Preliminary results on trace element levels in three species of seabirds from the western Indian Ocean
نویسندگان
چکیده
As top predators of pelagic food webs, marine birds naturally bioaccumulate essential and nonessential elements. Levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) were determined in the liver, kidneys and muscles of three species of marine birds found on Réunion Island: Barau’s Petrel (Pterodroma baraui), Audubon’s Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri bailloni) and the White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus). The study of the 89 birds sampled put forth variations of the elemental levels between organs, age groups (juveniles versus adults) and species. Adult Barau’s Petrels showed the highest values of Hg and Cd. This study offers a first glimpse of the levels of impregnation of eight trace elements in top predators of the western Indian Ocean and brings answers to certain questions related to the processes of bioaccumulation in marine top predators of the tropical Indian Ocean. RESUME: Situés au sommet des réseaux trophiques pélagiques, les oiseaux marins bioaccumulent naturellement des éléments essentiels et non-essentiels tout au long de leur vie. La mesure des teneurs en arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cuivre (Cu), fer (Fe), mercure (Hg), manganèse (Mn), sélénium (Se) et zinc (Zn) a été effectuée dans le foie, les reins et les muscl es de trois espèces d’oiseaux de l’île de La Réunion, le pétrel de Barau (Pterodroma baraui), le puffin de baillon (Puffinus lherminieri bailloni) et le paille-en-queue à brin blanc (Phaethon lepturus). L’étude des 89 oiseaux échantillonnés fait apparaître des variations des teneurs métalliques entre les organes, les classes d’âge (juvéniles vs adultes), ainsi qu’entre les espèces, les pétrels de Barau adultes ayant les plus fortes teneurs en Hg et Cd. Cette étude offre ainsi, un premier aperçu des niveaux d’imprégnation de 8 éléments traces chez des prédateurs supérieurs de l’Océan Indien occidental tropical et propose des éléments de réponses quant aux processus de bioaccumulation chez ces espèces endémiques des Mascareignes.
منابع مشابه
Trace elements in three marine birds breeding on Reunion Island (Western Indian ocean): part 1-factors influencing their bioaccumulation.
This work aimed to use seabirds as bioindicators of trace element levels in the tropical waters and food webs of the Western Indian Ocean. The accumulation patterns of selected toxic (Cd and Hg) and essential (Cu, Fe, Mn, Se, and Zn) elements were determined in liver, kidney, and pectoral muscle of 162 marine birds belonging to 3 species collected in Reunion Island between 2002 and 2004. These ...
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