title: Seasonal variation and annual trends of metals and metalloids in the blood of the Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor).
abstract: Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor) are high-trophic coastal feeders and are effective indicators of bioavailable pollutants in their foraging zones. Here, we present concentrations of metals and metalloids in blood of 157 Little Penguins, collected over three years and during three distinct seasons (breeding, moulting and non-breeding) at two locations: the urban St Kilda colony and the semi-rural colony at Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia. Penguin metal concentrations were foremostly influenced by location (St Kilda>Phillip Island for non-essential elements) and differed among years and seasons at both locations, reflecting differences in seasonal metal bioaccumulation or seasonal exposure through prey. Mean blood mercury concentrations showed an increasing annual trend and a negative correlation with flipper length at St Kilda. Notably, this study is the first to report on blood metal concentrations during the different stages of moult, showing the mechanism of non-essential metal mobilisation and detoxification.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sustainability & Innovation, College of Engineering & Science, Victoria University, 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: Institute for Sustainability & Innovation, College of Engineering & Science, Victoria University, Hoppers Crossing, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Orbell
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, 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: Institute for Sustainability & Innovation, College of Engineering & Science, Victoria University, Hoppers Crossing, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scarpaci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood; D058955:Metalloids / Q000097:blood*; D008670:Metals / Q000097:blood*; D012621:Seasons; D046429:Spheniscidae / Q000097:blood*; D014739:Victoria; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D058955:Metalloids; D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Bass Strait; Bioindicator; Mercury; Port Phillip Bay; Seabird