Trace metals, stable isotope ratios, and trophic relations in seabirds from the North Pacific Ocean

• Published in: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
• Main Author: Elliott, John E.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2005
• Subjects: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis; Environmental Chemistry; British Columbia; Canada; Fulmar; Pacific; fratercula; Fulmarus glacialis; Northern Fulmar; Oceanodroma leucorhoa; Puffinus tenuirostris
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1897/04-474r.1; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1897%2F04-474R.1; https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1897/04-474R.1

Abstract Trace elements including mercury, cadmium, selenium, and stable nitrogen isotope ratios (δ 15 N) were measured in tissues of Pacific seabirds. Two species of albatross ( Diomedea immutabilis, Diomedea nigripes ), four species of shearwaters ( Puffinus bulleri, Puffinus carneipes, Puffinus griseus, Puffinus tenuirostris ), northern fulmar ( Fulmarus glacialis ), and horned puffin ( Fratercula corniculata ) were collected opportunistically by an experimental fishery in the North Pacific Ocean. Two species each of petrels ( Oceanodroma leucorhoa, Oceanodroma furcata ) and auklets ( Ptychoramphus aleuticus, Cerorhinca monocerata ) were collected at breeding colonies on the north coast of British Columbia, Canada. Concentrations of toxic trace metals varied considerably among the pelagic nonbreeders; highest concentrations consistently were in D. nigripes (e.g., Hg), 70‐fold greater than F. corniculata (e.g., Cd), eightfold greater than P. tenuirostris (e.g., Se), and fourfold greater than F. corniculata . Most essential trace elements varied little among species, consistent with physiological regulation. Values for δ 15 N correlated positively with hepatic Se ( r = 0.771, p = 0.025) and negatively with Co ( r = 0.817, p = 0.013). Among the four breeding species, there were significant positive associations for δ 15 N in muscle and hepatic Se ( r = 0.822, p = 0.002), Hg ( r = 0.744, p = 0.0001), and Cd ( r = 0.589, p = 0.003). Differences in time scales integrated by δ 15 N versus trace metals in tissues probably reduced the apparent associations between trace‐metal exposure and diet.