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Larus - Annual of the Institute of Ornithology Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Vol. 55 No. 1, 2020.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.21857/ypn4oc1kd9

The first analysis of heavy metals in the Grey Heron Ardea cinerea feathers from the Croatian colonies

Dora Bjedov orcid id orcid.org/0000-0003-1059-7907 ; Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek
Alma Mikuška orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-4825-7089 ; Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek
Mirna Velki ; Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek
Zdenko Lončarić ; Department of Agroecology and Environment Protection, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek
Tibor Mikuška ; Croatian Society for Birds and Nature Protection

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Abstract

This study represents the first analysis of heavy metals: lead and cadmium, as well as two metalloids: arsenic and selenium, in the feathers of Grey Herons breeding in Croatia. The Grey Heron was chosen as a model apex predator of the wetland ecosystem due to high trophic level, feeding habits, long lifespan and abundance. Sampling was conducted during the 2019 breeding season in April and May from six Grey Herons colonies in Croatia (Mrsunjski lug, Kopački rit, Piljenice, Kravarsko, Čepin, Slovinci), whose environment is heavily influenced by rivers Danube, Drava and Sava tributaries. The primary and secondary flight feathers were collected under the colonies as shed feathers or from dead birds. The feathers are a suitable non-invasive method for metal and metalloid analysis, and can reflect internal concentrations, depending on the metal. In the Slovinci colony, we measured the highest lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations (2194.53 ± 416.20 μg kg-1 dw and 79.30 ± 9.37 μg kg-1 dw, respectively). The highest arsenic (As) and selenium (Se) concentrations were found in the Čepin colony (359.70 ± 301.46 μg kg-1 dw and 3375.61 ± 2502.80 μg kg-1 dw, respectively). All the measured levels of heavy metals and metalloids are below concentrations that can cause adverse health effects in birds.

Keywords

Biomonitoring; non-invasive sampling; apex predator birds; metal pollution; Croatia

Hrčak ID:

252025

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/252025

Publication date:

1.3.2021.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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