Multi-tissue trace elements (TEs), C, N concentrations and stable isotopes (δ13C, δ15N) of chick carcasses and eggs of Adélie and Emperor penguins were studied to i) provide reference data before the recent institution of the Ross Sea Marine Protected Area (Antarctica), and ii) provide conversion factors that allow estimating C, N, δ13C and δ15N in edible tissues from non-edible ones, thus improving the use of stable isotopes in contamination and trophic transfer studies. Higher concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn and Pb were found in chick carcasses than in eggs, suggesting increasing contamination in recent decades and high toxicity risks for penguin consumers. Isotopic conversion factors highlighted small differences among body tissues and conspecifics. These values suggest that chick carcasses are reliable indicators of the energy pathways underlying the two penguin species, their trophic position in the food web and their exposure to TEs.

中文翻译：

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企鹅雏鸡和蛋中的微量元素和稳定同位素：监测罗斯海海洋保护区和营养转移研究的基线。

对阿德利企鹅和帝企鹅的雏鸡尸体和蛋的多组织微量元素 (TE)、C、N 浓度和稳定同位素 (δ13C、δ15N) 进行了研究，以 i) 在最近建立罗斯海海洋保护区之前提供参考数据(Antarctica) 和 ii) 提供转换因子，允许从非食用组织中估计可食用组织中的 C、N、δ13C 和 δ15N，从而改进稳定同位素在污染和营养转移研究中的使用。在雏鸡尸体中发现的 As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Mn 和 Pb 浓度高于鸡蛋，表明近几十年来污染不断增加，企鹅消费者面临高毒性风险。同位素转换因子突出了身体组织和同种生物之间的微小差异。