1
|
Burger J, Feigin S, Fojtik A, Dey A, Ng K. Bioaccumulation of Some Metals and Metalloids in Laughing Gulls ( Leucophaeus atricilla): Increases in Mercury and Decreases in Selenium from 2019 to 2022/2023. TOXICS 2023; 11:1007. [PMID: 38133408 PMCID: PMC10748039 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11121007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The elements in blood normally reflect the levels in prey, indicating a recent exposure. Laughing gulls (Leucophaes atricilla) eat mainly horseshoe crab eggs (Limulus polyphemus) in the spring in Delaware Bay, New Jersey. The levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and selenium (Se) in the blood of laughing gulls foraging on crab eggs were examined in Delaware Bay to provide information on a species that is normally a generalist, and to determine if the levels of these elements were similar in 2019 and 2022/2023, were intercorrelated, and were related to those in crab eggs. Hg increased from 2019 (136 ± 31 ng/g) to 2022/2023 (473 ± 75 ng/g), while Cd and Se decreased. There were some significant correlations among elements and a close relationship between the element levels in blood and those in crab eggs collected in the same month (except for As). The levels differed between laughing gulls and three species of shorebirds for As and Cd. The elements in the blood of gulls and shorebirds should be similar because they eat mainly the same eggs in the same places. A significant proportion of laughing gull blood samples had levels of Hg and Se that were above the levels associated with adverse effects, which requires further examination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Burger
- Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA;
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Environmental Science Graduate Program, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA;
- Ecology and Evolution Graduate Program, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA
| | - Stephanie Feigin
- Environmental Science Graduate Program, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA;
- Wildlife Restoration Partnerships, 109 Market Lane, Greenwich, NJ 08323, USA
| | - Alinde Fojtik
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, 589 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30677, USA;
| | - Amanda Dey
- 109 Market Lane, Greenwich, NJ 08323, USA;
| | - Kelly Ng
- Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA;
- Ecology and Evolution Graduate Program, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Burger J, Feigin S, Ng K, Jeitner C, Tsipoura N, Niles L, Gochfeld M. Some metals and metalloids in the blood of three species of shorebirds increase while foraging during two-week migratory stopover in Delaware Bay, New Jersey. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 238:117194. [PMID: 37748669 PMCID: PMC10841762 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Most migratory shorebird species are declining, some are endangered, and some may be vulnerable to contaminants on long distance travel between wintering grounds and high latitude breeding grounds. We examined whether shorebirds accumulated trace elements at the Delaware Bay (New Jersey) stopover by testing the null hypothesis that there was no difference in the levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and selenium in blood of three species of shorebirds collected early in their stopover compared to levels in blood collected about two weeks later near the end of the stopover, before departing for breeding grounds. There were significantly higher levels of all metals and metalloids in the blood of ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres) later in May than earlier. There were seasonal increases in blood levels of arsenic and selenium for all three species. Chromium and lead levels also increased in red knots (Calidris canutus). These increases occurred although the birds were only present for about two weeks. Levels of arsenic, mercury, and lead in knots and selenium in sanderlings (Calidrris alba), exceeded reported effects levels. These results have potential implications for studying the refueling physiology, energetics, and feeding behavior of migratory shorebirds. However, they also suggest cause for concern because the increased contaminant loads occur in a short period, and the high metal level bolus received all in a few days may result in adverse effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Burger
- Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854-8082, USA; Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Piscataway, New Jersey, 08854, USA; Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA; Environmental Science Graduate Program, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08903, USA; Ecology and Evolution Graduate Program, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, 08903.
| | - Stephanie Feigin
- Environmental Science Graduate Program, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08903, USA; Wildlife Restoration Partnership, 109 Market Land, Greenwich, N 08323, USA.
| | - Kelly Ng
- Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854-8082, USA; Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA; Ecology and Evolution Graduate Program, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, 08903.
| | - Christian Jeitner
- Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
| | - Nellie Tsipoura
- New Jersey Audubon Society, 11 Hardscrabble Rd, Bernardsville, NJ, 07924, USA.
| | - Larry Niles
- Wildlife Restoration Partnership, 109 Market Land, Greenwich, N 08323, USA.
| | - Michael Gochfeld
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Piscataway, New Jersey, 08854, USA; Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA; Environmental and Occupational Health & Justice, Rutgers University School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA, 08854.
| |
Collapse
|