Trace elements concentrations in Buff-breasted Sandpiper sampled in Lagoa do Peixe National Park, Southern Brazil.

E Barbieri,A L Scherer,V H Valiati,M V Petry,J F M Scherer

doi:10.1590/1519-6984.02914

Abstract

Cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel, zinc and lead concentrations were detected in feathers of Buff-breasted Sandpipers (Calidris subruficollis) captured during the non-breeding season and analyzed with relationship to body mass. Of these metals tested for, only copper levels (2.28 µg/g) were positively correlated with bird body mass. Zinc levels showed higher concentration (67.97 µg/g) than the other metals, and cadmium levels showed the lowest concentration (0.14 µg/g). Trace element concentrations were below toxicity levels for all tested chemicals and we suggest that this probably reflects that essential elements are maintained there by normal homeostatic mechanism and that no excessive environmental exposure to these elements during migration or on the wintering area is suggested by these results.

Highlights

Habitats selected by shorebirds along their migration routes are diverse and vary in quality with relation to species eating requirements, availability and productivity of food resources, and foraging tactics), as well as risk of predation while on the site (Lunardi et al, 2012)
Shorebird catches were conducted in pasturelands in the Lagoa do Peixe National Park (LPNP) (31° 15’ 19” S, 050° 58’ 19” W) in spring 2011
Pearson correlation tests showed that copper was positively correlated with Buff-breasted Sandpiper body mass (r = 0.375, p = 0.045)

Summary

Introduction

Habitats selected by shorebirds along their migration routes are diverse and vary in quality with relation to species eating requirements, availability and productivity of food resources, and foraging tactics), as well as risk of predation while on the site (Lunardi et al, 2012). Birds are more susceptible to contamination, given that they are exposed to different environments along the flyway (Hargreaves et al, 2010; Torres-Dowdall et al, 2010). High level contamination by trace metal elements may negatively affect the reproduction and the general health of some birds (Dauwe et al, 2004), as well as may cause death of individuals (Bull et al, 1983). In this way, anthropogenic factors, such as chemicals and pollutants, can contribute to causing continental level declines of migrant shorebird populations (Zöckler et al, 2003).

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