title: Metals in tissues of migrant semipalmated sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) from Delaware Bay, New Jersey.
abstract: There is an abundance of field data on levels of metals for feathers in a variety of birds, but relatively few data for tissues, especially for migrant species from one location. In this paper we examine the levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury and selenium in muscle, liver, brain, fat and breast feathers from migrant semipalmated sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) collected from Delaware Bay, New Jersey. Our primary objectives were to (1) examine variation as a function of tissue, (2) determine the relationship of metal levels among tissues, and (3) determine the selenium:mercury molar ratio in different tissues since selenium is thought to protect against mercury toxicity. We were also interested in whether the large physiological changes that occur while shorebirds are on Delaware Bay (e.g. large weight gains in 2-3 weeks) affected metal levels, especially in the brain. There were significant differences among tissues for all metals. The brain had the lowest levels of arsenic and cadmium, and was tied for the lowest levels of all other metals except lead and selenium. Correlations among metals in tissues were varied, with mercury levels being positively correlated for muscle and brain, and for liver and breast feathers. Weights vary among individuals at the Delaware Bay stopover, as they arrive light, and gain weight prior to migration north. Bird weight and levels of arsenic, cadmium, and selenium in the brain were negatively correlated, while they were positively correlated for lead. There was no positive correlation for mercury in the brain as a function of body weight. The selenium:mercury molar ratio varied significantly among tissues, with brain (ratio of 141) and fat having the highest ratios, and liver and breast feathers having the lowest. In all cases, the ratio was above 21, suggesting the potential for amelioration of mercury toxicity.
authors: Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Piscataway, NJ, USA. Electronic address: burger@biology.rutgers.edu.
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Burger
authors: Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Piscataway, NJ, USA; Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Rutgers RWJ Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Gochfeld
authors: Conserve Wildlife, 109 Market Lane, Greenwich, NJ, USA.
authors: Lawrence
authors: L
authors: Niles
authors: NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Endangered and Nongame Species Program, Trenton, NJ, USA.
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Dey
authors: Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Piscataway, NJ, USA.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Jeitner
authors: Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Piscataway, NJ, USA.
authors: Taryn
authors: T
authors: Pittfield
authors: New Jersey Audubon Society, 11 Hardscrabble Rd, Bernardsville, NJ, USA.
authors: Nellie
authors: N
authors: Tsipoura
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry; D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D046091:Charadriiformes; D005241:Feathers / Q000737:chemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D009132:Muscles / Q000737:chemistry; D009515:New Jersey; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Arsenic; Brain; Lead; Mercury; Selenium:mercury molar ratio; Shorebirds