Trace elements and stable isotopes in penguin chicks and eggs: A baseline for monitoring the Ross Sea MPA and trophic transfer studies

Multi-tissue trace elements (TEs), C, N concentrations and stable isotopes (δ13C, δ15N) of chick carcasses eggs Adélie Emperor penguins were studied to i) provide reference data before the recent institution Ross Sea Marine Protected Area (Antarctica), ii) conversion factors that allow estimating N, δ13C δ15N in edible tissues from non-edible ones, thus improving use contamination trophic transfer studies. Higher As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn Pb found than eggs, suggesting increasing decades high toxicity risks for penguin consumers. Isotopic highlighted small differences among body conspecifics. These values suggest are reliable indicators energy pathways underlying two species, their position food web exposure TEs.