Pollutant Levels and Their Effects on Mediterranean Seabirds

Lambertini, Marco; Leonzio, Claudio

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-70895-4_21

Cited by 20 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Indeed, Mediterranean biota is known to have high levels of mercury in comparison to equivalent biota in the Atlantic, as has been reported in several studies (e.g. Lambertini & Leonzio 1986, Osborn 1988, Renzoni et al 1998. In addition to natural inputs, local pollution in the study area could explain the unusually high concentrations of mercury even for a Mediterranean context.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

“…This was to be expected since most of the local breeding population of Audouin's gull migrates to the Atlantic coasts of Africa (see Oro 1998), where mercury levels in biota are lower than those in the Mediterranean (e.g. Lambertini & Leonzio 1986, Osborn 1988, Renzoni et al 1998. Furthermore, Audouin's gulls remaining in the study area shift from exploiting discards to mainly feeding upon epipelagic fish at night out of the breeding season (Arcos et al 2001), thus reducing their intake of mercury.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mercury levels in seabirds and their fish prey at the Ebro Delta (NW Mediterranean): the role of trawler discards as a source of contamination

Arcos

Ruíz²,

Bearhop³

et al. 2002

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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We determined mercury levels in internal tissues and feathers from corpses of Audouin's Larus audouinii and yellow-legged gulls L. cachinnans michaellis, common terns Sterna hirundo and European shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii, as well as from fish representative of trawler discards, collected at the Ebro Delta (NW Mediterranean) between March and July (seabird's breeding season) in 1997 to 1999. The levels of mercury were significantly lower in epipelagic (Clupeiforms) than in demersal fish. When representation of each species in the discards is taken into account, the mean mercury concentration from this resource is more than double that of epipelagic fish (the main natural prey for most seabirds in the area). The shag was the only species with direct access to benthic fish, as it can dive to the seabed, and shags presented high levels of mercury even though they do not feed on discards. The other seabirds showed mercury levels in accordance with their seasonal use of discards. Audouin's gull, which exploits discards extensively during the breeding season, had the highest levels in those tissues reflecting mercury intake during the breeding season (liver and 1st primary feathers). In contrast, the common tern makes little use of discards and presented the lowest levels of mercury. For those samples reflecting the intake of mercury during the winter (mantle feathers), when only the yellow-legged gull exploits discards extensively, this species presented the highest values. Audouin's gull and the common tern showed similarly low concentrations of mercury for this period. We conclude that consumption of discarded demersal fish strongly influenced mercury contamination of surface-feeding seabirds.KEY WORDS: Biomonitoring · Diet · Heavy metals · Mediterranean · Seabird-fisheries interactions Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury levels in seabirds and their fish prey at the Ebro Delta (NW Mediterranean): the role of trawler discards as a source of contamination

Arcos

Ruíz²,

Bearhop³

et al. 2002

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…Weseloh and Miller (1999) stated that weekly research activity and illegal shooting and nest destruction were the causes of decline of Double-crested Cormorant's population at the Little Galloo Island in Naher the US Eastern Basin. Some fishing methods such as gill nets and fish traps, illegal persecution, incidental oil spills or illegal washing of tanks, habitat loss, over fishing, predation by introduced mammals, and competition with other species may cause threats to shag population in many parts of the world (Lambertini and Leonzio 1986, Aguilar 1991, European Commission 1999. Besides, common cormorants are affected by oil pollution, caused by shipwrecks or by ships which discharge their oil at sea illegally (Ypte 2013).…”

Section: Causes Of Declinementioning

confidence: 99%

Nesting colonies of little cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger) in different study areas of Bangladesh

Naher

2015

Bangladesh J. Zool.

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“…A serious oil spill during the breeding season near breeding colonies could be disastrous for Audouin's gull, while Balearic shearwaters gather in coastal areas near important harbours during moult and become very vulnerable to oil spills Chemical contamination is heavy in Mediterranean waters and represents a serious hazard for seabirds (Lambertini and Leonzio, 1986). High levels of heavy metals and chlorinated hydrocarbons (including dioxins, coplanar PCBs and dibenzofurans) have been found in Audouin's gull samples.…”

Section: Threats and Limiting Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species Action Plans for the conservation of seabirds in the Mediterranean Sea: Audouin's gull, Balearic shearwater and Mediterranean shag

Gallo-Orsi¹

2003

Sci. Mar.

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SUMMARY: BirdLife International has so far developed Action Plans for 37 bird species. The plans, although not legally binding, have been approved by the Ornis Committee (EU DG Environment) and most of them have also been endorsed by the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention. Three of the species covered by the SAPs are Mediterranean seabirds: Audouin's gull (Larus audouinii), Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) and Mediterranean shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii). The documents, which have been produced through a participatory process involving tens of experts across the range of the taxa, provide information on the biology, ecology and threats, but the most important feature is the list of specific objectives and actions which are ranked according to their priority and urgency. Alongside actions addressing species-specific conservation needs, such as site protection and management, a number of activities aimed at the conservation of these species are common and refer to wide policies such as land-use planning, fishery, tourist development and pollution control. The documents represent the most up-to-date and scientifically-based source of information for planning and implementing conservation activities across the Mediterranean, to be implemented by both governmental and non governmental organisations. -BirdLife International ha desarrollado hasta la fecha planes de acción para 37 especies de aves. Los planes, aunque no son vinculantes, han sido aprobados por el comité Ornis de la Unión Europea y la mayor parte de ellos ha sido ratificados por el comité permanente de la convención de Berna. Tres de las especies que cuentan con planes de acción son aves marinas: la gaviota de Audouin (Larus audouinii), la pardela balear (Puffinus mauretanicus) y el cormorán moñudo del Mediterráneo (Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii). Los documentos, generados a través de un proceso participativo en el que han colaborado decenas de expertos, proporcionan información sobre la biología, ecología y amenazas de las especies aunque el aspecto más importante es el listado de objetivos específicos y acciones que aparecen ordenadas según prioridad y urgencia. Los planes sugieren acciones de amplio espectro, comunes a todas las especies, tales como una correcta ordenación territorial, de la pesca, del desarrollo turístico y el control de la contaminación, junto con acciones referentes a las necesidades de conservación de cada especie, tales como protección y gestión de los lugares de cría. Estos documentos representan la fuente de información más actualizada y con más base científi-ca de que disponemos para llevar a cabo acciones de conservación en el Mediterráneo por parte de las organizaciones gubernamentales o no gubernamentales.Palabras clave: gaviota de Audouin, pardela balear, cormorán moñudo, planes de acción, conservación, Mediterráneo.

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Pollutant Levels and Their Effects on Mediterranean Seabirds

Cited by 20 publications

References 14 publications

Mercury levels in seabirds and their fish prey at the Ebro Delta (NW Mediterranean): the role of trawler discards as a source of contamination

Mercury levels in seabirds and their fish prey at the Ebro Delta (NW Mediterranean): the role of trawler discards as a source of contamination

Nesting colonies of little cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger) in different study areas of Bangladesh

Species Action Plans for the conservation of seabirds in the Mediterranean Sea: Audouin's gull, Balearic shearwater and Mediterranean shag

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