Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
Sci Total Environ. 2012 Aug 1;431:92-9. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.05.018. Epub 2012 Jun 4.
The ivory gull is a high Arctic seabird species threatened by climate change and contaminant exposure. High levels of contaminants have been reported in ivory gull Pagophila eburnea eggs from Svalbard and the Russian Arctic. The present study investigated associations between high levels of contaminants (organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) and mercury (Hg)) and three response variables: eggshell thickness, retinol (vitamin A) and α-tocopherol (vitamin E). Negative associations were found between levels of OCPs, PCBs and BFRs and eggshell thickness (p<0.021) and α-tocopherol (p<0.023), but not with retinol (p>0.1). There were no associations between PFASs and mercury and the three response variables. Furthermore, the eggshell thickness was 7-17% thinner in the present study than in archived ivory gull eggs (≤1930). In general, a thinning above 16 to 20% has been associated with a decline in bird populations, suggesting that contaminant-induced eggshell thinning may constitute a serious threat to ivory gull populations globally.
象牙海鸥是一种高北极海鸟物种，受到气候变化和污染物暴露的威胁。在斯瓦尔巴德和俄罗斯北极的象牙海鸥 Pagophila eburnea 蛋中，已经报道了高水平的污染物。本研究调查了高水平的污染物（有机氯农药 (OCPs)、多氯联苯 (PCBs)、溴化阻燃剂 (BFRs)、全氟烷基物质 (PFASs) 和汞 (Hg)) 与三个反应变量之间的关系：蛋壳厚度、视黄醇 (维生素 A) 和 α-生育酚 (维生素 E)。研究发现，OCPs、PCBs 和 BFRs 的水平与蛋壳厚度呈负相关 (p<0.021) 和 α-生育酚 (p<0.023)，但与视黄醇 (p>0.1) 无关。PFASs 和汞与三个反应变量之间没有关联。此外，本研究中的蛋壳厚度比 1930 年以前的象牙海鸥蛋薄 7-17%。一般来说，蛋壳厚度减少 16%至 20%以上与鸟类种群减少有关，这表明污染物引起的蛋壳变薄可能对全球象牙海鸥种群构成严重威胁。
