Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SUPREME (Seabirds Under Pressure: Revealing the Effects of Mercury Exposure)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-02-01 bis 2023-01-31
Mercury is one of the most toxic chemicals for humans and animals. Although efforts have been made in previous years to reduce global mercury emissions, in some countries it remains nevertheless released in large quantities into the atmosphere (e.g. through coal-fueled power plants). In some South American countries, mercury is used extensively in illegal gold mining, poisoning local fish and other animals, and consequently also humans. Although the phenomenon is well known, there are few studies showing the deleterious effects of mercury on human health and on the animals that inhabit these areas. Our aim is to demonstrate that the local fauna suffers from the presence of this contaminant in the environment. To do this, we studied a local seabird population (Magnificent frigatebird), which has been suffering from a viral disease causing episodes of massive mortality of hatchlings for several years. The results of our study are of fundamental importance as they can serve the institutions to implement laws regulating the release of mercury into the environment, and to tighten penalties for those who do not meet these standards. Besides having a great impact on the conservation of local fauna, our project results can have a highly beneficial effect on society and on improving the lives of local indigenous peoples.
Through this project, we have established the basis for demonstrating that the occurrence of disease in these seabirds is due to the presence of various sources of environmental stress. We have shown that hatchlings become ill because they suffer from malnutrition. We have shown that hatchlings also have high levels of mercury in their tissues, and that the combination of the presence of (highly toxic) mercury with malnutrition is the trigger of the disease.
The project is not yet finished. Unfortunately, due to the delays caused by the impact of COVID-19 in our everyday lives, some of the project's results and objectives are still to be finalised. However, thanks to the results obtained so far, we were able to plan the next steps of our research. The project will continue for another three years thanks to the collaborations that have arisen between the different research organisations that have participated in this project. For example, we have equipped some adult birds with GPS devices that will enable us to monitor the behaviour of adults during the chicks' rearing period, and understand whether mercury exposure may affect their optimal behaviour (the one which maximises both the survival and fitness).