Mobile marine predators, such as seabirds, are frequently used as broad samplers of contaminants that are widespread in the marine environment. The Timor Sea off remote Western Australia is a poorly studied, yet rapidly expanding area of offshore development. To provide much needed data on contamination in this region, we quantified trace element concentrations in breast feathers of three seabird species breeding on Bedout Island. While adult Masked Boobies Sula dactylatra exhibited some of the highest concentrations, values for all species were below toxicology thresholds for seabirds and were comparable to those reported in other closely related species. The low concentrations detected in the birds provide a valuable baseline and suggest that the local marine environment around Bedout is in relatively good condition. However, careful monitoring is warranted in light increasing anthropogenic activity in this region.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	seabird ecology, trace elements, heavy metals, Pilbara, Western Australia
Research Division:	Biological Sciences
Research Group:	Ecology
Research Field:	Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology)
Objective Division:	Environmental Management
Objective Group:	Marine systems and management
Objective Field:	Marine biodiversity
UTAS Author:	Lavers, JL (Dr Jennifer Lavers)
UTAS Author:	Crameri, NJ (Mr Nick Crameri)
ID Code:	137048
Year Published:	2019
Web of Science® Times Cited:	1
Deposited By:	Ecology and Biodiversity
Deposited On:	2020-01-29
Last Modified:	2020-04-29
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