Total and methylmercury in soft tissues of white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) collected in Poland.

Elzbieta Kalisinska,Javier B. Melgarejo,Jerzy Golas,Izabella Rzad,Jerzy Gorecki,Anna Okonska,Natalia Lanocha,Halina Budis

doi:10.1007/s13280-014-0533-8

Elzbieta Kalisinska, Javier B. Melgarejo + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-014-0533-8

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Abstract

Mercury (Hg) contamination in piscivorous birds, especially methylmercury (MeHg), has been drawing much attention worldwide in regard to its bioaccumulation and biomagnification in food chains. In this study on Hg in the soft tissues of white-tailed eagles (n = 22) and ospreys (n = 2) from Poland, total Hg (THg) range was 0.15–47.6 while MeHg range was 0.11–8.05 mg kg−1 dry weight. In both species, median THg and MeHg concentrations were lower in the muscle and brain than in the liver and kidney. Median nephric residues were just under 3 and 5 mgTHg kg−1 or 0.9 and 3.7 mgMeHg kg−1 for white-tailed eagle and osprey, respectively. In Norwegian data from the 1970s and in our results, MeHg in the muscle of white-tailed eagle was ~60 % THg (%MeHg = MeHg/THg × 100), lower than in other piscivorous birds. A clear similarity in THg tissue levels was found between Polish and German populations of white-tailed eagles.

Highlights

According to the European Union Bird Directive (2009/147/ EC), the white-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla and osprey Pandion haliaetus are rare protected species of Falconiformes
The white-tailed eagle has its strongholds in Norway and Russia, with significant populations in Sweden, Poland and Germany, with key breeding areas of the osprey in Sweden, Russia and Finland (BirdLife International 2004)
For Hg concentrations in Falconiformes, using soft tissues conversion rates that take into account differences in the tissue moisture

Summary

Introduction

According to the European Union Bird Directive (2009/147/ EC), the white-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla and osprey Pandion haliaetus are rare protected species of Falconiformes. In Europe, breeding populations of white-tailed eagle and osprey are estimated at 5000–6600 and 7600–11 000 pairs, respectively. In Europe, the migratory status of the whitetailed eagle is ‘resident’ or ‘mainly resident’ yet the osprey is full migrant. Both species are long lived and in the wild can live up to 25 years. The eagle matures sexually at 5 years and osprey at 3 years. Both are top predators and their diet is mainly fish, the white-tailed eagle feeds on waterfowl and animal carcasses (Forsman 1999)

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