Bioaccumulation of trace elements by Leach's storm-petrels (Hydrobates leucorhous) in the North and South Atlantic Ocean during the non-breeding period.

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Main Authors: Potvin, Catherine, Sorais, Manon, Ronconi, Robert A, Studholme, Katharine R, Hedd, April, Bond, Alexander L, Bråthen, Vegard S, Collins, Sydney M, Crick, Laura, Cunningham, Joshua T, Ausems, Anne N M A, Fifield, David A, Gjerdrum, Carina, Hoeg, Rielle, Jones, Patricia L, McFarlane Tranquilla, Laura A, Montevecchi, William A, Rock, Jennifer C, Shutler, Dave, Wong, Sarah N P, Crossin, Glenn T
Format: Artículo científico
Language:en
Published: Marine pollution bulletin 2026
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author Potvin, Catherine
Sorais, Manon
Ronconi, Robert A
Studholme, Katharine R
Hedd, April
Bond, Alexander L
Bråthen, Vegard S
Collins, Sydney M
Crick, Laura
Cunningham, Joshua T
Ausems, Anne N M A
Fifield, David A
Gjerdrum, Carina
Hoeg, Rielle
Jones, Patricia L
McFarlane Tranquilla, Laura A
Montevecchi, William A
Rock, Jennifer C
Shutler, Dave
Wong, Sarah N P
Crossin, Glenn T
author_facet Potvin, Catherine
Sorais, Manon
Ronconi, Robert A
Studholme, Katharine R
Hedd, April
Bond, Alexander L
Bråthen, Vegard S
Collins, Sydney M
Crick, Laura
Cunningham, Joshua T
Ausems, Anne N M A
Fifield, David A
Gjerdrum, Carina
Hoeg, Rielle
Jones, Patricia L
McFarlane Tranquilla, Laura A
Montevecchi, William A
Rock, Jennifer C
Shutler, Dave
Wong, Sarah N P
Crossin, Glenn T
Potvin, Catherine
Sorais, Manon
Ronconi, Robert A
Studholme, Katharine R
Hedd, April
Bond, Alexander L
Bråthen, Vegard S
Collins, Sydney M
Crick, Laura
Cunningham, Joshua T
Ausems, Anne N M A
Fifield, David A
Gjerdrum, Carina
Hoeg, Rielle
Jones, Patricia L
McFarlane Tranquilla, Laura A
Montevecchi, William A
Rock, Jennifer C
Shutler, Dave
Wong, Sarah N P
Crossin, Glenn T
collection PubMed - marine biology
contents Bioaccumulation of trace elements by Leach's storm-petrels (Hydrobates leucorhous) in the North and South Atlantic Ocean during the non-breeding period. Potvin, Catherine Sorais, Manon Ronconi, Robert A Studholme, Katharine R Hedd, April Bond, Alexander L Bråthen, Vegard S Collins, Sydney M Crick, Laura Cunningham, Joshua T Ausems, Anne N M A Fifield, David A Gjerdrum, Carina Hoeg, Rielle Jones, Patricia L McFarlane Tranquilla, Laura A Montevecchi, William A Rock, Jennifer C Shutler, Dave Wong, Sarah N P Crossin, Glenn T Trace elements occur naturally in the environment, but anthropogenic activities can amplify their release, increasing exposure and bioaccumulation in marine predators such as seabirds. Mercury (Hg) in liver, blood, and eggs of Leach's storm-petrels (Hydrobates leucorhous), has been investigated as a short-term exposure indicator of hatching and fledging success. However, chronic Hg intake and exposure to other trace elements during the non-breeding period remain poorly understood. This study assessed geographic variation in trace element exposure and relative trophic position in Leach's storm-petrels from five overwintering locations in the Atlantic Ocean, using secondary feathers (S4s) and geolocation data. Hg concentrations and trophic position (δN) varied significantly among overwintering locations, whereas other trace elements varied without clear spatial patterns. Sea surface temperature was positively correlated with Hg concentrations, whereas dietary origin (δC) and year were associated with relative trophic position. Colony of origin had no effect on Hg or trophic position, likely reflecting high intra-colony variability in wintering locations. Additionally, Hg concentrations were highest in birds overwintering in oligotrophic regions where δN values were low, suggesting lower nitrogen baselines in areas dominated by diazotrophic organisms and enhanced methylmercury availability via sulfate-reducing bacteria. In contrast, storm-petrels overwintering in productive upwelling regions such as the Benguela system exhibited lower Hg concentrations, consistent with Hg biodilution driven by rapid decaying phytoplankton export to deep sediments. These findings provide baseline information on trace element exposure during the non-breeding period of Leach's storm-petrels and inform future studies on migratory carry-over effects influencing adult survival and reproductive success.
