Large-scale geographical variation in eggshell metal and calcium content in a passerine bird (Ficedula hypoleuca).
Birds have been used as bioindicators of pollution, such as toxic metals. Levels of pollutants in eggs are especially interesting, as developing birds are more sensitive to detrimental effects of pollutants than adults. Only very few studies have monitored intraspecific, large-scale variation in metal pollution across a species' breeding range. We studied large-scale geographic variation in metal levels in the eggs of a small passerine, the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), sampled from 15 populations across Europe. We measured 10 eggshell elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Se, Sr, and Ca) and several shell characteristics (mass, thickness, porosity, and color). We found significant variation among populations in eggshell metal levels for all metals except copper. Eggshell lead, zinc, and chromium levels decreased from central Europe to the north, in line with the gradient in pollution levels over Europe, thus suggesting that eggshell can be used as an indicator of pollution levels. Eggshell lead levels were also correlated with soil lead levels and pH. Most of the metals were not correlated with eggshell characteristics, with the exception of shell mass, or with breeding success, which may suggest that birds can cope well with the current background exposure levels across Europe.
Suvi
S
Ruuskanen
Toni
T
Laaksonen
Judith
J
Morales
Juan
J
Moreno
Rafael
R
Mateo
Eugen
E
Belskii
Andrey
A
Bushuev
Antero
A
Järvinen
Anvar
A
Kerimov
Indrikis
I
Krams
Chiara
C
Morosinotto
Raivo
R
Mänd
Markku
M
Orell
Anna
A
Qvarnström
Fred
F
Slate
Vallo
V
Tilgar
Marcel E
ME
Visser
Wolfgang
W
Winkel
Herwig
H
Zang
Tapio
T
Eeva
D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D052284:Clutch Size; D004528:Egg Shell / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005060:Europe; D005843:Geography; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D046109:Passeriformes / Q000502:physiology*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008670:Metals; D001151:Arsenic