RESUMO
The vulnerability of seabirds related to their migratory dynamics is frequently linked to environmental problems along the migration path. In this context, Magellanic penguins (Sphenicus magellanicus) seem to be vulnerable to an extensive range of environmental disturbances during their northward migration along the Atlantic waters of South America, which include by catch, marine debris ingestion, overfishing and environmental contamination. In this study, we investigate mercury accumulation in muscle and hepatic tissues of juveniles penguins collected along the Brazilian coast during three migratory seasonal years (2006, 2008 and 2012) and three areas along a latitudinal gradient. We found significant differences in Hg levels across the years, with higher hepatic Hg levels found in tissues of penguins sampled in 2008. The higher Hg levels in samples of penguins from 2008 might be attributed to variations in body condition or Hg uptake, associated with the trophic imbalance linked to an extreme El Niño event during that year. Significant differences in Hg accumulation across the latitudinal areas were also observed. The penguins sampled at the farthest area from the breeding ground presented the higher levels of Hg and also the poorest body condition. Body condition and other traits may influence the levels of chemical pollutants and decrease the migratory success rate in the juvenile age phase, compromising population dynamics.
Assuntos
Monitoramento Ambiental , Poluentes Ambientais/metabolismo , Mercúrio/metabolismo , Spheniscidae/metabolismo , Animais , Oceano Atlântico , Brasil , Mercúrio/análiseRESUMO
Trace elements are chemical contaminants that can be present almost anywhere on the planet. The study of trace elements in biotic matrices is a topic of great relevance for the implications that it can have on wildlife and human health. Penguins are very useful, since they live exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere and represent about 90% of the biomass of birds of the Southern Ocean. The levels of trace elements (dry weight) in different biotic matrices of penguins were reviewed here. Maps of trace element records in penguins were included. Data on exposure and effects of trace elements in penguins were collected from the literature. The most reported trace elements in penguins are aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, copper, zinc, and manganese. Trace elements have been measured in 11 of the 18 species of penguins. The most studied biotic matrices are feathers and excreta. Most of the studies have been performed in Antarctica and subantarctic Islands. Little is known about the interaction among metals, which could provide better knowledge about certain mechanisms of detoxification in penguins. Future studies of trace elements in penguins must incorporate other metals such as vanadium, cobalt, nickel, and chromium. Data of metals in the species such as Eudyptes pachyrhynchus, Eudyptes moseleyi, Eudyptes sclateri, Eudyptes robustus, Eudyptes schlegeli, Spheniscus demersus, Spheniscus mendiculus, and Megadyptes antipodes are urged. It is important to correlate levels of metals in different biotic matrices with the effects on different species and in different geographic locations.
Assuntos
Exposição Ambiental/análise , Metais Pesados/análise , Spheniscidae/metabolismo , Oligoelementos/análise , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Animais , Plumas/química , Metais Pesados/farmacocinética , Metais Pesados/toxicidade , Especificidade de Órgãos , Especificidade da Espécie , Toxicocinética , Oligoelementos/farmacocinética , Oligoelementos/toxicidade , Poluentes Químicos da Água/farmacocinética , Poluentes Químicos da Água/toxicidadeRESUMO
Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels were determined in the faeces of three Antarctic Peninsula penguin species to assess viability as a non-invasive approach for sampling PCBs in Antarctic biota. These determinations were complemented with stable isotope and porphyrins assessments, and together this methodology determined the role of diet and metabolic disruption in penguins. Up to 60% of the collected faecal samples evidenced low molecular weight PCBs, of which, the more volatile compounds were predominant, in agreement with previous results. The highest PCB levels were reported in the gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua; 35.3ngg-1 wet weight average), followed by the chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarctica; 6.4ngg-1 wet weight average) and Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae; 12.9ngg-1 wet weight average). Stable isotope analyses (δ15N and δ13C) demonstrated that gentoo feeding and foraging habits differed from those of Adélie and chinstrap penguins. A strong positive correlation was found between PCB concentrations and δ15N, indicating the role of diet on the observed pollutant levels. Porphyrins metabolite levels were also directly correlated with PCB concentrations. These results suggest that PCB levels impair the health of Antarctic penguins.
