THE MERCURY (Hg) CONCENTRATIONS IN FEATHERS OF WILD BIRDS

Abstract

Abstract. In this study, mercury (Hg) concentrations were detected in feathers of 22 bird species from 10 different families living in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in Van Lake Basin in Turkey. The mercury rates in feathers were detected based on nutrition status and taxonomic classifications of bird species. Mercury levels were detected in 0.002 ± 0.007 mg/kg and 2.700 ± 0.560 mg/kg dry weight range. It was observed that there was a significant difference between the groups classified taxonomically (p < 0.05). The highest concentrations were detected in European Honey-buzzard (Pernis apivorus) 2.7 mg/kg, Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus) 0.45 mg/kg and Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) 0.28 mg/kg species from Accipitridae family. And the lowest mercury concentration was detected in Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) from the same family (0.002 ± 0.007 mg/kg). Mercury was detected in the feather samples taken from the Egyptian Vulture, Lammergeier, Northern Lapwing, and Great Bustard, and these species were determined to be within different endangered categories according to the International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN). Considering the trophic level (type of food) and systematic groups of the sampled species, it was determined that average mercury level was statistically significant in both cases. It was suggested that the mercury level of the carnivorous ones were higher than that of the herbivorous ones.

"Comparative Study on Bioaccumulation of Lead (Pb) in Some Birds and Plant Species in Rapidly Degrading Mining Sites in Three Selected Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State, Central Nigeria"

“…Nonetheless, the differences in Pb concentration between the six feeding guilds were not significant (F 84 = 1.381, Ad-justed R 2 = 0.02093, P = 0.2399, Figure 6). This is not in agreement with the finding of Durmus [56], whose evaluation revealed variation in heavy metal concentration across bird feeding guilds, in which the carnivorous birds had the highest heavy metal concentration. Similarly, Ombugadu, et al [23] reported a remarkable difference in Pb concentration among feeding guilds of birds within the Amurum Forest Reserve in Jos, Plateau State.…”

“…The high concentration of Pb in Shikra birds may possibly be due to their position in the trophic level (type of food) and the systematics of the sampled species. This present study agrees with the finding of Durmus [56], which showed that members of the Accipitridae family highly accumulated heavy metals in the Van Lake Basin in Turkey. The Shikra bird in this study belongs to the family Accipitridae, which is worthy of note.…”

Feathers of Bulbulcus ibis (L.) as a non-destructive biomonitoring tool for assessment of lead pollution: A case study from various severely contaminated wetland habitats

“…The sampling site of Chilika is the North part of the lagoon where River Daya and its canals end and covered by the runoffs of the river. So this may be the reason for high Pb concentration in the sediments [14][15][16]. The heronry of site 2 is around 300 mtrs away from the Hirakud Reservoir present in Western Odisha.…”

Mercury in the feathers of Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) from Western Carpathian, Slovakia

“…Red triangle points to the adverse effect, the limit of which has been established by laboratory studies reviewed by Eisler (1987) by their relatively high trophic position in the food chain. For example, Durmuş (2018) focused on mercury concentrations in the feathers of wild birds. The family Accipitridae, including golden eagles, had significantly higher Hg concentrations (x̄ = 0.432 mg/kg) compared to other bird families.…”