Variability of Mercury and Selenium Levels in Clutches of Audouin's Gulls (Larus audouinii) Breeding at the Chafarinas Islands, Southwest Mediterranean

Sanpera, Carola; Morera, M.; Ruíz, Xavier; Jover, Lluís

doi:10.1007/s002440010087

Cited by 51 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…the eggshell was retained in an unwashed eggshell condition to act as a paired control for the other half of the eggshell, which received various cleaning treatments. Similar to previous studies, we observed that THg concentrations in eggshells were significantly lower than egg contents [4,5,9,13], but only 1 prior study had examined where Hg within the eggshell (different eggshell compartments) was actually contained [9]. Total Hg concentrations for the different egg and eggshell components varied among species; and for each species, the highest THg concentrations were observed within the egg contents, followed by inner eggshell membranes, unwashed eggshells, and lastly washed eggshells, with or without their inner membranes removed.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

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A critical evaluation of the utility of eggshells for estimating mercury concentrations in avian eggs

Peterson

Ackerman

Eagles‐Smith

et al. 2017

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

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Eggshells are a potential tool for nonlethally sampling contaminant concentrations in bird eggs, yet few studies have examined their utility to represent mercury exposure. We assessed mercury concentrations in eggshell components for 23 bird species and determined whether they correlated with total mercury (THg) in egg contents. We designed a multi-experiment analysis to examine how THg is partitioned into eggshell components, specifically hardened eggshells, material adhered to the eggshells, and inner eggshell membranes. The THg concentrations in eggshells were much lower than in egg contents, and almost all of the THg within the eggshell was contained within material adhered to eggshells and inner eggshell membranes, and specifically not within calcium-rich hardened eggshells. Despite very little mercury in hardened eggshells, THg concentrations in hardened eggshells had the strongest correlation with egg contents among all eggshell components. However, species with the same THg concentrations in eggshells had different THg concentrations in egg contents, indicating that there is no global predictive equation among species for the relationship between eggshell and egg content THg concentrations. Furthermore, for all species, THg concentrations in eggshells decreased with relative embryo age. Although the majority of mercury in eggshells was contained within other eggshell components and not within hardened eggshells, THg in hardened eggshells can be used to estimate THg concentrations in egg contents, if embryo age and species are addressed. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2417-2427. Published 2017 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…We observed that THg concentrations in eggshells were positively correlated with those of egg contents, as in other studies [4,5,13]. However, we found that relationships were not consistent among species and varied depending on how the eggshells were cleaned and the age of the embryo.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

A critical evaluation of the utility of eggshells for estimating mercury concentrations in avian eggs

Peterson

Ackerman

Eagles‐Smith

et al. 2017

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

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“…3). Concentrations were of the same order of magnitude as those reported in other studies in Audouin's eggs from the Ebro Delta during 1992 (5.05 ± 1.5 mg/kg dw; Morera et al 1997) and 1994 (5.0 ± 1.54 mg/kg dw; Sanpera et al 2000), suggesting Hg accumulation has remained fairly unchanged for the past c. 25 years.…”

Section: Comparison Between Hg Concentrations In Audouin's and Yellowsupporting

confidence: 82%

Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Mercury in Gulls Eggs from the Iberian Peninsula

