title: A comprehensive assessment of mercury exposure in penguin populations throughout the Southern Hemisphere: Using trophic calculations to identify sources of population-level variation.
abstract: The wide geographic distribution of penguins (Order Sphenisciformes) throughout the Southern Hemisphere provided a unique opportunity to use a single taxonomic group as biomonitors of mercury among geographically distinct marine ecosystems. Mercury concentrations were compared among ten species of penguins representing 26 geographically distinct breeding populations. Mercury concentrations were relatively low (⩽2.00ppm) in feathers from 18/26 populations considered. Population-level differences in trophic level explained variation in mercury concentrations among Little, King, and Gentoo penguin populations. However, Southern Rockhopper and Magellanic penguins breeding on Staten Island, Tierra del Fuego, had the highest mercury concentrations relative to their conspecifics despite foraging at a lower trophic level. The concurrent use of stable isotope and mercury data allowed us to document penguin populations at the greatest risk of exposure to harmful concentrations of mercury as a result of foraging at a high trophic level or in geographic 'hot spots' of mercury availability.
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Biology Department, 356 Sullivan Science Building, 321 McIver Street, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA. Electronic address: rebecka.brasso@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rebecka L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Brasso
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Phillip Island Nature Park, PO Box 97, Cowes, Victoria 3922, Australia.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiaradia
authors.affiliation: Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Polito
authors.affiliation: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas, Houssay 200, 9410 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raya Rey
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina Wilmington, Department of Biology and Marine Biology, 601 South College Rd, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA.
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Emslie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D017753:Ecosystem; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D005241:Feathers / Q000737:chemistry; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011156:Population Density; D013019:South Africa; D013020:South America; D013021:South Australia; D046429:Spheniscidae / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Marine ecosystem; Mercury; Penguin; Population; Southern Hemisphere; Trophic level