Occurrence of persistent organic pollutants and chlorpyrifos in Tadarida brasiliensis tissues from an agricultural production area in Argentina.

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are lipophilic and persistent compounds, with chronic toxicity that cause negative effects on the environment and organisms. The chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate insecticide and represent the main insecticide currently used in many countries. The concentrations of OCPs, PCBs, and chlorpyrifos were evaluated in liver, muscle, and gonad of females and males of Tadarida brasiliensis in an agricultural production area in Argentina. Pollutants were quantified by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. The general total concentration pattern among tissues was gonad > muscle > liver, with a higher ratio of pesticides (OCPs + chlorpyrifos) over PCBs in muscle and liver, while gonads showed higher concentrations of PCBs. The predominance of DDTs and endosulfans evidences the bioavailability of these compounds despite their use has ceased. Chlorpyrifos was the main pesticide detected in almost all samples of both sexes, probably due to its current intensive use. More researches about ecology and activity patterns is paramount in order to understand more accurately the accumulation and possible negative effects of these pollutants.

Feather mercury levels in beached Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) in northern Argentina during the non-breeding season.

Mercury (Hg) is a great concern for marine environments. Bird feathers have been widely used to assess Hg pollution. In this study, we determine mercury concentrations in body feathers of juvenile Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) from the southeastern sector of Buenos Aires province, Argentina, during a non-breeding season, considering both sexes. Hg levels, considering both females and males together, ranged between 265.5 and 1515.52 ng/g. These levels are well below the concentrations in feathers suggested for taking actions focused on the protection of seabirds. Non-significant differences between sexes regarding Hg levels were found, probably because juveniles were sexually immature and females did not excrete Hg by egg laying yet. Hg concentrations found in this study were an order of magnitude higher than those reported 10 years ago for the species in breeding areas on the Argentine coast. Thus, the present study provides relevant information indicating a possible increase of Hg pollution in the southwestern region of the Atlantic Ocean and thus trigger for the development of monitoring programs and regional strategies to improve the conservation status of this species.

First evidence of anthropogenic debris in nests of the Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) from a small semi-desert Argentinean coastal ecosystem.

Here, we present the first findings of anthropogenic debris (AD) used as nest material by the Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) on a small semi-desert coastal ecosystem in northern Argentine Patagonia. Anthropogenic debris was found in ca. 40% of the 259 active nests, with an average of 2.80 ± 2.60 items per nest (n = 126) with >1 item recorded in >50% of surveyed nests containing debris. The average weight of AD per nest was 4.58 ± 12.74 g; the heaviest debris item weighed 82.58 g. Fragmented plastics were more abundant than unbroken items. Plastic followed by paper dominated the fraction of AD, with flexible plastic items dominating at both sites (nests: 97%, adjacent beach: 82%). Mega-sized plastics (>10 cm in length) and white/clear debris prevailed at both gull nests and the adjacent beach; fisheries and recreational activities were identified as the main sources of AD.

Chlorpyrifos and persistent organic pollutants in feathers of the near threatened Olrog's Gull in southeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.

The use of bird feathers to assess environmental contamination has steadily increased in ecotoxicological monitoring programs over the past decade. The Olrog's Gull (Larus atlanticus) is a species endemic to the Atlantic coast of southern South America, constituting one of the three threatened gull species listed in the entire American continent. The aim of this study was to assess the exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and chlorpyrifos in the Near Threatened Olrog's Gull through the analysis of body feathers sampled at the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon, the main wintering area of the species in Argentina, controlling for sex and age class. Chlorpyrifos showed the highest concentrations among all contaminants and groups of individuals (X¯ = 263 ng g-1), while among POPs the concentration of organochlorine pesticides was higher than polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers, likely indicating the current use of these agricultural contaminant in the region. The highest values of total POP concentrations (males X¯ = 280 ng g-1, females X¯ = 301 ng g-1) were found in juvenile gulls, likely as a consequence of the incorporation of pollutants during the breeding season. Subadult and adult birds showed difference between sexes in the concentration of contaminants, with higher levels in males than females. The results highlight the need to include birds of different sex and age classes in order to better understand the variation in pollutants loads. The present study provides relevant information to improve the conservation status of the Olrog's Gull and new insights about the environmental health of the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon, Argentina, a MAB-UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. However, there is a continued need for long-term monitoring programs focusing on this threatened species to understand the effects of pollutants on its population.

Fouling assemblage of marine debris collected in a temperate South-western Atlantic coastal lagoon: A first report.

In the South-western Atlantic, studies dealing with the impacts of debris on marine species are focused mainly on vertebrates, being scarce the studies conducted to determine the association of fouling species to marine debris. A total of 33 marine debris items with fouling specimens were collected in Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon, Argentina. Species richness varied between one and five species per debris item, and dominant species included the barnacle Amphibalanus improvisus (93.94%), followed by the bryozoan Membranipora sp. (72.73%), undetermined polychaetes (36.36%), the mollusc Ostrea sp. (15.15%), the hydrozoan Amphisbetia operculata and the mollusc Brachidontes rodriguezii (3.45%, in both cases). We concluded that marine debris constitutes a suitable settlement site for sessile species inhabiting the lagoon, where hard-substratum are absent; while buoyancy analysis suggested that the initial colonization occurred both on marine debris suspended in the water column or at the sea surface, and in those laying on the seafloor.

HEMATOLOGY AND PLASMA CHEMISTRY VALUES IN BEACHED MAGELLANIC PENGUIN (SPHENISCUS MAGELLANICUS) IN NORTHERN ARGENTINA DURING THE NONBREEDING SEASON.

