title: Persistent organic pollutants and porphyrins biomarkers in penguin faeces from Kopaitic Island and Antarctic Peninsula.
abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels were determined in the faeces of three Antarctic Peninsula penguin species to assess viability as a non-invasive approach for sampling PCBs in Antarctic biota. These determinations were complemented with stable isotope and porphyrins assessments, and together this methodology determined the role of diet and metabolic disruption in penguins. Up to 60% of the collected faecal samples evidenced low molecular weight PCBs, of which, the more volatile compounds were predominant, in agreement with previous results. The highest PCB levels were reported in the gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua; 35.3ngg-1wet weight average), followed by the chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarctica; 6.4ngg-1wet weight average) and Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae; 12.9ngg-1wet weight average). Stable isotope analyses (δ15N and δ13C) demonstrated that gentoo feeding and foraging habits differed from those of Adélie and chinstrap penguins. A strong positive correlation was found between PCB concentrations and δ15N, indicating the role of diet on the observed pollutant levels. Porphyrins metabolite levels were also directly correlated with PCB concentrations. These results suggest that PCB levels impair the health of Antarctic penguins.
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Systems Department, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and EULA-Chile Centre, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070386, Chile.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rudolph
authors.affiliation: Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick, St. John, New Brunswick E2L 4L5, Canada; Fundación MERI, Santiago 7650720, Chile.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Biodiversity, Faculty of Ecology and Natural Resources, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 8370371, Chile.
authors.forename: Cristóbal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galbán-Malagón
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Pesquera, Dpto. de Estudios Ambientales, Talcahuano 4260000, Chile.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070386, Chile.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070386, Chile.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070386, Chile.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Becerra
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Servos
authors.affiliation: Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick, St. John, New Brunswick E2L 4L5, Canada.
authors.forename: Kelly R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Munkittrick
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Systems Department, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and EULA-Chile Centre, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070386, Chile. Electronic address: ricbarra@udec.cl.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity; D046429:Spheniscidae / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; C000615243:Nitrogen-15; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011166:Porphyrins; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; C000615229:Carbon-13
keywords: Antarctica; Faeces; PCB; Penguin; Porphyrin; Stable isotope