1
|
Hoynes K, Holland AE, Bryan AL, Kupferman CA, Beasley JC. Trace elements and heavy metals in black vultures (Coragyps atratus) and turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) in the southeastern United States. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:9000-9010. [PMID: 38183546 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31722-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Many vulture species worldwide are declining at alarming rates due to a variety of anthropogenic causes, including exposure to pollutants and pharmaceuticals through consumption of contaminated carrion. However, little is known about the extent to which vultures are exposed to various contaminants as well as toxicity thresholds for trace elements and heavy metals. Our objective was to quantify levels of trace elements and heavy metals within black vulture (Coragyps atratus) and turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) tissues to determine the extent to which populations in the Southeastern United States are exposed to carrion that contains high levels of contaminants. We collected 34 black vulture liver samples and examined differences in trace element and heavy metal concentrations between sexes and age classes (adult and juvenile). Further, we collected 81 blood and 42 feather samples from additional black and turkey vultures and compared differences between species and age classes. We found similar element concentrations between juvenile and adult black vultures with the exception of Cu, where levels were higher in juveniles compared to adults. However, we did observe substantial differences in element concentrations between species for both blood and feather samples, with black vultures generally having higher concentrations of most elements. Our data revealed higher element levels in both species compared to toxicity thresholds found in other bird of prey species, such as blood and liver toxicity threshold suggestions for Pb poisoning in Falconiformes. Further, while average contaminant levels were generally low, extreme outliers were observed for some elements, including Pb, suggesting some individuals were exposed to high levels of potentially toxic elements. More research is needed to better understand contaminant exposure in black and turkey vultures across a broader geographic region, as well as elucidate toxicity thresholds and non-lethal impacts of contaminant exposure in these species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaleigh Hoynes
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E. Green St., Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Amanda E Holland
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E. Green St., Athens, GA, 30602, USA
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 2369 W. Orton Circle, Suite 50, West Valley City, UT, 84119, USA
| | - Albert L Bryan
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA
| | - Caitlin A Kupferman
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E. Green St., Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA.
| | - James C Beasley
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E. Green St., Athens, GA, 30602, USA
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Urban vultures preferentially roost at sites surrounded by landscapes with fewer edges between forest and urban development and near water. Urban Ecosyst 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-023-01332-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
|
3
|
Quinby BM, Kluever BM, Burcham GN, Humberg LA, Jones LR, Wahl ML, Zollner PA. Spatial risk modeling of cattle depredation by black vultures in the midwestern United States. J Wildl Manage 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brandon M. Quinby
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Purdue University 195 Marsteller Street West Lafayette IN 47906 USA
| | - Bryan M. Kluever
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center Florida Field Station 2820 East University Avenue Gainesville FL 32641 USA
| | - Grant N. Burcham
- Heeke Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory Dubois IN 47527 USA
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine Purdue University West Lafayette IN 47907 USA
| | - Lee A. Humberg
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services 901 W. State Street West Lafayette IN 47907 USA
| | - Landon R. Jones
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Purdue University 195 Marsteller Street West Lafayette IN 47906 USA
| | - Marian L. Wahl
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Purdue University 195 Marsteller Street West Lafayette IN 47906 USA
| | - Patrick A. Zollner
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Purdue University 195 Marsteller Street West Lafayette IN 47906 USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cunha WA, Freitas ÍN, Gomes LAS, Gonçalves SDO, Montalvão MF, Ahmed MAI, Gomes AR, Luz TMD, Araújo APDC, Malafaia G. From carrion-eaters to plastic material plunderers: Toxicological impacts of plastic ingestion on black vultures, Coragyps atratus (Cathartiformes: Cathartidae). JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 424:127753. [PMID: 34839977 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Despite plastic ingestion has already been reported in several bird species, its physiological impacts have been little inspected, especially in representatives of the Cathartidae family. Thus, in this study, we aimed to identify, characterize, and evaluate the effects arising from the ingestion of plastic materials by Coragyps atratus adults, that captured in landfill areas. Herein, a total of 51 individuals were captured, the frequency of plastic intake being higher than 40%. The plastic materials consisted mainly of low-density polyethylene and film-type polystyrene, as well as presenting irregular shapes and diameters between 10 and 30 mm. Biochemically, we observed in animals that contained plastics in the stomach ("plastic" group) high production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) - especially in the intestine, muscle and brain - whose activity of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) was not sufficient to counteract the oxidative stress. Moreover, in the liver of these same animals, we observed high production of nitrite and nitrate, suggesting a hepatic nitrosative stress. Plus, we observed a cholinesterase effect in animals from the "plastic" group, marked by increased activity of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) (in the brain) and muscle and cerebral acetylcholinesterase (AChE). On the other hand, the biochemical changes perceived were not significantly correlated with the identified plastic material concentrations (2.808 ± 0.598 items/g of stomach content and 0.276 ± 0.070 items/g of stomach - fresh weight), body condition of the animals, size, and shape of the identified plastic materials. Hence, our study sheds the light on the toxicity of plastics deposited in landfills and their ingestion by C. atratus, which reinforces the hypothesis that these materials are harming the health of these birds and, consequently, the dynamics of their populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wallace Alves Cunha
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Conservação de Recursos Naturais do Cerrado, Instituto Federal Goiano - Campus Urutaí, Goiás, Brasil
| | | | - Lux Attiê Santos Gomes
- Laboratório de Pesquisas Biológicas, Instituto Federal Goiano - Campus Urutaí, Goiás, Brasil
| | | | - Mateus Flores Montalvão
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | | | - Alex Rodrigues Gomes
- Laboratório de Pesquisas Biológicas, Instituto Federal Goiano - Campus Urutaí, Goiás, Brasil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Agrárias, Instituto Federal Goiano - Campus Rio Verde, Goiás, Brasil
| | - Thiarlen Marinho da Luz
- Laboratório de Pesquisas Biológicas, Instituto Federal Goiano - Campus Urutaí, Goiás, Brasil
| | - Amanda Pereira da Costa Araújo
- Laboratório de Pesquisas Biológicas, Instituto Federal Goiano - Campus Urutaí, Goiás, Brasil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiás, Brasil
| | - Guilherme Malafaia
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Conservação de Recursos Naturais do Cerrado, Instituto Federal Goiano - Campus Urutaí, Goiás, Brasil; Laboratório de Pesquisas Biológicas, Instituto Federal Goiano - Campus Urutaí, Goiás, Brasil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brasil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia e Biodiversidade, Instituto Federal Goiano and Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiás, Brasil.
| |
Collapse
|