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A Video Surveillance System to Monitor Breeding Colonies of Common Terns Sterna Hirundo
Published on: July 22, 2018
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Mercury dynamics in young Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) chicks from a polluted environment
P H Becker1, R W Furness, D Henning
1Institut für Vogelforschung, An der Vogelwarte 21, D-2940, Wilhelmshaven-15, Germany.
Ecotoxicology (London, England)
|November 9, 2013
Summary
Common Tern chicks accumulate mercury from eggs, with down feathers acting as a significant pathway for mercury elimination. Mercury levels in chicks increase with age and body mass.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Avian Biology
- Ecotoxicology
Background:
- Mercury is a persistent environmental pollutant with known toxic effects.
- Avian species, particularly seabirds, can accumulate mercury through their diet.
- Understanding mercury dynamics in developing birds is crucial for assessing population health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate mercury concentrations and burdens in Common Tern chicks and their eggs.
- To identify key tissues involved in mercury accumulation and elimination.
- To assess the relationship between mercury levels, age, and body mass in young terns.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of mercury concentrations and amounts in tissues of starved Common Tern chicks.
- Comparison of mercury levels in chicks with those in eggs from the same colony.
- Examination of mercury distribution across different tissues, with a focus on down feathers.
- Correlation analysis between mercury burden, tissue concentrations, age, and body mass.
Main Results:
- Mercury concentrations and burdens were comparable between eggs and newly hatched chicks.
- Down feathers contained the highest mercury concentrations, accounting for at least 38% of the total body mercury.
- Mercury burden and down feather concentration increased with chick age and body mass.
- Tissue-specific mercury concentration conversion ratios varied with overall contamination levels.
Conclusions:
- Down feathers play a critical role in mercury elimination in Common Tern chicks.
- Mercury accumulation is a dynamic process influenced by age and growth in developing terns.
- The findings highlight the importance of considering feather development in avian mercury biomonitoring.
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