Antarctic seabirds, including Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae), south polar skuas (Catharacta maccormicki) and southern giant petrels (Macronectes gigantus), are high trophic level predators that accumulate persistent organic pollutants (POPs) present in the marine food webs in which they forage. Diet and migration patterns influence the level of POP residues per species. Here we examine POP levels within the three bird species based on migratory patterns and trophic level using stable isotope analysis of δ15N and δ13C.

This would be an updated stable isotope working group that we ran in 2006. It was done at the last LTER to a room that overflowed, and some were not able to come in the room.

Stable isotope analyses remain proven technologies for characterizing long term change within ecosystems. This workshop/ information exchange/brainstorming group will focus on new technologies of continuous monitoring, or continuous flow analyses, as well as new elements that could be or are being employed for assessment of processes and sources within LTER ecosystems.