Long term monitoring of pollutants in eggs of Yellow-legged Herring Gull from Capraia island (Tuscan Archipelago)

Abstract

Chlorinated hydrocarbons (hexachlorobenzene, lindane, pp'DDE, polychlorinated biphenyls) and trace elements (Hg, Se, Cd, Pb) were determined in eggs of Yellow-legged Herring Gull (Larus cachinnans) collected in an island of the Tyrrhenian Sea during the period 1981-1986. PCBs levels vary on the average between 30.4μg g(-1) d.w. in 1981 to 56.1 μg g(-1) d.w. in 1983. The capillary chromatograms revealed the presence of about 30 somers of PCBs without significant variations in the eggs of the same year; more than 50% of the residues is made up only three isomers: the 22'44'55', the 22'344'5' and the 22'344'55'. Average DDE residues were 7-8 times lower than those of PCBs and declined during the period (from 9.2 μg g(-1) d.w. in 1981 to 4.5 μg g(-1) d.w. in 1986). Cadmium and lead are present in low concentrations. The average levels of mercury and selenium are around 2-2.5 μg g(-1) d.w., and a cumulative correlation, on a molar basis, exists between these two elements.

Trace Elements in Clutches of Yellow-Legged Gulls, Larus cachinnans, from the Medes Islands, Spain

“…Our results for Hg are in the lower range of values reported for Yellow-legged Gulls in the Mediterranean, while Se levels are similar (see Focardi et al 1988). Nevertheless, most of these samples were taken without considering the relevance of inter-and intraclutch variability sources of heavy metal levels in eggs (see e.g., Becker and Sperveslage 1989, Becker 1992, for L. argentatus, and Morera et al 1997, for L. audouinii).…”

Heavy Metal, Organochlorine Pesticide, and PCB Residues in Eggs and Feathers of Herons Breeding in Northern Italy

“…More data are available for seabirds (e.g., Vannucchi et al 1978;Focardi et al 1980Focardi et al , 1988Lambertini 1982;Renzoni et al 1986;Crivelli et al 1989;Ristow et al 1992), and some data exist for a few other species of aquatic and terrestrial birds (e.g., Viviani et al 1974;Ruiz et al 1979;Cerrati et al 1991;Movalli et al 1995;Movalli and Sangiorgi 1996).…”

Are the toxic sediments deposited at Flix reservoir affecting the Ebro river biota? Purple heron eggs and nestlings as indicators

“…Moreover, feathers reflect the narrower diet offered to the chicks by their parents and, in a small and unknown percentage, the transfer of some of the female's burden into the egg. Accordingly, both samples would be reliable bioindicators, although the lower variability shown by the isotopic data and the higher levels observed in most of the trace elements analysed (except for chromium, but especially selenium, as this element is appreciably transferred to eggs (Focardi et al 1988;Sell 1977) suggest that feather samples may be a more accurate bioindicator. Also, from a conservational perspective, sampling nestling feathers is more respectful to heron populations, provided that sampling protocols follow certain conditions while entering heron colonies, which are highly sensitive to human disturbance.…”