Pereira

Lawlor

Bertolero³

et al. 2018

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

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We examined how coastal mercury contamination varied spatially and temporally across the Iberian Peninsula by measuring mercury concentrations in the eggs of the sentinel biomonitor yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis). Samples were collected from eight colonies that ranged from the Atlantic across the south and northern areas of the Mediterranean. We also measured Hg residues in eggs of the one of the most endangered gull species in the world, the Audouin's gull (Larus audouinii) from the Ebro Delta, where colonies of yellow-legged and Audouin's gull co-occur. Fresh eggs were collected in 2009 and 2016 and samples were pooled from each colony for analysis. Mercury concentrations in yellow-legged gulls ranged between 0.4 and 2.8 mg/kg dry weight (dw); although there were no significant differences in concentrations between sampling periods, significant differences were found between colonies. Higher concentrations were associated with northern Mediterranean colonies (Columbretes and Ebro Delta), likely due to proximity to emission sources, circulatory marine currents and diet composition. Mercury concentrations in yellow-legged gull eggs were lower than those reported to result in impaired hatching. Residues in Audouin's gull eggs from the Ebro Delta were significantly higher (4.0-5.6 mg/kg dw) than those in yellow-legged gull from the same location, probably associated with dietary differences. Mercury levels in Audouin's gull were ten times above the benchmark suggested to reduce nest success by 10%. Overall, these results raise concern for adverse health impacts in this protected seabird species and further investigation in Audouin's gull eggs from the Ebro Delta is recommended.

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“…However the other four metals in feathers (Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb) showed little or no variations within and between the districts. According to ANOVA test, significant differences (0.05) were found for metals ( [5][6][7][8][9][10]. No significant relationships were found between the metals in vulture sample concentrations and their death.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…generate serious toxicological problems. All these heavy metals can hamper the reproductive output or even cause death [7], constituting a serious threat to the survival of wild bird species [8]. As a result of bioaccumulation, raptor species can accumulate high levels of metals, and it is known that once metals enter a bird, these elements can be stored in internal tissues such as the kidney and the liver [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy Metal Concentrations in Feathers of Critically Endangered Long-Billed Vultures (Gyps Indicus) in Bundelkhand Region, India

Kushwaha¹

2016

IJLSSR

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Apart from the high trophic status, many birds of prey are territorial, non-migratory and live long lives, and so pollutant burdens recorded in soft body tissue, bones, feathers and eggs are likely to reflect chemical contamination within their extended home ranges. These local, upper trophic level species are believed to be especially vulnerable to metals and play a very important role as environmental contamination indicators. The concentration of Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn) and Iron (Fe) were determined in feather samples of Long-billed vultures (Gyps indicus) (n = 100) collected from Tikamgarh, Lalitpur, Shivpuri, Chanderi and Panna Districts of Bundelkhand Region during 2007-2011. Sample preparation and analyses of metals were performed in the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly. Metal level in the samples was analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS 4141, ECIL, Hyderabad, India) wavelength of 229.5 nm (detection limit 0.005 µg/mL) and 217 nm (detection limit 0.025 µg/mL), respectively with 6mA current. The concentration of Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Fe determined in all the feathers collected from five sites was within the range of 0.1µg/g-0.4 µg/g, 0.47µg/g-6.4 µg/g, 2.9µg/g-8.11µg/g, 9 µg/g-21.4 µg/g and 18.3µg/g-194.9µg/g respectively According to ANOVA test, significant differences (0.05) were found for metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn and Fe) in all feathers from Tikamgarh, Lalitpur, Shivpuri, Chanderi and Panna. When the metal toxicity results in feathers were seen district wise (Tikamgarh, Lalitpur, Shivpuri, Chanderi and Panna) no significant variance were reported in the occurrence of metals. No significant relationships were found between the metals in feather sample concentrations and their death. It can therefore be concluded that the metal concentrations are much below the lethal toxic levels and had no affect on the health of the dead vultures. The results of this study allowed concluding that the Long-billed vultures in the study area were not exposed to metal poisoning. The absence of linkage between the metal toxicity and vulture mortalities is not unexpected when consulted with other previous studies.

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Variability of Mercury and Selenium Levels in Clutches of Audouin's Gulls (Larus audouinii) Breeding at the Chafarinas Islands, Southwest Mediterranean

Cited by 51 publications

References 30 publications

A critical evaluation of the utility of eggshells for estimating mercury concentrations in avian eggs

A critical evaluation of the utility of eggshells for estimating mercury concentrations in avian eggs

Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Mercury in Gulls Eggs from the Iberian Peninsula

Heavy Metal Concentrations in Feathers of Critically Endangered Long-Billed Vultures (Gyps Indicus) in Bundelkhand Region, India

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