Monitoreo de aves marinas varadas como bioindicadoras de la salud del ecosistema costero de la Región del Biobío.
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Date
2026
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universidad de Concepción
Abstract
Los ecosistemas costeros de la Región del Biobío están sometidos a una intensa presión antropogénica asociada a actividades industriales, portuarias y pesqueras, lo que incrementa el riesgo de contaminación ambiental y afecta a la fauna marina. En este contexto, las aves marinas, por su posición en niveles tróficos altos y su capacidad de bioacumular contaminantes, son bioindicadoras del estado de salud del ecosistema marino. El objetivo general de este estudio fue utilizar aves marinas varadas en dos playas de la Región del Biobío como bioindicadoras de la salud ambiental, evaluando signos de mortalidad por pesca incidental y la concentración de metales pesados en plumas. Se recolectaron ejemplares completos y muestras de plumas, las que fueron sometidas a procesos de liofilización, digestión ácida y análisis mediante espectrofotometría de absorción atómica para determinar concentraciones de cobre (Cu), plomo (Pb) y cadmio (Cd). Ninguno de los ejemplares completos presentó signos claros o consistentes que permitieran atribuir la causa de muerte a interacciones con artes de pesca. Las diferencias en las concentraciones de metales pesados entre especies fueron evaluadas mediante ANOVA de una vía y prueba a-posteriori de Tukey. En cuanto a los metales pesados, el Cu presentó las concentraciones más elevadas en comparación con Pb y Cd. Se observaron diferencias significativas entre especies únicamente para el Cu, mientras que Pb mostró una tendencia cercana a la significancia y Cd no presentó diferencias interespecíficas. El pelícano registró las mayores concentraciones promedio de Cu y Pb, seguido por el lile y el guanay, mientras que el Cd presentó valores bajos y relativamente homogéneos, con mayor variabilidad intraespecífica en guanay. Se sugiere que las diferencias en la bioacumulación de metales están asociadas a la ecología trófica, estrategias de forrajeo y uso del hábitat de las especies analizadas, así como a la influencia de fuentes de contaminación locales. La comparación con estudios previos indica que las concentraciones registradas se encuentran dentro de rangos reportados para otras zonas de Chile y del mundo, aunque con variaciones atribuibles a diferencias espaciales, temporales y metodológicas. A pesar de las limitaciones del tamaño muestral, este estudio constituye el primer registro de concentraciones de metales pesados en plumas de varias especies de aves marinas en playas de la Región del Biobío.
The coastal ecosystems of the Biobío Region are under an intense anthropogenic pressure related to industrial, port, and fishing activities, which increases the risk of environmental pollution and affects marine fauna. In this context, seabirds are suitable bioindicators of the health status of marine ecosystems due to their position at high trophic levels and their ability to bioaccumulate pollutants. The overall objective of this study was to use stranded seabirds on two beaches of the Biobío Region as bioindicators of environmental health, evaluating signs of mortality from bycatch and the concentration of heavy metals in feathers. Complete specimens and feather samples were collected and subjected to freeze-drying, acid digestion, and analysis by atomic absorption spectrophotometry to determine concentrations of copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd). None of the complete specimens showed clear or consistent signs of death due to interactions with fishing gear or fishing activities. Differences between species were evaluated using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test. In terms of heavy metals, Cu had the highest concentrations compared to Pb and Cd. Significant differences between species were observed only for Cu, while Pb showed a trend close to significance and Cd showed no interspecific differences. The pelican recorded the highest average concentrations of Cu and Pb, followed by the red-legged cormorant and the guanay cormorant, while Cd showed low and relatively homogeneous values, with greater intraspecific variability in guanay cormorant. It is suggested that differences in metal bioaccumulation are associated with the trophic ecology, foraging strategies, and habitat use of the species analyzed, as well as the influence of local sources of pollution. Comparison with previous studies indicates that the concentrations recorded are within the ranges reported for other areas of Chile and the world, with variations probably related to spatial, temporal, and methodological differences. Despite the limitations of the sample size, this study is the first record of heavy metal concentrations in the feathers of several species of seabirds on beaches in the Biobío Region.
The coastal ecosystems of the Biobío Region are under an intense anthropogenic pressure related to industrial, port, and fishing activities, which increases the risk of environmental pollution and affects marine fauna. In this context, seabirds are suitable bioindicators of the health status of marine ecosystems due to their position at high trophic levels and their ability to bioaccumulate pollutants. The overall objective of this study was to use stranded seabirds on two beaches of the Biobío Region as bioindicators of environmental health, evaluating signs of mortality from bycatch and the concentration of heavy metals in feathers. Complete specimens and feather samples were collected and subjected to freeze-drying, acid digestion, and analysis by atomic absorption spectrophotometry to determine concentrations of copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd). None of the complete specimens showed clear or consistent signs of death due to interactions with fishing gear or fishing activities. Differences between species were evaluated using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test. In terms of heavy metals, Cu had the highest concentrations compared to Pb and Cd. Significant differences between species were observed only for Cu, while Pb showed a trend close to significance and Cd showed no interspecific differences. The pelican recorded the highest average concentrations of Cu and Pb, followed by the red-legged cormorant and the guanay cormorant, while Cd showed low and relatively homogeneous values, with greater intraspecific variability in guanay cormorant. It is suggested that differences in metal bioaccumulation are associated with the trophic ecology, foraging strategies, and habitat use of the species analyzed, as well as the influence of local sources of pollution. Comparison with previous studies indicates that the concentrations recorded are within the ranges reported for other areas of Chile and the world, with variations probably related to spatial, temporal, and methodological differences. Despite the limitations of the sample size, this study is the first record of heavy metal concentrations in the feathers of several species of seabirds on beaches in the Biobío Region.
Description
Tesis presentada para optar al título de Biólogo/a Marino/a.
Keywords
Aves marinas, Pesca, Metales pesados, Salud ambiental