Abstract
The concentration of 12 elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn) has been investigated in the feathers of three species of Ardeidae, namely the Grey Heron Ardea cinerea, the Little Egret Egretta garzetta, and the Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis, all breeding at a colony located in the southern Padana Plain (NW Italy). This study is a first step for an evaluation of possible direct effects of these elements on chicks’ survival and growth rate. Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn were in the range 7–69 mg Kg−1, while lower levels of Pb, Ni, As, and Se (0.27–1.45 mg Kg−1) were measured. Co, Cd, and Cr were close to the method detection limits (MDLs) in all the species. The measured concentrations of the most abundant trace elements, such as Zn and Cu, seem to reflect the geochemical pattern of the background (running water and soil), while Hg concentration is lower and it appears to be biomagnified, particularly in Grey Heron feathers. Its concentration is higher in adults than in chicks, and it differs among the three species, as it is closely related to the fish-based dietary pattern. The measured trace elements’ concentrations are below the threshold levels in all the heron species, and consequently, harmful and acute effects on the local population are unlikely; the conservation status of herons populations in northern Italy is probably more affected by other factors, such as climate changes, altered aquatic environment, and, consequently, food quality.
Highlights
Inorganic elemental pollutants enters the environment due to anthropogenic activities, such as industry, agriculture, and natural processes. They are present in rivers, lagoons, and marshes, which are currently the most threatened aquatic ecosystems in the world [1,2]; some elements persist in the environment for extended periods and, due to their high bioavailability in water [3], they can concentrate through the food chain and negatively affect birds foraging in the aquatic habitats [4,5]
Concentrations in feathers did not change among years (F1,63 = 0.27, p = 0.60), while significant differences occurred among species
The results obtained in the present study confirm that most of the concentrations of the analyzed elements reflect the background concentration, and they are below the threshold levels, i.e., below concentration levels recognized as harmful for life, reproduction, and survival
Summary
Inorganic elemental pollutants enters the environment due to anthropogenic activities, such as industry, agriculture, and natural processes They are present in rivers, lagoons, and marshes, which are currently the most threatened aquatic ecosystems in the world [1,2]; some elements persist in the environment for extended periods and, due to their high bioavailability in water [3], they can concentrate through the food chain and negatively affect birds foraging in the aquatic habitats [4,5]. Exposure to high levels of metals is associated with various neurological, physiological, reproductive, developmental, and behavioral disorders of birds [10,11] It is responsible for oxidative damage, as detoxification and excretion are expensive metabolic processes leading to oxidative stress [12,13]. High concentrations of heavy elements can result in eggshell thinning, reproductive failure and immunosuppression, adverse developmental effects, as well as embryo
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