Seabirds as bioindicators of anthropogenic and chemical pollution

Authors

  • D. M. Matos University of Coimbra, MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET – Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8078-456X
  • J. A. Ramos University of Coimbra, MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET – Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
  • L. C. Brandão University of Coimbra, Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, Department of Chemistry, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
  • F. Bessa University of Coimbra, MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET – Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
  • V. Silva University of Coimbra, MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET – Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
  • I. Rodrigues Biosfera Cabo Verde, Sul do Cemitério, Rua 5 – Caixa Postal 233, São Vicente, Cabo Verde
  • S. Antunes Biosfera Cabo Verde, Sul do Cemitério, Rua 5 – Caixa Postal 233, São Vicente, Cabo Verde
  • I. dos Santos University of Coimbra, MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET – Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
  • J. Coentro University of Coimbra, MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET – Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
  • S. C. Cunha LAQV/REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Bromatologia e Hidrologia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
  • J. O. Fernandes LAQV/REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Bromatologia e Hidrologia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
  • L. A. E. Batista de Carvalho University of Coimbra, Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, Department of Chemistry, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
  • M. P. M. Marques University of Coimbra, Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, Department of Chemistry, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
  • S. Santos University of Coimbra, MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET – Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
  • V. H. Paiva University of Coimbra, MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET – Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48797/sl.2023.58

Keywords:

Selected Oral Communication

Abstract

Background: Marine pollution, caused by anthropogenic debris, is a significant environmental issue that has detrimental effects on marine ecosystems ​[1]​. Finding suitable sentinel species of the human impacts on the oceans, is imperative. As top predators, seabirds are considered sentinels of the marine environment ​[2]​. Objective: To provide quantitative data about the distinctive prevalence of anthropogenic pollution on seabirds, five species with different trophic and foraging ecology inhabiting the tropical Atlantic region were used. Methods: The occurrence of anthropogenic debris was assessed using faeces as a proxy for ingestion. Particles were chemically analysed using micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (mFTIR) ​[3]​. Moreover, preen oil and plasma samples were analysed for Polybrominated Diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and methoxylated PBDEs (MeO-PBDEs), through with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) ​[4]​. Results: There were found 438 items suspected of anthropogenic origin, mostly fragments and fibres in all species. Phaethon aethereus (PA n=61), Calonectris edwardsii (CE n=119) and Sula leucogaster (SL n=82) presented the highest frequency occurrence (FO: 51%, 49%, 48%), while Bulweria bulwerii (BB =86) and Puffinus lherminieriboydi (PB n=86) the lowest (FO: 30%, 36%) of anthropogenic particles. Particles revealed a high diversity of polymers, from cellulosic particles to synthetic plastics. PBDEs and MeO-PBDEs were detected in all species and matrices, whereby preen oil had higher concentrations and variety of congeners than plasma. PB had the lowest chemical concentrations in both tissues compared to other species. Moreover, it was not found any correlation between chemical compounds concentration and the number or occurrence of anthropogenic particles. However, particles and chemical compounds were more prevalent in species that explore areas associated to anthropogenic activities. Conclusions: Overall, anthropogenic pollution is transversal to all species, ranging from particle ingestion to chemical compounds. We considered that it is necessary to continue monitoring the impacts of global anthropogenic pollution considering the declines in seabirds’ population.

References

1. Lewis SL, Maslin MA. Defining the Anthropocene. Nature. 2015, 519, 171–180.

2. Burger J, Gochfeld M. Marine Birds as Sentinels of Environmental Pollution. Ecohealth. 2004,1, 263–274.

3. Bessa F, Kogel T, Frias J, Lusher A. Harmonized protocol for monitoring microplastics in biota. Micropoll-Multilevel assessment of microplastics and associated pollutants in the Baltic Sea View project. 2019, 1–30.

4. Cruz R, Marques A, Casal S, Cunha SC. Fast and environmental-friendly methods for the determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and their metabolites in fish tissues and feed. Science of the Total Environment. 2019, 646, 1503–1515.

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Published

2023-04-21

How to Cite

Matos, D. M., Ramos, J. A., Brandão, L. C., Bessa, F., Silva, V., Rodrigues, I., Antunes, S., dos Santos, I., Coentro, J., Cunha, S. C., Fernandes, J. O., Batista de Carvalho, L. A. E., Marques, M. P. M., Santos, S., & Paiva, V. H. (2023). Seabirds as bioindicators of anthropogenic and chemical pollution. Scientific Letters, 1(Sup 1). https://doi.org/10.48797/sl.2023.58

Issue

Vol. 1 No. Sup 1 (2023)

Section

Oral Communications

License

Copyright (c) 2023 D. M. Matos, J. A. Ramos, L. C. Brandão, F. Bessa, V. Silva, I. Rodrigues, S. Antunes, I. dos Santos, J. Coentro, S. C. Cunha, J. O. Fernandes, L. A. E. Batista de Carvalho, M. P. M. Marques, S. Santos, V. H. Paiva

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