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Age, sex and spatial dependent variations in heavy metals levels in the Glaucous Gulls (Larus hyperboreus) from the Bjørnøya and Jan Mayen, Arctic

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Abstract

Heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) concentrations were determined in different tissues (muscle, kidney, liver, brain, gonads, heart and feathers) of Glaucous Gulls (Larus hyperboreus) from Bjørnøya and Jan Mayen. The age and spatial dependent variations in heavy metals were quantified and interpreted in view of the three chemometric techniques, i.e. non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test, redundancy gradient analysis and detrended correspondence analysis. The Glaucous Gulls from Bjørnøya contained significantly higher (p < 0.05) levels of Cd, Cu and Zn than those inhabited Jan Mayen. Adult birds were characterized by greater (p < 0.01) concentration of muscle, hepatic and renal heavy metals in comparison to chicks. Insignificantly higher slope constant Zn/Cd for the liver than for the kidney may reflect insignificant Cd exposure. Estimate of transfer factor (TF) allows us to assess variations in heavy metal concentrations during the individual development of Glaucous Gulls. It may be stated that there is a distinct increase of bioaccumulation of all the studied metals during subsequent stages of the bird life.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk, Legionów 9, 80-441, Gdańsk, Poland

    Michał Malinga

  2. Department of Food Sciences, Medical University of Gdańsk, Al. Gen. J. Hallera 107, 80-416, Gdańsk, Poland

    Piotr Szefer

  3. The Polar Environmental Centre, Norwegian Polar Institute, 9296, Tromsø, Norway

    Geir W. Gabrielsen

Authors
  1. Michał Malinga
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  2. Piotr Szefer
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  3. Geir W. Gabrielsen
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Correspondence to Piotr Szefer.

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Malinga, M., Szefer, P. & Gabrielsen, G.W. Age, sex and spatial dependent variations in heavy metals levels in the Glaucous Gulls (Larus hyperboreus) from the Bjørnøya and Jan Mayen, Arctic. Environ Monit Assess 169, 407–416 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-1183-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-1183-3

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