Persistent organic pollutants and inorganic elements in the Balearic shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus wintering off Portugal.
This study presents the first data on trace element and organic pollutant concentrations in the Critically Endangered Balearic shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus collected in 2010 and 2011 in Portugal. Trace element levels were below the threshold levels for adverse effects on birds, despite the Hg concentrations in feathers (4.35μg·g-1ww). No significant differences were detected between individuals from 2010 and 2011 except for Se concentrations in liver, feathers and muscle (higher in 2010) and Ag in liver and muscle (higher in 2011). No significant differences were detected in total concentrations of organochlorine compounds in Balearic shearwaters between years, although PCB congeners -101 and -180 presented higher concentrations in individuals from 2010. The PCB congeners -138, -153 and -180, and 4.4-DDE were detected in all individuals. This study on toxic elements and organic pollutants in wintering Balearic shearwaters provides baseline data from which deviations can be detected in the future.
Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: rute.costa@ua.pt.
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Costa
Laboratori de Parasitologia, Departament de Biología, Sanitat i Medi Ambient. Universitat de Barcelona.
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Torres
Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, Estação de Campo de Quiaios, Apartado 16 EC Quiaios, 3081-101 Figueira da Foz, Portugal.
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Vingada
Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, Estação de Campo de Quiaios, Apartado 16 EC Quiaios, 3081-101 Figueira da Foz, Portugal.
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Eira
D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005241:Feathers / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D011174:Portugal; D012621:Seasons; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis; D012834:Silver / Q000032:analysis; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D012834:Silver; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium
Baseline data; Endangered; Pollution; Seabirds; Wintering range