title: Mercury accumulation in sediments and seabird feathers from the Antarctic Peninsula.
abstract: In an effort to assess the impact of mercury in the Antarctic Peninsula, we conducted ecotoxicological research in this region during the summer of 2012 and 2013. The objectives were to assess: (a) mercury levels in sediment samples; (b) mercury accumulation in Antarctic seabird feathers: Catharacta lonnbergi (brown skua), Pygoscelis papua (gentoo penguin) and Pygoscelis antarctica (chinstrap penguin); and (c) biomagnification (BMF predator/prey) and biota sediment accumulation (BSAF skuas/sediment) factors. Mercury concentrations in sediment were relatively low. Mercury concentrations were significantly higher in brown skuas and gentoo penguins than in chinstrap penguins (2012), and significantly higher in brown skuas than in both penguins (2013). BMF indicated 2-7.5 times greater mercury levels in brown skuas than in penguins. BSAF values suggested an apparent temporal decrease of 18.2% of this ratio from 2012 to 2013. Long-range environmental transport is the likely route of entry of mercury into the Antarctic Peninsula.
authors.affiliation: Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Facultad de Ciencias Marítimas, Oceánicas y Recursos Naturales, Guayaquil, Ecuador. Electronic address: pcalle@espol.edu.ec.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calle
authors.affiliation: Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Facultad de Ciencias Marítimas, Oceánicas y Recursos Naturales, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alvarado
authors.affiliation: Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Centro de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas del Ecuador, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Monserrate
authors.affiliation: Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Centro de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas del Ecuador, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cevallos
authors.affiliation: Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A1S6, Canada.
authors.forename: Nastenka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Calle
authors.affiliation: School of Resource & Environment Management, Faculty of Environment, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A1S6, Canada.
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Alava
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D046091:Charadriiformes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005241:Feathers / Q000737:chemistry*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013045:Species Specificity; D046429:Spheniscidae / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008628:Mercury
keywords: BMF; BSAF; Mercury; Seabirds; Sediment