Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in the study of organochlorine contaminants in albatrosses and petrels.
Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in albatrosses and petrels collected off southern Brazil were compared with concentrations of organochlorine contaminants (OCs). δ(13)C and δ(15)N values, as well as OCs concentrations, exhibited a high degree of variability among individuals and overlap among species. δ(13)C values reflected latitudinal differences among species, with lower values found in Wandering and Tristan Albatrosses and higher values found in Black-browed and Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatrosses and White-chinned Petrels. Some relationships were found between OCs and stable isotopes, but in general a partial 'uncoupling' was observed between OCs concentrations and stable isotopes ratios (especially for δ(15)N). δ(13)C and δ(15)N values in Procellariiformes tissues during the non-breeding season appear to be a better indicator of foraging habitats than of trophic relationships, which may partially explain the high degree of variability between concentrations of OCs and stable isotopes ratios in birds with a diversified diet and wide foraging range.
Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Oceanográfico, Laboratório de Química Orgânica Marinha, Pça. do Oceanográfico, 191, CEP 05508120 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Percy FitzPatrick Institute, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa. Electronic address: ficolabuono@gmail.com.
Fernanda I
FI
Colabuono
Percy FitzPatrick Institute, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.
Viviane
V
Barquete
Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Oceanográfico, Laboratório de Química Orgânica Marinha, Pça. do Oceanográfico, 191, CEP 05508120 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Satie
S
Taniguchi
Percy FitzPatrick Institute, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.
Peter G
PG
Ryan
Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Oceanográfico, Laboratório de Química Orgânica Marinha, Pça. do Oceanográfico, 191, CEP 05508120 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Rosalinda C
RC
Montone
D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D001938:Brazil; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D004032:Diet; D017753:Ecosystem; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D025341:Principal Component Analysis
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes
Brazil; Organochlorine pesticides; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Procellariiformes; Stable isotopes