title: The Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) as an indicator of coastal trace metal pollution.
abstract: Monitoring trace metal and metalloid concentrations in marine animals is important for their conservation and could also reliably reflect pollution levels in their marine ecosystems. Concentrations vary across tissue types, with implications for reliable monitoring. We sampled blood and moulted feathers of the Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) from three distinct colonies, which are subject to varying levels of anthropogenic impact. Non-essential trace metal and metalloid concentrations in Little Penguins were clearly linked to the level of industrialisation adjacent to the respective foraging zones. This trend was more distinct in blood than in moulted feathers, although we found a clear correlation between blood and feathers for mercury, lead and iron. This study represents the first reported examination of trace metals and metalloids in the blood of any penguin species and demonstrates that this high trophic feeder is an effective bioindicator of coastal pollution.
authors.affiliation: Victoria University, Institute for Sustainability & Innovation, Hoppers Crossing, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia. Electronic address: Annett.Finger@live.vu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Annett
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finger
authors.affiliation: Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, 20 Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, Tasmania 7004, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lavers
authors.affiliation: Phillip Island Nature Parks, Research Department, PO Box 97, Cowes, Victoria 3922, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dann
authors.affiliation: RMIT University, School of Applied Science, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Dayanthi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nugegoda
authors.affiliation: Victoria University, Institute for Sustainability & Innovation, Hoppers Crossing, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Orbell
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Management and Ecology, LaTrobe University, Wodonga, Victoria 3689, Australia.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.affiliation: Victoria University, Institute for Sustainability & Innovation, Hoppers Crossing, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scarpaci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005241:Feathers / Q000737:chemistry; D058955:Metalloids / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008670:Metals / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D046429:Spheniscidae / Q000378:metabolism*; D014739:Victoria; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D058955:Metalloids; D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Australia; Bioindicator; Blood; Seabird; Trace element