Metal levels in feathers of cormorants, flamingos and gulls from the coast of Namibia in southern Africa.
Environ Monit Assess
; 69(2): 195-203, 2001 Jun.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11465667
ABSTRACT
Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, selemium, and tin concentrations were measured in the feathers of Cape cormorant (Phalacrocorax capensis), Hartlaub's gull (Larus hartlaubii), kelp gull (Larus dominicanus), and lesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) from the coast of Namibia in southern Africa. Metal concentrations in feathers represent the concentrations in the blood supply at the time of feather formation. Cape Cormorants are piscivores; kelp gulls are primarily piscivores; Hartlaub's gull is an omnivore; and lesser flamingos eat primarily blue-green algae and invertebrates filtered from the water and sediment of hypersaline lagoons. We predicted that metal concentrations would reflect these trophic level differences. There were significant species differences in the concentrations of all metals, with flamingos having the lowest levels, and cormorants having the highest levels of 4 metals but not mercury. The gulls had the highest levels of mercury, perhaps reflecting their more scavenging behavior.
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Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Contaminantes del Suelo
/
Oligoelementos
/
Aves
/
Plumas
/
Plomo
Límite:
Animals
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Environ Monit Assess
Asunto de la revista:
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
Año:
2001
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos