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Trace Elements in Faeces of Great Tit Nestlings in Relation to Breeding Performance in Coastal Areas in Central Portugal

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Abstract

This long-term study (2003–2010) compared the breeding parameters of great tits living in a paper-and-pulp–industry area to those of great tits living in a rural area on the west coast of Portugal. We also measured the abundance of caterpillar biomass, an important food source and determinant of breeding success for tits. In 2009, we further analysed trace metal [arsenic (As), calcium (Ca), cadmium, copper, mercury (Hg), nickel, lead, selenium, and zinc] as well as Ca concentrations in excrement of 15-day-old great tit nestlings. Generally, for most trace metals, fecal concentrations were similar at both sites. Nonetheless, greater Hg levels and lower As levels were detected in the industrial area. Great tits laid more eggs and produced more fledglings in the industrial area than in the rural area. Caterpillar biomass was also greater in the industrial area, which likely explains the better breeding success. Our results suggest that there are no direct effects of emissions on the studied species.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) with a doctoral Grant ref SFRH/BD/42532/2007 to R. A. Costa and the Academy of Finland (to T. E.; Project No. 8119367). Also C.E. and J.V. were respectively supported by grants SFRH/BPD/27014/2006 and SFRH/BD/31425/2006 from FCT. The authors thank all of the people that helped during this long-term fieldwork.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biologia/CBMA, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal

    R. A. Costa, J. Vaqueiro & J. V. Vingada

  2. Section of Ecology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland

    T. Eeva

  3. Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, Estação de Campo de Quiaios, 3081-101, Figueira da Foz, Portugal

    C. Eira, J. Vaqueiro & J. V. Vingada

  4. CESAM and Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    C. Eira & J. V. Vingada

Authors
  1. R. A. Costa
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  2. T. Eeva
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  3. C. Eira
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  4. J. Vaqueiro
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  5. J. V. Vingada
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Correspondence to R. A. Costa.

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Costa, R.A., Eeva, T., Eira, C. et al. Trace Elements in Faeces of Great Tit Nestlings in Relation to Breeding Performance in Coastal Areas in Central Portugal. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 63, 594–600 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-012-9798-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-012-9798-8

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