of cadmium, lead, mercury and selenium in blood from males and females of the 2 sibling species of giant petrels, the northern Macronectes halli and the southern M. giganteus, breeding sympatrically at Bird Island (South Georgia, Antarctica). Blood samples were collected in 1998 during the incubation period, from 5 November to 10 December. Between species, cadmium and lead concentrations were significantly higher for northern than for southern giant petrels, which probably resulted from northern giant petrels wintering in more polluted areas (mainly on the Patagonian Shelf and Falkland Islands) compared to southern giant petrels (wintering mainly around South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands). Between sexes, cadmium concentrations were significantly higher for females than for males in both species, corresponding to the more pelagic habits of females compared to the more scavenging habits of males. Lead and cadmium concentrations in circulating blood decreased significantly over the incubation period, suggesting that when breeding at Bird Island, exposure to the source of pollution had ended, and these metals had been cleared from the blood and excreted, or rapidly transferred to other tissues. Association of lead and cadmium with a common source of pollution was further corroborated by a significant positive correlation between the levels of the 2 elements found. Mercury levels were similar between the species, but showed an opposite trend between sexes, with males showing higher levels than females in northern giant petrels, and the opposite was true in southern giant petrels, with no changes throughout incubation. Selenium levels were similar between sexes, but significantly greater for northern than for southern giant petrels. Moreover, there was a significant increase in the selenium levels over the incubation period in northern giant petrels. Age of adult birds did not affect metal concentrations. Coefficients of variation of metal levels were consistently lower for northern than for southern giant petrels, particularly for mercury, suggesting that the former species is more dietary specialised than the latter. Contaminant analyses, when combined with accurate information on seabird movements, obtained through geolocation or satellite tracking, help us to understand geographic variation of pollution in the marine environment.

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“…La cuantificación de los minerales se realizó por Absorción Atómica con llama de aire-acetileno [11,18,25] …”

Section: Materiales Y Métodosunclassified

Constituyentes minerales del Morocoto Piaractus Brachypomus en el Orinoco Medio de Venezuela.

González¹,

Márquez²,

Senior³

et al. 2016

Preprint

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RESUMENSe realizó un análisis de la concentración de algunos minerales como potasio, sodio, calcio, magnesio y hierro en el tejido muscular del morocoto Piaractus brachypomus del Orinoco medio en Venezuela, capturado en algunas lagunas de inundación con redes de enmalle. La concentración de estos minerales fue analizada mediante Absorción Atómica con llama de aire-acetileno y corrección de fondo de deuterio, utilizando un equipo Perkin Elmer 3100 acoplado con un automuestreador Perkin-Elmer AS-51. Se determinó un promedio 45,32 ± 0,52 µg/g en la concentración de hierro, 3497,48 ± 107,06 µg/g en la concentración de calcio, 1528,95 ± 29,25 µg/g en la concentración de magnesio, 3529,66 ± 65,24 µg/g en la concentración de sodio y 16488,90 ± 264,69 µg/g en la concentración de potasio. Un análisis de varianza (ANOVA) y prueba posteriori de Duncan, demostró que estas concentraciones presentaron diferencias significativas, con una mayor concentración de potasio, seguido del sodio y el calcio, y luego el magnesio y el hierro. Entre estos minerales las concentraciones de calcio y potasio presentaron correlación estadísticamente significativa. Los resultados constituyen un aporte al conocimiento de la composición química de P. brachypomus, uno de los peces de agua dulce más importante en el país desde el punto de vista comercial y en la acuacultura.Palabras clave: Composición química de peces, constituyentes minerales en peces, peces de agua dulce, Piaractus brachypomus, río Orinoco. ABSTRACTAn analysis of the concentrations of some mineral as potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and iron was made in the muscular tissue of the morocoto Piaractus brachypomus from the middle Orinoco River in Venezuela, captured in some flood lagoons with gillnet. The concentration of these minerals was analyzed by Atomic Absorption with flame of air-acetylene and correction of deuterium, using a team Perkin Elmer 3100 coupled with an autosampler Perkin-Elmer ACE-51. An average of 45.32 ± 0.52 µg/g was determined in the iron concentration, 3497.48 ± 107.06 µg/g in the concentration of calcium, 1528.95 ± 29.25 µg/g in the concentration of magnesium, 3529.66 ± 65.24 µg/g in the concentration of sodium and 16488.90 ± 264.69 µg/g in the concentration of potassium. A variance analysis (ANOVA) and Duncan test later, demonstrated that these concentrations presented significant differences, with a bigger concentration of potassium, followed by the sodium and the calcium, and then the magnesium and the iron. Among these minerals the concentrations of calcium and potassium presented correlation statistically significant. The results constitute a contribution to the knowledge of the chemical composition of P. brachypomus, one of the freshwater fish most important in the country from the commercial point of view and in the aquaculture.

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Trace metals in Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) livers from Bird Island, South Georgia

Cited by 27 publications

References 31 publications

Feather mercury levels in seabirds at South Georgia: influence of trophic position, sex and age

Feather mercury levels in seabirds at South Georgia: influence of trophic position, sex and age

Metals and selenium as bioindicators of geographic and trophic segregation in giant petrels Macronectes spp.

Constituyentes minerales del Morocoto Piaractus Brachypomus en el Orinoco Medio de Venezuela.

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