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The contribution of penguin guano to the Southern Ocean iron pool

Author

Listed:
  • Oleg Belyaev

    (Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia (ICMAN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC))

  • Erica Sparaventi

    (Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia (ICMAN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC))

  • Gabriel Navarro

    (Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia (ICMAN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC))

  • Araceli Rodríguez-Romero

    (University of Cádiz)

  • Antonio Tovar-Sánchez

    (Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia (ICMAN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC))

Abstract

Iron plays a crucial role in the high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll Southern Ocean regions, promoting phytoplankton growth and enhancing atmospheric carbon sequestration. In this area, iron-rich Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and baleen whale species, which are among their main predators, play a large role in the recycling of iron. However, penguins have received limited attention despite their representing the largest seabird biomass in the southern polar region. Here, we use breeding site guano volumes estimated from drone images, deep learning-powered penguin census, and guano chemical composition to assess the iron export to the Antarctic waters from one of the most abundant penguin species, the Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus). Our results show that these seabirds are a relevant contributor to the iron remobilization pool in the Southern Ocean. With an average guano concentration of 3 mg iron g−1, we estimate that the Chinstrap penguin population is recycling 521 tonnes iron yr−1, representing the current iron contribution half of the amount these penguins were able to recycle four decades ago, as they have declined by more than 50% since then.

Suggested Citation

  • Oleg Belyaev & Erica Sparaventi & Gabriel Navarro & Araceli Rodríguez-Romero & Antonio Tovar-Sánchez, 2023. "The contribution of penguin guano to the Southern Ocean iron pool," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-37132-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37132-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mathieu Ardyna & Léo Lacour & Sara Sergi & Francesco d’Ovidio & Jean-Baptiste Sallée & Mathieu Rembauville & Stéphane Blain & Alessandro Tagliabue & Reiner Schlitzer & Catherine Jeandel & Kevin Robert, 2019. "Hydrothermal vents trigger massive phytoplankton blooms in the Southern Ocean," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Matthew S. Savoca & Max F. Czapanskiy & Shirel R. Kahane-Rapport & William T. Gough & James A. Fahlbusch & K. C. Bierlich & Paolo S. Segre & Jacopo Clemente & Gwenith S. Penry & David N. Wiley & John , 2021. "Baleen whale prey consumption based on high-resolution foraging measurements," Nature, Nature, vol. 599(7883), pages 85-90, November.
    3. Ratnarajah, Lavenia & Melbourne-Thomas, Jessica & Marzloff, Martin P. & Lannuzel, Delphine & Meiners, Klaus M. & Chever, Fanny & Nicol, Stephen & Bowie, Andrew R., 2016. "A preliminary model of iron fertilisation by baleen whales and Antarctic krill in the Southern Ocean: Sensitivity of primary productivity estimates to parameter uncertainty," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 320(C), pages 203-212.
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