Analysis of Toxic Heavy Metals in the Pellets of Owls: A Novel Approach for the Evaluation of Environmental Pollutants

Nazneen, Sultan; Jayakumar, S.; Albeshr, Mohammed Fahad; Mahboob, Shahid; Manzoor, Irfan; Pandiyan, Jeganathan; Krishnappa, Kaliyamoorthy; Rajeswary, Mohan; Govindarajan, Marimuthu

doi:10.3390/toxics10110693

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 51 publications

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“…Above 1.8 ppm of Cr has shown adverse effects in birds, but the present study did not observe harmful levels of Cr [29,52,57]. Compared to other studies worldwide, the level of Ni in the waterbirds studied was lower [58,59]. Studies have reported that Ni could affect the pigmentation in feathers and moulting mechanisms when the Ni concentration is exceeded in birds [15][16][17].…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 65%

Heavy Metals in Wetland Ecosystem: Investigating Metal Contamination in Waterbirds via Primary Feathers and Its Effect on Population and Diversity

Pandiyan,

Arumugam,

Al-Ghanim

et al. 2023

Soil Systems

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Wetlands are dynamic ecosystems that provide feeding and nesting grounds for diverse species of waterbirds. The quality of wetland habitat may have an impact on the density, diversity, and species richness of waterbirds. Toxic metal contamination is one of the most significant threats to wetland habitats. Feathers are a key indicator of heavy metal contamination in avian communities as a non-invasive method. We examined the levels of Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Nickel (Ni), and Zinc (Zn) using ICP-AAS and standards of digestion procedure from the primary feathers of 10 distinct species of waterbirds. The study was conducted at four wetlands, viz., Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary (Ramsar site); Pallikaranai Marshland (Ramsar site); Perunthottam freshwater lake (unprotected wetland), Tamil Nadu and the Pulicat Lake, Andhra Pradesh, (Ramsar site), India. The Large crested tern had higher concentrations of As, Co, Cr, and Ni. Cu was greater in the Indian pond heron, and Zn was higher in the Grey heron. The accumulation of metals differed among the waterbirds (p < 0.05), and the inter-correlation of metals found positive influences between the tested metals, i.e., Co was positively associated with As, Cr had a positive correlation with As and Co, and Ni was positively correlated with As, Co, Cr, and Cu. In contrast, Pb had a positive association with Cu and Ni. The Zn was associated with Co, Cr and Cu. The level of metals in waterbirds was Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > Co > Cd > As. The results showed that metal levels in the primary feathers of waterbirds were greater than the other species of waterbirds examined across the world. Thus, the study emphasizes that managing wetlands and controlling pollution is crucial to saving waterbirds; otherwise, the population and diversity of waterbirds will decline and become a significant threat to waterbird communities.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 65%

Heavy Metals in Wetland Ecosystem: Investigating Metal Contamination in Waterbirds via Primary Feathers and Its Effect on Population and Diversity

Pandiyan,

Arumugam,

Al-Ghanim

et al. 2023

Soil Systems

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The predictive model of hydrobiological diversity in the Asana-Tumilaca basin, Peru based on water physicochemical parameters and sediment metal content

Flores del Pino,

Carrasco Apaza,

Caro Sánchez Benites

et al. 2024

Heliyon

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Status assessment and conservation priorities for a circumpolar raptor: the Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus

McCabe,

Aarvak,

Aebischer

et al. 2024

Bird Conservation International

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Summary The global population and status of Snowy Owls Bubo scandiacus are particularly challenging to assess because individuals are irruptive and nomadic, and the breeding range is restricted to the remote circumpolar Arctic tundra. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) uplisted the Snowy Owl to “Vulnerable” in 2017 because the suggested population estimates appeared considerably lower than historical estimates, and it recommended actions to clarify the population size, structure, and trends. Here we present a broad review and status assessment, an effort led by the International Snowy Owl Working Group (ISOWG) and researchers from around the world, to estimate population trends and the current global status of the Snowy Owl. We use long-term breeding data, genetic studies, satellite-GPS tracking, and survival estimates to assess current population trends at several monitoring sites in the Arctic and we review the ecology and threats throughout the Snowy Owl range. An assessment of the available data suggests that current estimates of a worldwide population of 14,000–28,000 breeding adults are plausible. Our assessment of population trends at five long-term monitoring sites suggests that breeding populations of Snowy Owls in the Arctic have decreased by more than 30% over the past three generations and the species should continue to be categorised as Vulnerable under the IUCN Red List Criterion A2. We offer research recommendations to improve our understanding of Snowy Owl biology and future population assessments in a changing world.

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Analysis of Toxic Heavy Metals in the Pellets of Owls: A Novel Approach for the Evaluation of Environmental Pollutants

Cited by 3 publications

References 51 publications

Heavy Metals in Wetland Ecosystem: Investigating Metal Contamination in Waterbirds via Primary Feathers and Its Effect on Population and Diversity

Heavy Metals in Wetland Ecosystem: Investigating Metal Contamination in Waterbirds via Primary Feathers and Its Effect on Population and Diversity

The predictive model of hydrobiological diversity in the Asana-Tumilaca basin, Peru based on water physicochemical parameters and sediment metal content

Status assessment and conservation priorities for a circumpolar raptor: the Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus

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