Distribution of trace elements in benthic infralittoral organisms from the western Antarctic Peninsula reveals no latitudinal gradient of pollution
Abstract Antarctica is considered one of the most pristine regions on Earth, but evidences of global and local anthropogenic pollution exist. Chromium (Cr), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) are bioaccumulated and sometimes biomagnified through the trophic web. We aim to determine whether a latitudinal gra...
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2021
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95681-5 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95681-5.pdf https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95681-5 |
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crspringernat:10.1038/s41598-021-95681-5 2023-05-15T14:08:17+02:00 Distribution of trace elements in benthic infralittoral organisms from the western Antarctic Peninsula reveals no latitudinal gradient of pollution De Castro-Fernández, Paula Cardona, Luis Avila, Conxita Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte 2021 http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95681-5 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95681-5.pdf https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95681-5 en eng Springer Science and Business Media LLC https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 CC-BY Scientific Reports volume 11, issue 1 ISSN 2045-2322 Multidisciplinary journal-article 2021 crspringernat https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95681-5 2022-01-04T09:34:09Z Abstract Antarctica is considered one of the most pristine regions on Earth, but evidences of global and local anthropogenic pollution exist. Chromium (Cr), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) are bioaccumulated and sometimes biomagnified through the trophic web. We aim to determine whether a latitudinal gradient of these trace elements exists in benthic organisms along the rocky shores of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. Levels of Cr, Pb, and Hg were measured by ICP-MS in two macroalgae ( Palmaria decipiens and Desmarestia anceps or Desmarestia menziesii ), one gastropod ( Nacella concinna ), two starfishes ( Odontaster validus and Diplasterias brucei ), and suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM) from five sampling sites ranging in latitude from 62°11′17″S to 67°33′47″S. Levels of trace elements differed among sites and species, but no latitudinal gradient was observed for these pollutants. Levels of Hg and Pb in animals were consistent with biomagnifications along the food web, as were higher is starfish than in limpets. However, macroalgae and SPOM are unlikely to be the main primary producers supporting those consumers, as Hg levels in macroalgae and Pb levels in SPOM were much higher than in animals. The levels of trace elements detected were similar or higher than in other Antarctic places and other regions of the world, thus indicating that the Antarctic Peninsula area is as polluted as the rest of the world. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica South Shetland Islands Springer Nature (via Crossref) Antarctic The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula South Shetland Islands Nacella ENVELOPE(-60.783,-60.783,-62.467,-62.467) Scientific Reports 11 1 |
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Springer Nature (via Crossref) |
op_collection_id |
crspringernat |
language |
English |
topic |
Multidisciplinary |
spellingShingle |
Multidisciplinary De Castro-Fernández, Paula Cardona, Luis Avila, Conxita Distribution of trace elements in benthic infralittoral organisms from the western Antarctic Peninsula reveals no latitudinal gradient of pollution |
topic_facet |
Multidisciplinary |
description |
Abstract Antarctica is considered one of the most pristine regions on Earth, but evidences of global and local anthropogenic pollution exist. Chromium (Cr), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) are bioaccumulated and sometimes biomagnified through the trophic web. We aim to determine whether a latitudinal gradient of these trace elements exists in benthic organisms along the rocky shores of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. Levels of Cr, Pb, and Hg were measured by ICP-MS in two macroalgae ( Palmaria decipiens and Desmarestia anceps or Desmarestia menziesii ), one gastropod ( Nacella concinna ), two starfishes ( Odontaster validus and Diplasterias brucei ), and suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM) from five sampling sites ranging in latitude from 62°11′17″S to 67°33′47″S. Levels of trace elements differed among sites and species, but no latitudinal gradient was observed for these pollutants. Levels of Hg and Pb in animals were consistent with biomagnifications along the food web, as were higher is starfish than in limpets. However, macroalgae and SPOM are unlikely to be the main primary producers supporting those consumers, as Hg levels in macroalgae and Pb levels in SPOM were much higher than in animals. The levels of trace elements detected were similar or higher than in other Antarctic places and other regions of the world, thus indicating that the Antarctic Peninsula area is as polluted as the rest of the world. |
author2 |
Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
De Castro-Fernández, Paula Cardona, Luis Avila, Conxita |
author_facet |
De Castro-Fernández, Paula Cardona, Luis Avila, Conxita |
author_sort |
De Castro-Fernández, Paula |
title |
Distribution of trace elements in benthic infralittoral organisms from the western Antarctic Peninsula reveals no latitudinal gradient of pollution |
title_short |
Distribution of trace elements in benthic infralittoral organisms from the western Antarctic Peninsula reveals no latitudinal gradient of pollution |
title_full |
Distribution of trace elements in benthic infralittoral organisms from the western Antarctic Peninsula reveals no latitudinal gradient of pollution |
title_fullStr |
Distribution of trace elements in benthic infralittoral organisms from the western Antarctic Peninsula reveals no latitudinal gradient of pollution |
title_full_unstemmed |
Distribution of trace elements in benthic infralittoral organisms from the western Antarctic Peninsula reveals no latitudinal gradient of pollution |
title_sort |
distribution of trace elements in benthic infralittoral organisms from the western antarctic peninsula reveals no latitudinal gradient of pollution |
publisher |
Springer Science and Business Media LLC |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95681-5 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95681-5.pdf https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95681-5 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-60.783,-60.783,-62.467,-62.467) |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula South Shetland Islands Nacella |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula South Shetland Islands Nacella |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica South Shetland Islands |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica South Shetland Islands |
op_source |
Scientific Reports volume 11, issue 1 ISSN 2045-2322 |
op_rights |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 |
op_rightsnorm |
CC-BY |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95681-5 |
container_title |
Scientific Reports |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
1 |
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1766280316811476992 |