title: Trace elements (Cu, Zn, and Hg) and δ13C/δ15N in seabird subfossils from three islands of the South China Sea and its implications.
abstract: Seabird subfossils were collected on three islands of the Xisha Archipelago, South China Sea. Via elemental analysis, we identified that bird guano was a significant source for heavy metals Cu, Zn, and Hg. Cu and Zn levels in these guano samples are comparable to their levels in wildbird feces, but guano Hg was lower than previously reported. Trophic positions significantly impacted transfer efficiency of heavy metals by seabirds. Despite of a common source, trace elements, as well as stable isotopes (i.e., guano δ(13)C and collagen δ(15)N), showed island-specific characteristics. Bird subfossils on larger island had relatively greater metal concentrations and revealed higher trophic positions. Partition of element and isotope levels among the islands suggested that transfer efficacy of seabirds on different islands was different, and bird species were probably unevenly distributed among the islets. Island area is possibly a driving factor for distributions of seabird species.
authors.affiliation: School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui, 230009, China. xlq@hfut.edu.cn.|Institute of Polar Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China. xlq@hfut.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Liqiang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Polar Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China. ycx@ustc.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Polar Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China.|Key Laboratory of Ion Beam Bioengineering, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology Of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China.
authors.forename: Yaguang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D002681:China; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005580:Fossils; D062312:Islands; D007554:Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D007554:Isotopes; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014131:Trace Elements; D003300:Copper; D008628:Mercury; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Biovector; Guano; Heavy metals; Seabird; South China Sea; Stable isotope