Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the accumulation of heavy metals in wild birds inhabiting marine and coastal national parks in Korea. From February to September 2021, wild bird carcasses were collected from islands in the southern West Sea of Korea: Heuksando, Chilbaldo, Hongdo, Daedundo, Northern West Sea: Mongsanpo Coast and Oeyeondo, and Eastern South Sea: Hongdo, Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do. A total 85 wild bird carcasses from 40 species in 20 families were analyzed for heavy metal concentration including lead, arsenic, chromium, cadmium, manganese, nickel, copper, and zinc. The levels of copper, cadmium, arsenic, lead, and manganese showed significant differences among each species, and each avian species that has over five carcasses collected exhibited the correlation between the species. The analysis between species with similar habitats but ecologically different showed that the concentration of heavy metals measured in this study was comparable or relatively low compared to the previous studies. This study would provide fundamental data to understand the extent of heavy metal exposure in wild birds and its impact on wild birds.
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