The toxicant XRF-analysis of gentoo penguin feather of Petermann Island colony, Antarctic Peninsula Andreev A.A. (1), Andreev A.V.(1), Shnyukov S.E. (1), Milinevsky G.P. (1, 2), Morozenko V.R (1), Kursa M.O. (1, 2) (1) National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv (2) National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ukraine, Kyiv The work was supported by grant INTAS

Objective: The results of the study the element migration processes in Antarctic ecosystem and heavy metal accumulation in gentoo penguin feather/guano are discussed. Method: The work is based on XRF multi-element method of analysis with 1 – 10 microgram/g detection limit for an element with atomic number above 20.

Idea: Particular kinds of feathers and their different parts can accumulate different amounts of elements. The moulting plumage analysis is a useful biology monitor for metal pollution because the plumage renews annually. It gives a possibility for comparison and forecasting the environmental changes.

There are feather samples of 39 gentoo penguins from head and chest collected at Petermann in 2005 season and 120 guano samples for four sites of colony.

Penguins & flying birds: Adélie and gentoo penguins blue-eyed shags Wilson’s storm-petrel south polar skuas Petermann Island appears to represent the southernmost breeding population of gentoo penguin.

Feather sampling at Petermann Is

The samples were developed using wet air oxidation in nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide with precipitation on spectral pure carbonic dust. The guano was dried at 30 degree Celsius. All feather samples and 40 guano samples have been analyzed. The percentage of Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, Br, Au, Bi elements was determined.

High resolution spectrometer for micro- volume analysis

Feather head XRF-spectrum contained Au

Feather and guano microelement content comparison

Conclusion The data of the southernmost gentoo population are important as an indicator of the possible changes in the ecological system of Antarctic Peninsula. The further investigations in this direction help to understand the elements migration processes in the Antarctic ecosystem.