Title:

Heavy metals, resting metabolism rates and breeding parameters in two populations of black-headed gull Larus ridibundus from the industrially polluted areas of Upper Silesia, Poland

Subtitle:

Acta Ornithologica, vol. 35, no. 2 ; Skażenie metalami ciężkimi, metabolizm tlenowy i parametry lęgowe dwóch populacji lęgowych mewy śmieszki na obszarach zanieczyszczonych przez przemysł (Górny Śląsk) ; Black-headed gull and heavy metals

Creator:

Migula, Paweł ; Augustyniak, Maria ; Szymczyk, Artur ; Kowalczyk, Katarzyna

Contributor:

Polska Akademia Nauk. Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii

Publisher:

Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii PAN

Place of publishing:

Warszawa

Date issued/created:

2000

Description:

Bibliogr. p. 169-171 ; P. [159]-172 : ill. ; 27 cm ; Abstract in Polish. Taxa in Latin

Type of object:

Journal/Article

Subject and Keywords:

Black-headed Gull ; effects of heavy metals ; heavy metals ; Poland ; Silesia, Upper ; hatching success ; resting metabolism ; industrial pollution ; gulls ; birds ; Larus ridibundus ; Laridae ; Aves

Abstract:

Black-headed Gulls breeding in the central part of the Upper Silesian Industrial Region (Katowice-Szopienice) in Southern Poland were compared with the colony from the less polluted area (Świerklaniec) situated in a distance of 23 km. Heavy metals: Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu were determined in various organs of nestlings, fledglings and mature birds as well as egg yolks. Resting metabolism rates, hatching success and eggshell thickness were used as biomarkers of environmental exposure to industrial pollutants. The clutch size (2.97 versus 3.61) and hatching success (81.5% versus 87%) were lower in the colony from the more polluted site. Relatively high metal contents in yolks indicate only a partial protection of the offspring from toxic compounds. Gulls were able to regulate body contents of essential metals Zn and Cu, but Pb and Cd accumulated rapidly in the liver, kidneys, and lungs of developing birds. Cd also accumulated in the ovaries at the similar levels as in the kidneys. Cd and Pb may have affected earlier stages of development when parents were foraged in a close vicinity of heavily polluted area and once the young gulls had reached a maturity they then foraged in distant areas. During this period they were exposed to pollutants in a similar way as the gulls from a less polluted site. There was no growth impairment identified in gulls from the more polluted area, and their resting metabolism (RMR) calculated per unit of body weight was lower, indicating that energetic costs for detoxification were not as high.

Relation:

Acta Ornithologica

Volume:

35

Issue:

2

Start page:

159

End page:

172

Resource type:

Text

Detailed Resource Type:

Article

Format:

application/pdf

Source:

MiIZ PAN, call no. P.257, Vol. 35, No 2 ; MiIZ PAN, call no. P.4568, Vol. 35, No 2 ; click here to follow the link

Language:

eng ; pol

Rights:

Rights Reserved - Restricted Access

Terms of use:

Copyright-protected material. Access only on terminals at the Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, may be used within the limits of statutory user freedoms.

Digitizing institution:

Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Original in:

Library of the Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Projects co-financed by:

Programme Innovative Economy, 2010-2014, Priority Axis 2. R&D infrastructure ; European Union. European Regional Development Fund

Access:

Closed