Assuntos
Exposição Ambiental , Compostos Orgânicos/metabolismo , Porfirinas/metabolismo , Spheniscidae/metabolismo , Animais , Regiões Antárticas , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Isótopos de Carbono/análise , Monitoramento Ambiental , Fezes/química , Isótopos de Nitrogênio/análise , Bifenilos Policlorados/metabolismo , Especificidade da EspécieRESUMO
Magellanic penguins, Spheniscus magellanicus, are the most abundant penguins living in temperate regions of South America and are good indicators of environmental pollution in the region. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were detected in the liver of Magellanic penguins found debilitated or dead on the beaches of Brazil (states of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul) between 2008 and 2012 as well as in Uruguay and Chile in 2011. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were more prevalent than organochlorine pesticides (DDTs â¼ HCB â¼ Drins) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Among PCBs, penta-, hexa- and hepta-chlorinated congeners were predominant. Concentrations of POPs were similar between the Pacific and Atlantic penguin populations, except for PCBs, which were relatively higher in the Pacific population. During the study years (2008-2012), large variations were found in organochlorine pesticides and PCBs tended to decline. Overall, the southern portion of South America has low concentrations of POPs, with either a constant trend or evidence of decline.
Assuntos
Monitoramento Ambiental , Spheniscidae/metabolismo , Poluentes Químicos da Água/metabolismo , Animais , Brasil , Chile , Éteres Difenil Halogenados/metabolismo , Hidrocarbonetos Clorados/análise , Hidrocarbonetos Clorados/metabolismo , Fígado/química , Fígado/metabolismo , Praguicidas/análise , Praguicidas/metabolismo , Bifenilos Policlorados/análise , Bifenilos Policlorados/metabolismo , América do Sul , UruguaiRESUMO
The wide geographic distribution of penguins (Order Sphenisciformes) throughout the Southern Hemisphere provided a unique opportunity to use a single taxonomic group as biomonitors of mercury among geographically distinct marine ecosystems. Mercury concentrations were compared among ten species of penguins representing 26 geographically distinct breeding populations. Mercury concentrations were relatively low (⩽2.00ppm) in feathers from 18/26 populations considered. Population-level differences in trophic level explained variation in mercury concentrations among Little, King, and Gentoo penguin populations. However, Southern Rockhopper and Magellanic penguins breeding on Staten Island, Tierra del Fuego, had the highest mercury concentrations relative to their conspecifics despite foraging at a lower trophic level. The concurrent use of stable isotope and mercury data allowed us to document penguin populations at the greatest risk of exposure to harmful concentrations of mercury as a result of foraging at a high trophic level or in geographic 'hot spots' of mercury availability.
Assuntos
Exposição Ambiental/análise , Mercúrio/análise , Spheniscidae/metabolismo , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Animais , Regiões Antárticas , Ecossistema , Plumas/química , Mercúrio/farmacocinética , Estado Nutricional , Densidade Demográfica , África do Sul , América do Sul , Austrália do Sul , Poluentes Químicos da Água/farmacocinéticaRESUMO
Magellanic penguins have been reported as good biomonitors for several types of pollutants, including trace-elements. In this context, selenium (Se), total mercury, methylmercury, inorganic mercury (Hg(inorg)), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), as well as metallothionein (MT) levels, were evaluated in the feathers, liver and kidney of juvenile Magellanic penguins found stranded along the coast of Southern Brazil. The highest concentrations of all trace-elements and methylmercury were found in internal organs. Concentrations of Cd and Se in feathers were extremely low in comparison with their concentrations in soft tissues. The results showed that both Se and MT are involved in the detoxification of trace-elements (Cd, Pb and Hg(inorg)) since statistically significant relationships were found in liver. Conversely, hepatic Se was shown to be the only detoxifying agent for methylmercury.
