Mercury in wetland birds of Iran and Iraq: contrasting resident moorhen, Gallinula chloropus, and migratory Common Teal, Anas crecca, life strategies.
We document mercury distribution in tissues of two waterfowls; moorhen (Gallinula chloropus; n=6), and Common Teal (Anas crecca; n=6) from Shadegan wetlands in Southwestern Iran. Mean value of mercury in moorhen liver was (0.36 Hg microg g(-1) dry weight), Common Teal had (4.34 Hg microg g(-1) dry weight) mercury. In all tissues, Common Teals had significantly higher mercury concentrations than moorhens (U test, p <or= 0.05). Mercury was 12, 9, 8, and 6 times higher in liver, muscle, kidney, and feather of Common Teals. These birds have comparable diets but Common Teals are migratory and moorhens are residents of Shadegan wetlands.
Zamani-Ahmadmahmoodi
Rasool
R
Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Science, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 46414-356, Noor, Mazandaran, Iran. rasoolzamani@yahoo.com
Esmaili-Sari
Abbas
A
Ghasempouri
Seyed Mahmoud
SM
Savabieasfahani
Mozhgan
M
D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D004372:Ducks; D005241:Feathers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D046094:Galliformes; D007492:Iran; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017669:Mercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D053833:Wetlands
D017669:Mercury Compounds