The toxicant XRF-analysis of gentoo penguin feather of Petermann Island
colony, Antarctic Peninsula
Andreev A.A. (1), Andreev A.V.(1), Shnyukov S.E. (1), Milinevsky G.P. (1, 2), Morozenko V.R (1), Kursa M.O. (1, 2)
(1) National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv
(2) National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ukraine, Kyiv
The work was supported by grant INTAS-2001 - 0571
Objective:
The results of the study the element migration The results of the study the element migration processes in Antarctic ecosystem and heavy metal processes in Antarctic ecosystem and heavy metal accumulation in gentoo penguin feather/guano are accumulation in gentoo penguin feather/guano are discussed. discussed.
Method:
The work is based on XRF multi-element method of The work is based on XRF multi-element method of analysis with 1 – 10 microgram/g detection limit for an analysis with 1 – 10 microgram/g detection limit for an element with atomic number above 20.element with atomic number above 20.
Idea:
Particular kinds of feathers and their Particular kinds of feathers and their different parts can accumulate different different parts can accumulate different amounts of elements. amounts of elements.
The moulting plumage analysis is a useful The moulting plumage analysis is a useful biology monitor for metal pollution biology monitor for metal pollution because the plumage renews annually. because the plumage renews annually.
It gives a possibility for comparison and It gives a possibility for comparison and forecasting the environmental changesforecasting the environmental changes..
There are feather samples of 39 gentoo penguins from head and chest collected at Petermann in 2005 season and 120 guano samples for four sites of colony.
Penguins & flying birds: Adélie and gentoo penguins blue-eyed shags Wilson’s storm-petrel south polar skuas
Petermann Island appears to represent thesouthernmost breeding population of gentoo penguin.
The samples were developed using wet air oxidation in nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide with precipitation on spectral pure carbonic dust.
The guano was dried at 30 degree Celsius.
All feather samples and 40 guano samples have been analyzed.
The percentage of Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, Br, Au, Bi elements was determined.
AVERAGE ELEMENT'S CONTENT
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Fe Cu Zn Se Sr
ppm
feathers without ashing
guano without ashing
Feather and guano microelement content comparison
AVERAGE ELEMENT'S CONTENT IN FEATHERS OBTAINED BY METHOD WITH AND WITHOUT ASHING
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Fe Cu Zn Se Sr Pb
ppm
feathers with ashing
feathers without ashing
AVERAGE RELATIVE REPEATABILITY
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Fe Ni Cu Zn Se Br Sr Pb
%
feathers with ashing
feathers without ashing
guano without ashing
AVERAGE ELEMENT'S CONTENT IN HEAD AND CHEST FEATHERS
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Fe Cu Zn Se Br Sr Pb
ppm
chest
head
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