Seabirds have been widely used for monitoring the health of the oceans in diverse marine regions. Among low-cost survey strategies, systematic surveys of seabirds beached on coasts have been developed since the 20th century. However, these studies do not always address blood aspects. The assessment of the health status of birds based on the analysis of hematological and plasma chemistry is crucial to evaluate the overall health status profile of live organisms. Here, the authors study the variability of blood parameters by sex, age class, and year of beached Magellanic Penguin during the nonreproductive period in northern Argentina. Of 44 penguins, 77% were categorized as younger juveniles and the rest as older juveniles, and were captured and studied in coastal areas of Buenos Aires Province during the summers of 2017 and 2018. The mean body weight of beached penguins was affected by the age class of the individuals; most of the younger juveniles showed poor condition in terms of body mass (1,761 ± 235 g). No significant differences were observed in body weight between years and sex. Still, there were significant differences between years for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) values. Twelve of the 20 blood parameters analyzed differ significantly with the age class of the beached penguins; younger juveniles were in a state of inanition. Our results may serve as a necessary first step in improving the conservation status of the Magellanic Penguin in nonbreeding grounds of Argentina, and call for a better knowledge of the health status of the species along its annual cycle.

Marine debris in beaches of the Southwestern Atlantic: An assessment of their abundance and mass at different spatial scales in northern coastal Argentina.

Argentina is currently undergoing an intensive development of coastal-oriented tourism due to the temperate climate and coastal sceneries of the Southwestern Atlantic and particularly its wide ocean-open sandy beaches, which may turn into an important contributor of marine debris to the beaches. This study was designed to assess at four spatial scales (i) the variation of the abundance and mass of marine debris and (ii) the composition and sources of these items in sandy-tourist beaches of coastal zones of the province of Buenos Aires, in northern Argentina. The abundance and mass of marine debris shifted between sampling localities (separated by ~1.5×105m) and beaches (~3×104m). Debris was primarily from recreational and fishing activities and over 20mm in size. Tackling the complications associated with marine debris in northern Argentina may include intensive educational and advertising campaigns oriented chiefly to beach users and fisherman.

What is left behind when the lights go off? Comparing the abundance and composition of litter in urban areas with different intensity of nightlife use in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

Nightlife activities represents an important source of urban litter; the latter often being left behind or abandoned in public places and streets. Mar del Plata is a very important city on the Atlantic coast of Argentina and is the main tourism destination in the South Atlantic region of South America. However, few studies on urban litter related to nightlife activities have been conducted in the area. Here we assessed (i) the abundance and composition of litter, and (ii) the spatial and temporal variations of its abundance, diversity, richness and evenness in urbanized areas with different intensity of nightlife activities from April 2008 to March 2009. An overall of 13,503 items were counted. Around 92% of the total litter was comprised by cigarette butts, papers and plastics. We found significant spatial differences in the abundance of litter between sampling sites, with the greatest amounts of litter at the Alem site followed by the Hipólito site (both with an intensive nightlife activity) compared with the Chauvin site (a quiet high-income neighborhood). The composition of litter of the Alem and the Hipólito sites was relatively similar and both sites differ with respect to the Chauvin site. Cigarette butts, papers, and plastics were the items that contributed most to the dissimilarity between sampling sites. The diversity of litter was the single community parameter that significantly differed from the other seasons. We discussed the potential effect of nightlife activities on the amounts and quality of urban litter in the city of Mar del Plata.

Spatial and temporal variations of urban litter in Mar del Plata, the major coastal city of Argentina.

Urban littering is considered an important environmental and public issue globally. This problem is growing considerably within coastal communities of the southern region of South America. The goals of this study were to assess (1) the abundance and composition of urban litter; (2) the spatial and temporal variations of its abundance; and (3) the relationship between the abundance of litter and three anthropogenic variables (i.e. abundance of pedestrians, of parked vehicles, and of trash bins) in Mar del Plata, the most populated coastal city in Argentina. Eighty-eight transects, each covering 1425 m(2), were sampled along four sites from April 2008 to March 2009. Results showed 20,336 items (ca. 14 items per m(2)) of which cigarette butts (33%), papers (31%), and plastics (22%) were the most commonly littered items. Higher amounts of litter were found in an industrial area (city's harbor), while the abundance of litter appeared relatively even throughout the year. Redundancy analysis techniques indicated a high abundance of all three anthropogenic variables associated with the central business district area of the city and an area in close proximity to a major seaside resort, where cigarette butts and papers dominated. This is the first study that has examined spatial and temporal variations of urban litter in a high-density coastal city in Argentina. Our results showed that addressing the problems associated with urban litter must include intensive educational and advertising campaigns directed at pedestrians and owners of parked vehicles, but waste reduction, clean-up operations and law enforcement should be also considered.

Trace metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in feathers of Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys attending the Patagonian Shelf.

We investigated the concentrations of cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, nickel, lead and zinc among feather tissues in sexes of Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys killed in longliners off Argentina in 2005. We found no different metal concentration with sex for cadmium, copper, iron, lead and zinc in feathers of adult birds, though there were significant body-size differences between sexes. However, the concentrations of trace metals differed significantly among the type of feather within individual bird. The mean concentrations of copper, iron, and zinc in breast feathers of T. melanophrys were lower than those reported for the species from Georgias del Sur/South Georgia, the southern Indian Ocean and for other seabirds' worldwide. While cadmium fall within the known range of concentrations for bird feathers lead were not. Our results may be indicating that level of pollution in Patagonia may not be as negligible as previously thought at least for some trace metals.