Assuntos
Metalotioneína/análise , Compostos de Metilmercúrio/análise , Spheniscidae/metabolismo , Oligoelementos/análise , Animais , Oceano Atlântico , Biomarcadores , Brasil , Cádmio/análise , Cádmio/metabolismo , Monitoramento Ambiental , Plumas/química , Plumas/metabolismo , Feminino , Inativação Metabólica , Rim/química , Rim/metabolismo , Chumbo/análise , Fígado/química , Fígado/metabolismo , Masculino , Mercúrio/análise , Metalotioneína/metabolismo , Compostos de Metilmercúrio/metabolismo , Selênio/análise , Selênio/metabolismo , Oligoelementos/metabolismoRESUMO
Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) routinely migrate from their breeding colonies to Southern Brazil often contracting diseases during this migration, notably avian malaria, which has been already reported in Brazil and throughout the world. Detection of Plasmodium spp. in blood smears is the routine diagnostic method of avian malaria, however it has a low sensitivity rate when compared to molecular methods...
O pinguim-de-Magalhães (Spheniscus magellanicus) migra das suas colônias reprodutivas até o extremo sul do Brasil. Esses pinguins frequentemente são acometidos por doenças, notavelmente a malária aviária, que é relatada no Brasil e no mundo. A detecção de Plasmodium spp. no esfregaço sanguíneo é o método de rotina mas apresenta baixa sensibilidade quando comparado aos métodos moleculares...
Assuntos
Animais , Plasmodium/química , Plasmodium/virologia , Spheniscidae/imunologia , Spheniscidae/metabolismo , Spheniscidae/parasitologiaRESUMO
To add data on trace metal contamination of Humboldt penguins in the South Pacific, levels of trace metals (As, Hg, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Cd) and porphyrins (copro-, uro-, and proto-) in excreta of Humboldt penguins that inhabit some important nesting sites on the northern coast of Chile were determined. Fresh excreta were collected on Pan de Azúcar Island, Chañaral Island, and Cachagua Island, from December 2011 to January 2012. Concentration of metals was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry, whereas porphyrins levels were measured by fluorimetric analysis. Concentrations (dry weight) of Cu (199.67 µg g(-1)), As (7.85 µg g(-1)), and Pb (12.78 µg g(-1)) were higher (p ≤ 0.05) in Cachagua Island. Colonies from Pan de Azúcar Island showed the highest levels of Hg (0.76 µg g(-1)), Cd (47.70 µg g(-1)), and Zn (487.10 µg g(-1)). Samples from Cachagua Island showed the highest (p ≤ 0.05) levels of copro- (2.16 nmol g(-1)), uro- (2.20 nmol g(-1)), and protoporphyrins (2.23 nmol g(-1)). There was a positive correlation between the metals As, Pb, and Cu with uro-, copro-, and protoporphyrins. The results indicated that penguin colonies from Cachagua Island are more exposed to metal contamination than penguin colonies from Pan de Azúcar and Chañaral Islands, thus being more likely to develop certain diseases caused by contamination with metals. Considering biomagnification, the metals detected in the excreta of Humboldt penguins can be a source of contamination from marine environments to terrestrial ecosystems, which could also affect other living organisms.
Assuntos
Monitoramento Ambiental , Metais/metabolismo , Porfirinas/metabolismo , Spheniscidae/metabolismo , Poluentes Químicos da Água/metabolismo , Animais , Chile , Fezes/química , Metais/análise , Porfirinas/análise , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análiseRESUMO
Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) routinely migrate from their breeding colonies to Southern Brazil often contracting diseases during this migration, notably avian malaria, which has been already reported in Brazil and throughout the world. Detection of Plasmodium spp. in blood smears is the routine diagnostic method of avian malaria, however it has a low sensitivity rate when compared to molecular methods. Considering the negative impact of avian malaria on penguins, the aim of this study was to detect the presence of Plasmodium spp. in Magellanic penguins using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and by verifying clinical, hematological, and biochemical alterations in blood samples as well as to verify the likely prognosis in response to infection. Blood samples were obtained from 75 penguins to determine packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), uric acid, total protein, albumin, globulin and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity levels. Whole blood samples were used for PCR assays. Plasmodium spp. was detected in 32.0% of the specimens using PCR and in 29.3% using microscopic analyses. Anorexia, diarrhea and neurological disorders were more frequent