Comparisons of nine heavy metals in salt gland and liver of greater scaup (Aythya marila), black duck (Anas rubripes) and mallard (A. platyrhynchos)

https://doi.org/10.1016/0742-8413(85)90007-6Get rights and content

Abstract

  • 1.

    1. Levels of nine heavy metals were measured in the livers and salt glands of greater scaup (Aythya marila), black duck (Anas rubripes) and mallard (A. platyrhynchos) from Raritan Bay, New Jersey to determine if the functioning avian salt gland concentrates heavy metals.

  • 2.

    2. Heavy metals examined were cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, manganese, nickel and zinc.

  • 3.

    3. Heavy metal levels varied significantly by species and tissue for chromium, copper, lead, and manganese, and by tissue for cobalt, mercury, nickel and zinc.

  • 4.

    4. In comparing tissues cobalt was higher in the salt glands than in livers of all three species; chromium and nickel were higher in the salt gland than liver for mallard and black duck; and lead, manganese and zinc were higher in the liver than the salt gland in greater scaup.

  • 5.

    5. Generally metal levels were higher in the salt gland for mallard and black duck, and in the liver for greater scaup.

References (44)

  • J. Burger et al.

    Waterbirds on Raritan Bay: a preliminary analysis of their distribution and heavy metals levels

    Bull. New Jersey Acad. Sci.

    (1984)
  • R. Cody et al.

    Applied Statistics and the SAS Programming Language

    (1984)
  • P.G. Connors et al.

    Investigation of heavy metals in common tern population

    Can. Field Natural.

    (1975)
  • S.E. Cornelius

    Wetland salinity and salt gland size in the redhead Aythya americana

    Auk

    (1982)
  • E.P.A.

    Interim methods for the sampling and analysis of priority pollutants in sediments and fish tissues

  • P.R. Evans et al.

    Heavy metals in shore birds and their prey in northeast England

  • M.T. Finley et al.

    Toxicity of experimental lead-iron shot versus commercial lead shot in mallards

    J. Wildl. Mgmt

    (1978)
  • M.T. Finley et al.

    Survival and reproductive success of black ducks fed methyl mercury

    Envir. Poll.

    (1978)
  • H. Fisher

    Nutrition

  • W.J. Fleming

    Environmental metal residues in tissues of canvasbacks

    J. Wildl. Mgmt

    (1981)
  • M. Gochfeld et al.

    Biological concentration of cadmium in estuarine birds of New York Bight

    Colonial Waterbirds

    (1982)
  • Gochfeld M. and Burger J. Heavy metal concentrations in the liver of three duck species: influence of species and sex....
  • Cited by (41)

    • Evidence of accumulation and elimination of inorganic contaminants from the lachrymal salt glands of leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea)

      2019, Chemosphere
      Citation Excerpt :

      Rarely do studies attempt to quantify contaminant concentrations in prey items in an effort to document exposure (Talavera-Saenz et al., 2007; Perrault, 2014) or accumulation and/or elimination through less well-studied organs or waste matter (e.g., salt gland, feces; Sakai et al., 2000b; Perrault, 2012). One potential source of elimination of inorganic contaminants in marine animals is through the salt gland (Burger and Gochfeld, 1985; Sakai et al., 2000b; Perrault, 2012). These bilaterally paired glands are found in marine reptiles and seabirds, with elasmobranchs possessing an unpaired rectal gland with a similar function.

    • Trace elements in unconventional animals: A 40-year experience

      2017, Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology
      Citation Excerpt :

      Zn and Cu concentrations in liver and kidney of the species considered are indicative of low environmental exposure. For Zn, values ranged from 93.1 to 40.5 μg/g wet weight in the liver and from 45.5 to 20.8 μg/g wet weight in the kidney and are similar to those reported by other authors [39] [40]. The homogeneity of Zn concentrations in liver and kidney of birds with different feeding habits living in different habitats could be related to Zn’s essential role in a wide range of biochemical systems [41].

    • Effects of breeding habitat (woodland versus urban) and metal pollution on the egg characteristics of great tits (Parus major)

      2016, Science of the Total Environment
      Citation Excerpt :

      Pollution may cause negative effects on their immunocompetence, oxidative status and reproductive performance (Scheuhammer, 1987; Burger, 1995; Eeva and Lehikoinen, 1995; Janssens et al., 2003; Snoeijs et al., 2004, Vermeulen et al., 2015). Metals can be excreted through faeces and gland excreta or by depositing them into feathers (Burger and Gochfeld, 1985; Burger, 1993; Eens et al., 1999). Additionally, female birds may eliminate pollutants through depositing them into the eggs, thus making the eggs suitable bioindicators of pollution (Burger, 1994; Dauwe et al., 1999, 2005; Ruuskanen et al., 2014).

    • A review on exposure and effects of arsenic in passerine birds

      2015, Science of the Total Environment
      Citation Excerpt :

      In birds, arsenic can be sequestered in feathers during molt (Geens et al., 2010; Janssens et al., 2001), and females can eliminate it by transferring it in their eggs and eggshells during the breeding season (Orłowski et al., 2010; Ruuskanen et al., 2014; Tsipoura et al., 2008). Birds can also rid the body of metals by depositing them in the uropygial gland and the salt gland (Burger and Gochfeld, 1985; Salibian and Montalti, 2009). Several studies support both feces and feathers of passerines as good non-destructive matrices for As monitoring (Berglund et al., 2011; Costa et al., 2013; Janssens et al., 2001; Rainio et al., 2013).

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text