engleski

First analysis of heavy metals in Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) feathers from Croatian colonies

This study represents the first analysis of heavy metals: lead and cadmium, as well as two metalloids: arsenic and selenium, in the feath- ers 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.

biomonitoring, non-invasive sampling, apex predator birds, metal pollution, Croatia

nije evidentirano