The Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) as an indicator of coastal trace metal pollution

摘要: Monitoring trace metal and metalloid concentrations in marine animals is important for their conservation could also reliably reflect pollution levels ecosystems. Concentrations vary across tissue types, with implications reliable monitoring. We sampled blood moulted feathers of the Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) from three distinct colonies, which are subject to varying anthropogenic impact. Non-essential Penguins were clearly linked level industrialisation adjacent respective foraging zones. This trend was more than feathers, although we found a clear correlation between mercury, lead iron. study represents first reported examination metals metalloids any penguin species demonstrates that this high trophic feeder an effective bioindicator coastal pollution.