Inter-Island Variability in Trace Elements and Trophic Ecology of Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) in the South Atlantic

J A G Padilha; A P Almeida; J Souza-Kasprzyk; M Silva; L S T Cunha; T A Soares; T C Paiva; G P Bighetti; J P M Torres; G Lepoint; L N Michel; K Das; P R Dorneles

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125607

Inter-Island Variability in Trace Elements and Trophic Ecology of Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) in the South Atlantic

Environ Pollut. 2025 Jan 2:125607. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125607. Online ahead of print.

Authors

J A G Padilha¹, A P Almeida², J Souza-Kasprzyk³, M Silva⁴, L S T Cunha², T A Soares⁵, T C Paiva⁶, G P Bighetti², J P M Torres⁷, G Lepoint⁸, L N Michel⁹, K Das¹⁰, P R Dorneles¹¹

Affiliations

¹ CBMA - Centre for Molecular and Environmental Biology/ARNET-Aquatic Research Network & IB-S, Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga, Portugal. Electronic address: janeide_padilha@bio.uminho.pt.
² Olaf Malm Laboratory of Environmental Studies (LEA-OM), Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute (IBCCF), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
³ Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego, Poznań, Poland.
⁴ CBMA - Centre for Molecular and Environmental Biology/ARNET-Aquatic Research Network & IB-S, Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.
⁵ Olaf Malm Laboratory of Environmental Studies (LEA-OM), Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute (IBCCF), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratory of Organic Micropollutant Jan Janpenga, Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute (IBCCF), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
⁶ Olaf Malm Laboratory of Environmental Studies (LEA-OM), Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute (IBCCF), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Limnology, Ecotoxicology and Aquatic Ecology. Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
⁷ Laboratory of Organic Micropollutant Jan Janpenga, Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute (IBCCF), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
⁸ Laboratory of Trophic and Isotope Ecology (LETIS), Freshwater and Oceanic Sciences Unit of Research (FOCUS), University of Liege, Belgium.
⁹ Animal Systematic and Diversity, Freshwater and Oceanic Sciences Unit of Research (FOCUS), University of Liege, Belgium.
¹⁰ Laboratory of Oceanology, Freshwater and Oceanic Sciences Unit of Research (FOCUS), University of Liege, Belgium.
¹¹ Olaf Malm Laboratory of Environmental Studies (LEA-OM), Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute (IBCCF), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratory of Oceanology, Freshwater and Oceanic Sciences Unit of Research (FOCUS), University of Liege, Belgium.

PMID: 39755353
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125607

Abstract

This study investigates essential (Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Se, Ni) and non-essential (Li, Be, Cr, Rb, Sr, Cs, Cd, Sn, Ba, and Pb) element concentrations and stable isotope (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, δ³⁴S) compositions in feathers of Brown Boobies (Sula leucogaster) from three distinct Atlantic islands: the Archipelagos of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (SPSP), Abrolhos, and Cagarras. We aimed to investigate the ecological and environmental factors influencing these seabird populations and assess potential variations in contaminant exposure and dietary habits based on location, sex, and maturity stages. Our finding revealed significant geographical differences in trace element concentrations. The Brown Boobies from Cagarras had higher concentrations (mean ± SD, μg g^-1) of Fe (29 ± 20) and Mn (0.82 ± 0.82) than those from Abrolhos (Fe: 21 ± 20; Mn: 0.24 ± 0.09) and SPSP (Fe: 15 ± 16; Mn: 0.21 ± 0.06). Tin concentrations were also higher in Cagarras (Sn: 0.02 ± 0.01) than in SPSP (Sn: 0.01 ± 0.01). Our analyses revealed significant differences in Li, Mg, Rb, and Zn concentrations between adults and juveniles. However, there were no sex-related differences in element concentrations within each locality. SIBER analyses revealed distinct dietary differences among the three Brown Boobies populations, with the Cagarras seabirds occupying a higher trophic position compared to the SPSP population. This study highlights the importance of considering different populations to understand contaminant exposure and ecological dynamics in Brown Boobies along the South Atlantic. The Cagarras population shows significantly higher contaminant levels, likely due to proximity to anthropogenic activities. These results highlight the necessity for ongoing monitoring to evaluate long-term effects on the more impacted population and to ensure seabird health and sustainability in the Atlantic Ocean.

Keywords: Bioaccumulation; Contaminant Exposure; Seabirds; Stable Isotopes.