The Cape petrel (Daption capense) has circumpolar distribution and potential to be used as sentinels of trace elements levels in the Antarctic environment. This study measured trace elements in carcass feathers (n = 30) of this yet under-studied Procellariiform species, in King George Island, Antarctica. This non-invasive sampling method was useful for quantifying mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), selenium (Se), and to perform the sex identification of birds. There were no significant differences between males and females for Hg (mean ± SD, 973 ± 930 ng g−1; 977 ± 570 ng g−1) and Se (3919 ± 637 ng g−1; 3782 ± 799 ng g−1), levels but males had significantly lower Cd levels than females (101 ± 76 ng g−1; 293 ± 251 ng g−1), respectively. Hg concentration in D. capense is lower than other Procellariiformes which indicate interspecific variations that may be related to their proximity to pollution sources. The reason for males having significantly lower Cd levels than females is unknown. This opportunistic and non-invasive sampling strategy can be useful in the environmental monitoring of the trace elements in polar environments.

中文翻译：

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南极海燕（Daption capense）羽毛中的微量元素

海角海燕（Daption capense）具有环极分布，有可能被用作南极环境中微量元素水平的哨兵。这项研究测量了南极乔治王岛这种尚未得到充分研究的 Procellariiform 物种的尸体羽毛（n = 30）中的微量元素。这种非侵入性采样方法可用于量化汞 (Hg)、镉 (Cd)、硒 (Se) 和执行鸟类的性别鉴定。男性和女性之间的 Hg（平均值 ± SD，973 ± 930 ng g-1；977 ± 570 ng g-1）和 Se（3919 ± 637 ng g-1；3782 ± 799 ng g-1）没有显着差异), 但男性的 Cd 水平明显低于女性 (101 ± 76 ng g-1; 293 ± 251 ng g-1)。D中的汞浓度 capense 比其他 Procellariiformes 低，这表明可能与其靠近污染源有关的种间变异。男性的 Cd 水平明显低于女性的原因尚不清楚。这种机会性和非侵入性采样策略可用于极地环境中痕量元素的环境监测。