Seabirds of human settlements in Antarctica: A case study of the Mirny Station

Antarctica is free of urbanisation, however, 40 year-round and 32 seasonal Antarctic stations operate there. The effects of such human settlements on Antarctic wildlife are insufficiently studied. The main aim of this study was to determine the organization of the bird population of the Mirny Station. The birds were observed on the coast of the Davis Sea in the Mirny (East Antarctica) from January 8, 2012 to January 7, 2013 and from January 9, 2015 to January 9, 2016. The observations were carried out mainly on the Radio and Komsomolsky nunataks (an area of about 0.5 km). The duration of observations varied from 1 to 8 hours per day. From 1956 to 2016, 13 non-breeding bird species (orders Sphenisciformes, Procellariiformes, Charadriiformes) were recorded in the Mirny. The South polar skuas (Catharacta maccormicki) and Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) form the basis of the bird population. South polar skuas are most frequently recorded at the station. Less common are Brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi) and Adélie penguins. Adélie penguins, Wilson's storm petrels (Oceanites oceanicus), South polar and Brown skuas are seasonal residents, the other species are visitors. Adélie penguins, Emperor (Aptenodytes forsteri), Macaroni (Eudyptes chrysolophus) and Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica), Wilson's storm petrels, South polar and Brown skuas interacted with the station environment, using it for comfortable behavior, feeding, molting, shelter from bad weather conditions, and possible breeding. South polar and Brown skuas tend to be attracted to the station, while other Antarctic bird species are indifferent to humans. Birds spend part of the annual cycle at the station or visit it with different frequency, but they cannot meet their ecological needs there all year round. The study improves our understanding of the regularities of the phenomenon of urbanization of the avifauna in the polar regions of the planet Earth.

Macroplastic in Seabirds at Mirny, Antarctica

Plastic debris makes up the majority of marine debris around the world, and pollution is a serious threat to marine wildlife. Threats represent two types of biological interactions with plastic: entanglement and ingestion. This paper describes interactions of seabirds with plastic in Mirny and draw the attention of researchers to the existing problem. In 2012/2013 and 2015/2016, year-round observations of the author were carried out at Mirny station and Haswell Islands (area of about 12 km2), east Antarctica. One case of entanglement of a molting adult Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) in a fishing line was been identified; in addition to one case of an adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) mistakenly ingesting plastic braided rope and subsequently feeding it as part of a food lump to the chick, and two cases of macroplastics found in pellets of south polar skuas (Catharacta maccormicki). Registrations of entanglement and ingestion of macroplastic by seabirds in Mirny are rare. They signal to us about problem that needs to be included in the monitoring for the health of terrestrial biota of the Haswell archipelago.

Spatial distribution of birds and terrestrial plants in Bunger Hills

In this paper, we synthesize recorded observations of moss, lichen and bird species in Bunger Hills, East Antarctica, and assess the role of environmental controls, including sediment, salinity, moisture and geology, on species' distributions. The distribution of snow petrels (Pagodroma nivea) appears to be associated with geology; they nest by preference in crevices in bedrock outcrops around the margins of the hills or wherever jointed cliffs are found. South polar skuas (Catharacta maccormicki) are seen throughout Bunger Hills, where they nest and prey on snow petrels. Mosses and lichens were most abundant around the ice margins where fresh snow and ice meltwater are abundant. In the central area of Bunger Hills, where the highest salt concentration in sediments is found and exposure to abrasion by wind-driven mineral sand grains and ice particles is greatest, mosses and lichens are reduced in abundance and diversity. Exposure of parts of Bunger Hills from the ice sheet throughout the Last Glacial Maximum, c. 20 ka bp, means that some land and lakes could have acted as regional refugia and as a locus of recolonization of other ice-free areas.

Antarctic Skuas as bioindicators of local and global mercury contamination

Mercury (Hg) is a non-essential metal, sometimes extremely toxic, and its presence in the food-web may threaten the wildlife. In seabirds, even low levels of Hg can reduce egg production and the chances of embryos and chicks survival; high levels of this element lead to erratic behavior, loss of appetite and weight, and cellular damages in organs as kidneys can be detected. According to some authors, among 50 to 93% of the total Hg accumulated by the birds through diet can be excreted throughout the feathers during the molting process. In this way, feathers can be used as an excellent non-invasive biomonitor. The objective of this paper was to compared mercury (Hg) levels in feathers of adults and chicks of Catharacta maccormicki(Cma) and C. lonnbergi (Clo) sampled in the Antarctic Peninsula, to identify biomonitors of Hg to the region using non-invasive samples methods. We found Hg significantly higher levels in adults of Cma comparing with Clo adults (U'=841.00, p<0.01) and also with chicks of both species (q>3.398, p<0.01). We did not find significant differences comparing Clo adults and chicks of both species (U'=16.00, p<0.05), and comparing Cma breeding in different areas (q>3.398, p<0.05) or Clo (U'= 62.00, p < 0.05). The Hg levels variation may be justified mainly by differences in migration patterns. The adults of the species that migrate to more polluted areas (Cma) presented the highest levels of Hg and can be considered a promising indicator of global contamination. In another way, Clo and chicks of both species are good indicators of local Hg contamination, suffering the direct influence of contamination in the Antarctic environment.