Article Dans Une Revue Environmental Science and Technology Année : 2026

Sulfur Isotopes Reveal Spatial Variation in Waterbird Trace Element Contamination from Tropical Estuaries to the Open Ocean

Résumé

Marine and freshwater pollution is a major environmental concern, yet the spatial extent of estuarine contamination in marine food webs remains poorly understood. In this study, we sampled blood from piscivorous waterbirds (15 species, 316 individuals) along a gradient from estuaries in southeastern Brazil to the nearshore and offshore southwestern Atlantic Ocean to assess trace element concentrations and the influence of habitat and trophic position on the basis of stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur. All non-essential trace elements (arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury) were inversely related to sulfur isotope values (δ34S) and decreased along the estuarine−open ocean gradient. Conversely, most essential elements (chromium, copper, and manganese) were positively correlated with δ34S, suggesting an increase from estuarine to oceanic waters. Non-essential trace elements in estuarine birds were above the benchmarks of toxicity established for bird species, suggesting potential health impairment due to trace element contamination associated with freshwater inputs. In addition, the lower concentrations of essential elements in estuarine birds may suggest interference in metal homeostasis caused by high concentrations of non-essential elements. Assessments combining multiple trace elements and stable isotopes, particularly sulfur, remain rare over large spatial scales. Across this broad environmental gradient, stable sulfur isotopes proved to be efficient markers of bird habitats for assessing spatial patterns in trace element contamination in aquatic food webs.

Fichier principal
Vignette du fichier
Linhares et al 2026 ES&T.pdf (6.59 Mo) Télécharger le fichier
Origine Publication financée par une institution
Licence

Dates et versions

hal-05560908 , version 1 (07-04-2026)

Licence

Identifiants

Citer

Bruno Linhares, Paco Bustamante, Guilherme Nunes, Patrícia Costa, Leandro Bugoni, et al.. Sulfur Isotopes Reveal Spatial Variation in Waterbird Trace Element Contamination from Tropical Estuaries to the Open Ocean. Environmental Science and Technology, 2026, 60 (12), pp.9508-9520. ⟨10.1021/acs.est.5c14633⟩. ⟨hal-05560908⟩
36 Consultations
8 Téléchargements

Altmetric

Partager

  • More