Influence of Pygoscelis Penguin Colonies on Cu and Pb Concentrations in Soils on the Ardley Peninsula, Maritime Antarctica

Penguins can bioaccumulate metals, a portion of which can be deposited in the environment through organic remains such as excrement, carcasses, and eggshells. In order to determine Cu and Pb concentrations and their relationship to soil, organic matter and grain size were determined in 27 samples co...

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Published in:Water, air, and soil pollution air, and soil pollution, 2018-12, Vol.229 (12), p.1-13, Article 390
Main Authors: Perfetti-Bolaño, Alessandra, Moreno, Lucila, Urrutia, Roberto, Araneda, Alberto, Barra, Ricardo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Atomic absorption analysis
Atomic absorption spectrophotometry
Atomic properties
Bioaccumulation
Bones
Carcasses
Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts
Colonies
Copper
Earth and Environmental Science
Environment
Environmental monitoring
Feathers
Grain size
Heavy metals
Hydrogeology
Lasers
Lead
Measuring instruments
Metal concentrations
Metals
Organic matter
Organic soils
Particle size
Penguins
Principal components analysis
Seabirds
Soil
Soil Science & Conservation
Soils
Spectral analysis
Spectrophotometry
Water Quality/Water Pollution
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Summary:Penguins can bioaccumulate metals, a portion of which can be deposited in the environment through organic remains such as excrement, carcasses, and eggshells. In order to determine Cu and Pb concentrations and their relationship to soil, organic matter and grain size were determined in 27 samples collected in zones without penguins, penguin transit zones, and Adelie ( Pygoscelis adeliae ), Chinstrap ( P. antarctica ), and Gentoo penguin ( P. papua ) colonies on the Ardley Peninsula, Maritime Antarctica. An atomic absorption spectrophotometry analysis was carried out, organic matter was determined by loss on ignition, and grain size was measured with a laser diffraction particle size analyzer. The principal component analysis shows a relationship between the variables Cu, Pb, and grain size and areas with penguin presence. Cu concentrations in soils varied among areas ( χ 2 , 15.707; p  = 0.0004), with higher concentrations in transit zones and penguin colonies (142.63 and 140.79 mg/kg, respectively) than in zones without penguins (83.33 mg/kg). Pb concentrations in soils also varied among areas ( χ 2 , 6.5029; p  = 0.0387), and were higher in transit zones (5.92 mg/kg) than in the penguin colonies (4.45 mg/kg). Grain size differed significantly among areas ( χ 2 , 13.506; p  = 0.0012), with higher values in transit zones (avg. 37.38 μm) than in penguin colonies (avg. 26.93 μm) and zones without penguins (avg. 20.72 μm). Organic matter did not differ significantly among the studied zones ( χ 2 , 2.0882; p  = 0.3520). There is a positive correlation between Cu-Pb (Rho, 0.5532; p  = 0.0028), Cu-grain size (Rho, 0.4756; p  = 0.0130) and Pb-grain size (Rho, 0.4879; p  = 0.0098). The presence of penguins increases Cu concentrations in Antarctic soils due to its bioaccumulation and elimination through excrement; however, the presence of penguins has a minor influence on Pb concentration in soil, probably because this metal is stored efficiently in bones, feathers, and eggshells.
ISSN:0049-6979
1573-2932
DOI:10.1007/s11270-018-4042-4