in penguins with malaria and a significant weight difference between infected and non-infected penguins was detected. PCV and MCV rates showed no significant difference. RBC and WBC counts were lower in animals with avian malaria and leukopenia was present in some penguins. Basophil and lymphocyte counts were lower in infected penguins along with high monocyte counts. There was no significant difference in AST activities between infected and non-infected animals. There was a significant increase in uric acid values, however a decrease in albumin values was observed in infected penguins. Based on this study, we concluded that Plasmodium spp. occurs in Magellanic penguins of rehabilitation centers in Southeastern Brazil, compromising the weight of infected animals with clinical alterations appearing in severe cases of this disease. It was also noted that, although the hematological abnormalities presented by these animals may not have been conclusive, leukopenia, monocytosis and the decrease of basophils and lymphocytes revealed an unfavorable prognosis, and Plasmodium spp. infections may progress with elevated uric acid concentration and low albumin levels.(AU)
O pinguim-de-Magalhães (Spheniscus magellanicus) migra das suas colônias reprodutivas até o extremo sul do Brasil. Esses pinguins frequentemente são acometidos por doenças, notavelmente a malária aviária, que é relatada no Brasil e no mundo. A detecção de Plasmodium spp. no esfregaço sanguíneo é o método de rotina mas apresenta baixa sensibilidade quando comparado aos métodos moleculares. Considerando o impacto negativo da malária aviária nos pinguins, o objetivo deste estudo foi detectar a presença de Plasmodium spp. em pinguins-de-Magalhães usando a Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase (PCR), verificar as alterações clínicas, hematológicas e bioquímicas e o provável prognóstico em resposta à infecção. Amostras de sangue foram obtidas de 75 pinguins para determinar o hematócrito (Ht), contagens totais de eritrócitos e leucócitos, volume globular médio (VGM), concentração de ácido úrico, proteínas totais, albumina, globulinas e atividade da aspartato aminotransferase (AST). O sangue total foi usado para ensaios de PCR. A detecção de Plasmodium spp. foi obtida em 32,0% dos indivíduos pela PCR e em 29,3% pela análise microscópica. Anorexia, diarreia e alterações neurológicas foram mais frequentes nos pinguins com malária, e uma diferença significativa no peso entre pinguins infetados e não infectados foi detectada. Ht e VGM não mostraram diferença significativa. A contagem de eritrócitos e leucócitos foi menor nos animais com a malária aviária e leucopenia esteve presente em alguns pinguins. Contagens de basófilos e linfócitos foram mais baixas nos pinguins infectados, bem como elevadas contagens de monócitos estavam presentes. Não houve diferença significativa para a atividade da AST entre os animais infectados e não infectados. Houve um aumento significativo nos valores de ácido úrico, entretanto houve redução nos valores da albumina entre os pinguins infectados avaliados. Concluiu-se que Plasmodium spp. ocorre em pinguins-de-Magalhães de centros de reabilitação no sudeste brasileiro, comprometendo o peso dos animais infectados e com alterações clínicas aparecendo em casos graves da doença. Percebeu-se que embora alterações hematológicas possam não ser conclusivas, leucopenia, monocitose e diminuição de basófilos e linfócitos revelaram prognóstico desfavorável. A infecção por Plasmodium spp. pode cursar com aumento da concentração de ácido úrico e baixos valores de albumina.(AU)
Assuntos
Animais , Spheniscidae/imunologia , Spheniscidae/metabolismo , Spheniscidae/parasitologia , Plasmodium/química , Plasmodium/virologiaRESUMO
In the present study, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were determined in 25 livers from Magellanic penguins, Spheniscus magellanicus, found on the state of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The following concentrations of POPs (wet weight) were found: ∑ PCBs: 18.9-775.8 ng g(-1); ∑ DDTs: 2.3-275 ng g(-1); and ∑ HCHs: 1.0-11.8 ng g(-1). Among the PCBs, there was a predominance of hexachlorobiphenyls (138 and 153) and heptachlorobiphenyls (180 and 187). Among the organochlorines, DDT predominated. Through histopathologic exams a positive correlation was found between HCB and cardiovascular failure (p=0.012), as HCB values (wet weight) were 6.33-96.49 ng g(-1) for positive animals and 2.45-19.63 ng g(-1) for negative animals. Studies on POPs in Magellan penguins contribute to a better understanding of the distribution and trends of these pollutants in the western South Atlantic Ocean.