Downloads provided by UsageCounts
pmid: 38679096
handle: 10261/356702 , 10400.5/97835 , 10400.12/9796
Ocean contamination, particularly from persistent organic pollutants (POPs), remains a significant threat to marine predators that occupy high trophic positions. Long-lived procellariform seabirds are apex predators in marine ecosystems and tend to accumulate contaminants. Prolonged exposure to pollutants negatively affects their fitness including reproductive success. Low breeding success may represent a hurdle for the restoration of small and endangered seabird populations, including several highly threatened gadfly petrels. Here we investigated the annual variation (2019 and 2022) in organochlorine pesticide (OCP), polychlorinated biphenyl ether (PCB), polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure in the endangered Bermuda petrel (Pterodroma cahow), and the relationship between female contaminant burden and breeding parameters. We found that petrels were exposed to a wide range of pollutants (33 out of 55 showed measurable levels) with PCBs dominating the blood contaminant profiles in both years. Only 9 compounds were detected in >50 % of the birds. Specifically, among OCPs, p, p'-DDE and hexaclorobenzene were the most frequently detected while fluorene and acenaphthene were the most common PAH. The concentrations of ∑5PCBs and ∑7POPs were higher in older birds. Furthermore, females with greater contaminant burdens laid eggs with a lower probability of hatching. However, female investment in egg production (size and volume) was unrelated to their blood contaminant load. Overall, this study highlights the presence of a wide range of contaminants in the petrel's food web, and it sheds light on the potential impact of chronic exposure to sub-lethal levels of PCBs on the breeding success of seabirds. We claim that toxicological testing should be a practice integrated in the management of seabirds, particularly of endangered species to monitor how past and present anthropogenic activities impact their conservation status.
PCB, Reproduction, Endangered Species, http://metadata.un.org/sdg/3, Bioaccumulation, Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Pterodroma, Pesticide, Birds, Persistent Organic Pollutants, Organochlorines, Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers, Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated, Animals, Female, Hatching success, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Pesticides, Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Environmental Monitoring
PCB, Reproduction, Endangered Species, http://metadata.un.org/sdg/3, Bioaccumulation, Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Pterodroma, Pesticide, Birds, Persistent Organic Pollutants, Organochlorines, Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers, Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated, Animals, Female, Hatching success, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Pesticides, Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Environmental Monitoring
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 8 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
| views | 66 | |
| downloads | 142 |

Views provided by UsageCounts
Downloads provided by UsageCounts