Trace metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in feathers of Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys attending the Patagonian Shelf

• Published in: Marine Environmental Research
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2012
• Subjects: Argentina; Black-browed Albatross; Feather tissues; Trace metals; Ocean space; Patagonian Shelf; Pollution monitoring; Seabirds; Argentino; Austral; Correo; Funes; Indian; Pablo; Patagonia; Southern Ocean
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2262/64415; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2011.04.004

Abstract We investigated the concentrations of cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, nickel, lead and zinc among feather tissues in sexes of Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys killed in longliners off Argentina in 2005. We found no different metal concentration with sex for cadmium, copper, iron, lead and zinc in feathers of adult birds, though there were significant body-size differences between sexes. However, the concentrations of trace metals differed significantly among the type of feather within individual bird. The mean concentrations of copper, iron, and zinc in breast feathers of T. melanophrys were lower than those reported for the species from Georgias del Sur/ South Georgia, the southern Indian Ocean and for other seabirds? worldwide. While cadmium fall within the known range of concentrations for bird feathers lead were not. Our results may be indicating that level of pollution in Patagonia may not be as negligible as previously thought at least for some trace metals. Abstract Highlights ? Information on the concentrations of trace metals in southern ocean seabirds is scarce. ? We examine concentrations of seven trace metals in feathers of Black-browed Albatross off Argentina. ? Concentrations of cadmium, copper, iron, lead and zinc in feathers were not affected by sex. ? The mean concentrations of cooper, iron, and zinc in feathers of birds were lower than those reported for the species from relative nearby oceanic areas. ? While cadmium concentrations fall within the known range for bird feathers lead were not. ? Our results may be indicating that level of pollution in Patagonia may not be as negligible as previously thought at least for some trace metals. correspondence: Corresponding author: Juan Pablo Seco Pon (double family name), Tel. [phone] int. 466. (Seco Pon, Juan Pablo) [e-mail] (Seco Pon, Juan Pablo) Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas (CONICET). Av. Rivadavia 1917 (C1033AAJ) Buenos Aires--> - ARGENTINA (Seco Pon, Juan Pablo) Vertebrados--> , Departamento de Biologia--> , Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales--> , Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Funes 3250 (B7602AYJ) Mar del Plata--> , Provincia de Buenos Aires--> , Argentina. Tel. [phone] int. 466--> - (Seco Pon, Juan Pablo) ARGENTINA (Seco Pon, Juan Pablo) Departamento de Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Funes 3250 (B7602AYJ) Mar del Plata - Provincia de Buenos Aires--> - ARGENTINA (Beltrame, Ornela) Laboratorio de Quimica Marina, Instituto Argentino de Oceanografia (IADO). Florida 4000 - Edificio E1--> , Casilla de Correo 804 (8000) Bahia Blanca--> , Provincia de Buenos Aires--> - ARGENTINA (Beltrame, Ornela) Laboratorio de Quimica Marina, Instituto Argentino de Oceanografia (IADO). Florida 4000 - Edificio E1--> , Casilla de Correo 804 (8000) Bahia Blanca--> , Provincia de Buenos Aires--> - ARGENTINA (Marcovecchio, Jorge) Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas (CONICET). Av. Rivadavia 1917 (C1033AAJ) Buenos Aires--> - ARGENTINA (Favero, Marco) Vertebrados--> , Departamento de Biologia--> , Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales--> , Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Funes 3250 (B7602AYJ) Mar del Plata--> , Provincia de Buenos Aires--> , Argentina. Tel. [phone] int. 466--> - (Favero, Marco) Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas (CONICET). Av. Rivadavia 1917 (C1033AAJ) Buenos Aires--> - ARGENTINA (Gandini, Patricia) Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral. CIPD Av. Prefectura s/n (9050) Puerto Deseado - Provincia de Santa Cruz--> - ARGENTINA (Gandini, Patricia) Wildlife Conservation Society. Wildlife Conservation Society--> , 2300 Southern Boulevard--> , 18 Bronx--> , New York 10460--> - (Gandini, Patricia) ARGENTINA Received: 2010-12-23 Revised: 2011-04-19 Accepted: 2011-04-22