Spatial distribution of selenium-mercury in Arctic seabirds

Marta Cruz-Flores; Jeremy Lemaire; Maud Brault-Favrou; Signe Christensen-Dalsgaard; Carine Churlaud; Sebastien Descamps; Kyle Elliott; Kjell Einar Erikstad; Alexey Ezhov; Maria Gavrilo; David Gremillet; Gael Guillou; Scott Hatch; Nicholas Huffeldt; Alexander S Kitaysky; Yann Kolbeinsson; Yuri Krasnov; Magdalene Langset; Sarah Leclaire; Jannie F Linnebjerg; Erlend Lorentzen; Mark L Mallory; Flemming R Merkel; William Montevecchi; Anders Mosbech; Allison Patterson; Samuel Perret; Jennifer F Provencher; Tone K Reiertsen; Heather Renner; Hallvard Strøm; Akinori Takahashi; Jean-Baptiste Thiebot; Thorkell Lindberg Thorarinsson; Alexis Will; Paco Bustamante

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123110

Spatial distribution of selenium-mercury in Arctic seabirds

Marta Cruz-Flores^*, Jeremy Lemaire, Maud Brault-Favrou, Signe Christensen-Dalsgaard, Carine Churlaud, Sebastien Descamps, Kyle Elliott, Kjell Einar Erikstad, Alexey Ezhov, Maria Gavrilo, David Gremillet, Gael Guillou, Scott Hatch, Nicholas Huffeldt, Alexander S Kitaysky, Yann Kolbeinsson, Yuri Krasnov, Magdalene Langset, Sarah Leclaire, Jannie F LinnebjergErlend Lorentzen, Mark L Mallory, Flemming R Merkel, William Montevecchi, Anders Mosbech, Allison Patterson, Samuel Perret, Jennifer F Provencher, Tone K Reiertsen, Heather Renner, Hallvard Strøm, Akinori Takahashi, Jean-Baptiste Thiebot, Thorkell Lindberg Thorarinsson, Alexis Will, Paco Bustamante

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) is a metallic trace element toxic for humans and wildlife that can originate from natural and anthropic sources. Hg spatial gradients have been found in seabirds from the Arctic and other oceans, suggesting contrasting toxicity risks across regions. Selenium (Se) plays a protective role against Hg toxicity, but its spatial distribution has been much less investigated than that of Hg. From 2015 to 2017, we measured spatial co-exposure of Hg and Se in blood samples of two seabird species, the Brünnich's guillemot (Uria lomvia) and the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) from 17 colonies in the Arctic and subarctic regions, and we calculated their molar ratios (Se:Hg), as a measure of Hg sequestration by Se and, therefore, of Hg exposure risk. We also evaluated concentration differences between species and ocean basins (Pacific-Arctic and Atlantic-Arctic), and examined the influence of trophic ecology on Hg and Se concentrations using nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes. In the Atlantic-Arctic ocean, we found a negative west-to-east gradient of Hg and Se for guillemots, and a positive west-to-east gradient of Se for kittiwakes, suggesting that these species are better protected from Hg toxicity in the European Arctic. Differences in Se gradients between species suggest that they do not follow environmental Se spatial variations. This, together with the absence of a general pattern for isotopes influence on trace element concentrations, could be due to foraging ecology differences between species. In both oceans, the two species showed similar Hg concentrations, but guillemots showed lower Se concentrations and Se:Hg than kittiwakes, suggesting a higher Hg toxicity risk in guillemots. Within species, neither Hg, nor Se or Se:Hg differed between both oceans. Our study highlights the importance of considering Se together with Hg, along with different species and regions, when evaluating Hg toxic effects on marine predators in international monitoring programs.

Original language	English
Article number	123110
Journal	Environmental Pollution
Volume	343
Number of pages	12
ISSN	0269-7491
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123110
Publication status	Published - Feb 2024

Keywords

Atlantic-Arctic
Black-legged kittiwake
Blood
Brünnich's guillemot
Pacific-Arctic
Stable isotopes
Thick-billed murre
Toxics
Environmental Monitoring
Humans
Mercury/analysis
Carbon Isotopes
Charadriiformes
Trace Elements
Animals
Arctic Regions
Selenium

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10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123110

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Cruz-Flores, M., Lemaire, J., Brault-Favrou, M., Christensen-Dalsgaard, S., Churlaud, C., Descamps, S., Elliott, K., Erikstad, K. E., Ezhov, A., Gavrilo, M., Gremillet, D., Guillou, G., Hatch, S., Huffeldt, N., Kitaysky, A. S., Kolbeinsson, Y., Krasnov, Y., Langset, M., Leclaire, S., ... Bustamante, P. (2024). Spatial distribution of selenium-mercury in Arctic seabirds. Environmental Pollution, 343, Article 123110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123110

