Evaluation of organic pollutants bioavailability in resident seabirds in the Brazilian Coast

• Grant number: 14/26226-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: July 01, 2015
• End date: August 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Márcia Caruso Bícego
• Grantee: Paula Baldassin
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Residents Seabirds are a diverse group of species that have adapted very effectively to the marine environment, feeding mainly on fish, cephalopods and crustaceans. They can be used as a model for biodiversity monitoring in these residents environments because these animals are vulnerable to pollution, such as oil. This study aims to evaluate the biliary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) metabolites of resident birds like boobies (Sula leucogaster), Frigate (Fregata magnificiens) and gulls (Larus dominicanus) found dead on the beaches from Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro e Espirito Santo. With these results will be possible to establish a baseline concentration, using it as a reference for future environmental monitoring and animals affected by hydrocarbon medical evaluation. (AU)