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Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Thermal Imaging to Study Stress Non-invasively in Unrestrained Birds
Published on: November 6, 2015
Persistent Organic Pollutants in two species of migratory birds from Rothera Point, Adelaide Island, Antarctica
A Krasnobaev1, G Ten Dam2, S P J van Leeuwen2
1Wageningen University, Div. Toxicology, PO Box 8000, NL 6700 EA Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Abstract:
Carcasses of South Polar Skuas (Catharacta maccormicki) and Kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) were opportunistically collected around of Rothera Research station (67°35'8″S and 68°7'59″W) during the 2016/2017 austral summer. Samples of their tissues (muscle, liver and subcutaneous fat) were analysed for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) showed the highest concentrations, notably for pp'-DDE and HCB. The Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)-profiles demonstrated a clear dominance of hexa- and hepta-CBs, while concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) remained low. The concentrations of some POPs (e.g. HCB) were lower than in past studies on similar species, however others were within the previous range (PCBs) or even higher than previous reported values (DDE). Although no major interspecific differences in the absolute concentrations of POPs were detected, their profiles varied, being likely related to feeding and migration patterns of each species. The current study provides important baseline data for future monitoring of POPs in Antarctica.
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