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Metals and metalloids in little penguin (Eudyptula minor) prey, blood and faeces
Citation
Finger, A and Lavers, JL and Dann, P and Kowalczyk, ND and Scarpaci, C and Nugegoda, D and Orbell, JD, Metals and metalloids in little penguin (Eudyptula minor) prey, blood and faeces, Environmental Pollution, 223 pp. 567-574. ISSN 0269-7491 (2017) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
© 2017 Elsevier
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2017.01.059
Abstract
Piscivorous species like the Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) are particularly at risk of being negatively
impacted by pollution due to their heightened exposure through aquatic food chains. Therefore, determining
the concentration of heavy metals in the fish prey of seabirds is an essential component of
assessing such risk. In this study, we report on arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead and selenium concentrations
in three fish species, which are known to comprise a substantial part of the diet of Little Penguins
at the urban colony of St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. Metal concentrations in the fish sampled
were generally within the expected limits, however, arsenic and mercury were higher than reported
elsewhere. Anchovy (Engraulis australis) and sandy sprat (Hyperlophus vittatus) contained higher Hg concentrations than pilchard (Sardinops sagax), while sandy sprat and pilchard contained more selenium.
We present these findings together with metal concentrations in Little Penguin blood and faeces,
sampled within weeks of the fish collection. Mercury concentrations were highest in the blood, while
faeces and fish prey species contained similar concentrations of arsenic and lead, suggesting faeces as a
primary route of detoxification for these elements. We also investigated paired blood - faecal samples
and found a correlation for selenium only. Preliminary data from stable isotope ratios in penguin blood
indicate that changes in penguin blood mercury concentrations cannot be explained by trophic changes
in their diet alone, suggesting a variation of bioavailable Hg within this semi-enclosed bay.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | Trace metal pollution, seabird ecology, indicator species, coastal pollution, blood, guano, fish trace metal, Port Phillip Bay |
Research Division: | Environmental Sciences |
Research Group: | Environmental Science and Management |
Research Field: | Conservation and Biodiversity |
Objective Division: | Environment |
Objective Group: | Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity |
Objective Field: | Marine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity |
UTAS Author: | Lavers, JL (Dr Jennifer Lavers) |
ID Code: | 114928 |
Year Published: | 2017 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 5 |
Deposited By: | Ecology and Biodiversity |
Deposited On: | 2017-03-02 |
Last Modified: | 2018-04-20 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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