title: Comparative Study of Lead Concentration in Feathers of Urban and Rural Passerines in Merida, Mexico.
abstract: Lead is a commonly monitored heavy metal because of potential health effects on exposed organisms. We quantified lead in secondary feathers of two passerine bird species, clay-colored thrushes (Turdus grayi) and great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus), from an urban and a rural site in the municipality of Merida, Yucatan. Urban lead concentration was significantly higher than its rural counterpart for both species (p < 0.05). In the urban site, lead concentration was similar in both species (p = 0.14). However, data from the rural site showed that lead concentration was significantly higher in thrush feathers (p < 0.05). Lead levels herein presented are among the lowest ever reported suggesting that either lead accumulation or absorption is limited. Finally, our data seem to support the hypothesis that species feeding ecology plays a major role in lead accumulation.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Merida, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.
authors.forename: Remedios
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nava-Diaz
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Merida, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. almirahoo@mda.cinvestav.mx.
authors.forename: Almira L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hoogesteijn
authors.affiliation: Division de Ciencias Exactas, Quimica Analitica y Ambiental y Procesos Industriales, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.
authors.forename: Mercy Dzul
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Erosa
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Merida, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.
authors.forename: Jose L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Febles
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Merida, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Mendez-Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005241:Feathers / Q000737:chemistry*; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008800:Mexico; D046109:Passeriformes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D007854:Lead
keywords: Clay-colored thrush Turdus grayi; Great-tailed grackle Quiscalus mexicanus; Karst system; Lead; Mexico; Yucatan