Trace Elements in Feathers and Eggshells of Two Tropical Seabirds from Malaysia

Seabird feathers and eggshells are used as bio-monitors for trace metal contamination. Eleven trace element concentrations in wing primaries (n = 21) and eggshells (n = 8) are reported herein for two resident seabirds, Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus and Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana, at Pul...

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Published inMarine ornithology Vol. 49; no. 2; p. 335
Main Authors Hamza, Abdulmaula, Hisham, Alya Syakirin, Suratman, Suhaimi, Bidai, Joseph Anak, Shazili, Noor Azhar Bin Mohamed
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Honolulu Pacific Seabird Group 01.10.2021
Subjects
Aquatic birds
Cadmium
Feathers
Heavy metals
Lead
Manganese
Metal concentrations
Onychoprion anaethetus
Seabirds
Sterna sumatrana
Synergistic effect
Trace elements
Trace metals
Tropical climate
Zinc
Malaysia
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Summary:Seabird feathers and eggshells are used as bio-monitors for trace metal contamination. Eleven trace element concentrations in wing primaries (n = 21) and eggshells (n = 8) are reported herein for two resident seabirds, Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus and Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana, at Pulau Ling and Pulau Tokung Burung, Malaysia. Metal concentration followed the pattern Zn > Cr > Mn > Sr > Cu > Se > Ba > Pb > Cd > Ga > Li. Significant positive correlations existed among all trace metals, except for Cr in Black-naped Tern and Li and Cd in Bridled Tern feathers. We also analyzed metal concentrations in eggshells, and for Bridled Tern the concentration pattern was Zn > Mn > Se > Sr > Ba > Pb > Co > Cu > Cd, whereas for Black-naped Tern it was Cr > Zn > Mn > Ba > Sr > Se > Cu> Co > Pb. A pairwise positive correlation was significant among most trace metals in feather samples, indicating synergistic effects of two or more elements. More studies are needed to build a baseline database of trace metal concentrations in seabirds of Southeast Asia, as little research on this subject has been conducted in this region.
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ISSN:1018-3337
2074-1235
DOI:10.5038/2074-1235.49.2.1441