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title = "Spatial distribution of selenium-mercury in Arctic seabirds",

abstract = "Mercury (Hg) is a metallic trace element toxic for humans and wildlife that can originate from natural and anthropic sources. Hg spatial gradients have been found in seabirds from the Arctic and other oceans, suggesting contrasting toxicity risks across regions. Selenium (Se) plays a protective role against Hg toxicity, but its spatial distribution has been much less investigated than that of Hg. From 2015 to 2017, we measured spatial co-exposure of Hg and Se in blood samples of two seabird species, the Br{\"u}nnich's guillemot (Uria lomvia) and the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) from 17 colonies in the Arctic and subarctic regions, and we calculated their molar ratios (Se:Hg), as a measure of Hg sequestration by Se and, therefore, of Hg exposure risk. We also evaluated concentration differences between species and ocean basins (Pacific-Arctic and Atlantic-Arctic), and examined the influence of trophic ecology on Hg and Se concentrations using nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes. In the Atlantic-Arctic ocean, we found a negative west-to-east gradient of Hg and Se for guillemots, and a positive west-to-east gradient of Se for kittiwakes, suggesting that these species are better protected from Hg toxicity in the European Arctic. Differences in Se gradients between species suggest that they do not follow environmental Se spatial variations. This, together with the absence of a general pattern for isotopes influence on trace element concentrations, could be due to foraging ecology differences between species. In both oceans, the two species showed similar Hg concentrations, but guillemots showed lower Se concentrations and Se:Hg than kittiwakes, suggesting a higher Hg toxicity risk in guillemots. Within species, neither Hg, nor Se or Se:Hg differed between both oceans. Our study highlights the importance of considering Se together with Hg, along with different species and regions, when evaluating Hg toxic effects on marine predators in international monitoring programs.",

keywords = "Atlantic-Arctic, Black-legged kittiwake, Blood, Br{\"u}nnich's guillemot, Pacific-Arctic, Stable isotopes, Thick-billed murre, Toxics, Environmental Monitoring, Humans, Mercury/analysis, Carbon Isotopes, Charadriiformes, Trace Elements, Animals, Arctic Regions, Selenium",

author = "Marta Cruz-Flores and Jeremy Lemaire and Maud Brault-Favrou and Signe Christensen-Dalsgaard and Carine Churlaud and Sebastien Descamps and Kyle Elliott and Erikstad, {Kjell Einar} and Alexey Ezhov and Maria Gavrilo and David Gremillet and Gael Guillou and Scott Hatch and Nicholas Huffeldt and Kitaysky, {Alexander S} and Yann Kolbeinsson and Yuri Krasnov and Magdalene Langset and Sarah Leclaire and Linnebjerg, {Jannie F} and Erlend Lorentzen and Mallory, {Mark L} and Merkel, {Flemming R} and William Montevecchi and Anders Mosbech and Allison Patterson and Samuel Perret and Provencher, {Jennifer F} and Reiertsen, {Tone K} and Heather Renner and Hallvard Str{\o}m and Akinori Takahashi and Jean-Baptiste Thiebot and Thorarinsson, {Thorkell Lindberg} and Alexis Will and Paco Bustamante",

year = "2024",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123110",

language = "English",

volume = "343",

journal = "Environmental Pollution",

issn = "0269-7491",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd",

}

Cruz-Flores, M, Lemaire, J, Brault-Favrou, M, Christensen-Dalsgaard, S, Churlaud, C, Descamps, S, Elliott, K, Erikstad, KE, Ezhov, A, Gavrilo, M, Gremillet, D, Guillou, G, Hatch, S, Huffeldt, N, Kitaysky, AS, Kolbeinsson, Y, Krasnov, Y, Langset, M, Leclaire, S, Linnebjerg, JF, Lorentzen, E, Mallory, ML, Merkel, FR, Montevecchi, W, Mosbech, A, Patterson, A, Perret, S, Provencher, JF, Reiertsen, TK, Renner, H, Strøm, H, Takahashi, A, Thiebot, J-B, Thorarinsson, TL, Will, A & Bustamante, P 2024, 'Spatial distribution of selenium-mercury in Arctic seabirds', Environmental Pollution, vol. 343, 123110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123110