format Artículo científico
id pubmed_42296800
institution PubMed
language en
publishDate 2026
publisher Marine pollution bulletin
record_format pubmed
spellingShingle Bioaccumulation of trace elements by Leach's storm-petrels (Hydrobates leucorhous) in the North and South Atlantic Ocean during the non-breeding period.
Potvin, Catherine
Sorais, Manon
Ronconi, Robert A
Studholme, Katharine R
Hedd, April
Bond, Alexander L
Bråthen, Vegard S
Collins, Sydney M
Crick, Laura
Cunningham, Joshua T
Ausems, Anne N M A
Fifield, David A
Gjerdrum, Carina
Hoeg, Rielle
Jones, Patricia L
McFarlane Tranquilla, Laura A
Montevecchi, William A
Rock, Jennifer C
Shutler, Dave
Wong, Sarah N P
Crossin, Glenn T
Bioaccumulation of trace elements by Leach's storm-petrels (Hydrobates leucorhous) in the North and South Atlantic Ocean during the non-breeding period. Potvin, Catherine Sorais, Manon Ronconi, Robert A Studholme, Katharine R Hedd, April Bond, Alexander L Bråthen, Vegard S Collins, Sydney M Crick, Laura Cunningham, Joshua T Ausems, Anne N M A Fifield, David A Gjerdrum, Carina Hoeg, Rielle Jones, Patricia L McFarlane Tranquilla, Laura A Montevecchi, William A Rock, Jennifer C Shutler, Dave Wong, Sarah N P Crossin, Glenn T Trace elements occur naturally in the environment, but anthropogenic activities can amplify their release, increasing exposure and bioaccumulation in marine predators such as seabirds. Mercury (Hg) in liver, blood, and eggs of Leach's storm-petrels (Hydrobates leucorhous), has been investigated as a short-term exposure indicator of hatching and fledging success. However, chronic Hg intake and exposure to other trace elements during the non-breeding period remain poorly understood. This study assessed geographic variation in trace element exposure and relative trophic position in Leach's storm-petrels from five overwintering locations in the Atlantic Ocean, using secondary feathers (S4s) and geolocation data. Hg concentrations and trophic position (δN) varied significantly among overwintering locations, whereas other trace elements varied without clear spatial patterns. Sea surface temperature was positively correlated with Hg concentrations, whereas dietary origin (δC) and year were associated with relative trophic position. Colony of origin had no effect on Hg or trophic position, likely reflecting high intra-colony variability in wintering locations. Additionally, Hg concentrations were highest in birds overwintering in oligotrophic regions where δN values were low, suggesting lower nitrogen baselines in areas dominated by diazotrophic organisms and enhanced methylmercury availability via sulfate-reducing bacteria. In contrast, storm-petrels overwintering in productive upwelling regions such as the Benguela system exhibited lower Hg concentrations, consistent with Hg biodilution driven by rapid decaying phytoplankton export to deep sediments. These findings provide baseline information on trace element exposure during the non-breeding period of Leach's storm-petrels and inform future studies on migratory carry-over effects influencing adult survival and reproductive success.
title Bioaccumulation of trace elements by Leach's storm-petrels (Hydrobates leucorhous) in the North and South Atlantic Ocean during the non-breeding period.
url https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42296800/