Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/10773/28531
Title: | European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) populations under arsenic and metal stress: evaluation of exposure at a mining site |
Author: | Lopes, I. Sedlmayr, A. Moreira-Santos, M. Moreno-Garrido, I. Blasco, J. Ribeiro, R. |
Keywords: | Merops apiaster Metals Feathers Pellets Acid mine drainage |
Issue Date: | Feb-2010 |
Publisher: | Springer |
Abstract: | Two populations of the European bee-eater were studied, one living at a reference site and the other at a metal mining site. The concentration of arsenic and 11 metals (Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) was measured in feathers and regurgitated pellets collected at both sites. Cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, and lead were at least twofold higher in feathers of birds from the contaminated site than in the reference site, suggesting that this population was exposed to higher metal levels. Similarly, levels of aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, iron, and lead were also at least twofold higher in pellets from the contaminated area. The obtained results suggested that the impacted population of Merops apiaster is at risk due to the exposure to some metals. |
Peer review: | yes |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10773/28531 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s10661-008-0741-4 |
ISSN: | 0167-6369 |
Appears in Collections: | CESAM - Artigos DBio - Artigos |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lopes et al. - 2010 - European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) populations u.pdf | 449.11 kB | Adobe PDF |
Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.