TY - JOUR

T1 - Spatial distribution of selenium-mercury in Arctic seabirds

AU - Cruz-Flores, Marta

AU - Lemaire, Jeremy

AU - Brault-Favrou, Maud

AU - Christensen-Dalsgaard, Signe

AU - Churlaud, Carine

AU - Descamps, Sebastien

AU - Elliott, Kyle

AU - Erikstad, Kjell Einar

AU - Ezhov, Alexey

AU - Gavrilo, Maria

AU - Gremillet, David

AU - Guillou, Gael

AU - Hatch, Scott

AU - Huffeldt, Nicholas

AU - Kitaysky, Alexander S

AU - Kolbeinsson, Yann

AU - Krasnov, Yuri

AU - Langset, Magdalene

AU - Leclaire, Sarah

AU - Linnebjerg, Jannie F

AU - Lorentzen, Erlend

AU - Mallory, Mark L

AU - Merkel, Flemming R

AU - Montevecchi, William

AU - Mosbech, Anders

AU - Patterson, Allison

AU - Perret, Samuel

AU - Provencher, Jennifer F

AU - Reiertsen, Tone K

AU - Renner, Heather

AU - Strøm, Hallvard

AU - Takahashi, Akinori

AU - Thiebot, Jean-Baptiste

AU - Thorarinsson, Thorkell Lindberg

AU - Will, Alexis

AU - Bustamante, Paco

PY - 2024/2

Y1 - 2024/2

N2 - Mercury (Hg) is a metallic trace element toxic for humans and wildlife that can originate from natural and anthropic sources. Hg spatial gradients have been found in seabirds from the Arctic and other oceans, suggesting contrasting toxicity risks across regions. Selenium (Se) plays a protective role against Hg toxicity, but its spatial distribution has been much less investigated than that of Hg. From 2015 to 2017, we measured spatial co-exposure of Hg and Se in blood samples of two seabird species, the Brünnich's guillemot (Uria lomvia) and the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) from 17 colonies in the Arctic and subarctic regions, and we calculated their molar ratios (Se:Hg), as a measure of Hg sequestration by Se and, therefore, of Hg exposure risk. We also evaluated concentration differences between species and ocean basins (Pacific-Arctic and Atlantic-Arctic), and examined the influence of trophic ecology on Hg and Se concentrations using nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes. In the Atlantic-Arctic ocean, we found a negative west-to-east gradient of Hg and Se for guillemots, and a positive west-to-east gradient of Se for kittiwakes, suggesting that these species are better protected from Hg toxicity in the European Arctic. Differences in Se gradients between species suggest that they do not follow environmental Se spatial variations. This, together with the absence of a general pattern for isotopes influence on trace element concentrations, could be due to foraging ecology differences between species. In both oceans, the two species showed similar Hg concentrations, but guillemots showed lower Se concentrations and Se:Hg than kittiwakes, suggesting a higher Hg toxicity risk in guillemots. Within species, neither Hg, nor Se or Se:Hg differed between both oceans. Our study highlights the importance of considering Se together with Hg, along with different species and regions, when evaluating Hg toxic effects on marine predators in international monitoring programs.

AB - Mercury (Hg) is a metallic trace element toxic for humans and wildlife that can originate from natural and anthropic sources. Hg spatial gradients have been found in seabirds from the Arctic and other oceans, suggesting contrasting toxicity risks across regions. Selenium (Se) plays a protective role against Hg toxicity, but its spatial distribution has been much less investigated than that of Hg. From 2015 to 2017, we measured spatial co-exposure of Hg and Se in blood samples of two seabird species, the Brünnich's guillemot (Uria lomvia) and the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) from 17 colonies in the Arctic and subarctic regions, and we calculated their molar ratios (Se:Hg), as a measure of Hg sequestration by Se and, therefore, of Hg exposure risk. We also evaluated concentration differences between species and ocean basins (Pacific-Arctic and Atlantic-Arctic), and examined the influence of trophic ecology on Hg and Se concentrations using nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes. In the Atlantic-Arctic ocean, we found a negative west-to-east gradient of Hg and Se for guillemots, and a positive west-to-east gradient of Se for kittiwakes, suggesting that these species are better protected from Hg toxicity in the European Arctic. Differences in Se gradients between species suggest that they do not follow environmental Se spatial variations. This, together with the absence of a general pattern for isotopes influence on trace element concentrations, could be due to foraging ecology differences between species. In both oceans, the two species showed similar Hg concentrations, but guillemots showed lower Se concentrations and Se:Hg than kittiwakes, suggesting a higher Hg toxicity risk in guillemots. Within species, neither Hg, nor Se or Se:Hg differed between both oceans. Our study highlights the importance of considering Se together with Hg, along with different species and regions, when evaluating Hg toxic effects on marine predators in international monitoring programs.

KW - Atlantic-Arctic

KW - Black-legged kittiwake

KW - Blood

KW - Brünnich's guillemot

KW - Pacific-Arctic

KW - Stable isotopes

KW - Thick-billed murre

KW - Toxics

KW - Environmental Monitoring

KW - Humans

KW - Mercury/analysis

KW - Carbon Isotopes

KW - Charadriiformes

KW - Trace Elements

KW - Animals

KW - Arctic Regions

KW - Selenium

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85180368681&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123110

DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123110

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38086506

SN - 0269-7491

VL - 343

JO - Environmental Pollution

JF - Environmental Pollution

M1 - 123110

ER -

Spatial distribution of selenium-mercury in Arctic seabirds

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Keywords

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