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Metal Levels in Shorebird Feathers and Blood During Migration Through Delaware Bay

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Abstract

We investigated levels of arsenic mercury, lead, cadmium, and chromium in Red Knot (Calidris canutus), Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla), and Sanderling (Calidris alba) migrating through Delaware Bay, New Jersey to determine if contaminant levels are likely to be causing negative effects on the populations of these shorebirds, to compare among species, and to explore differences among individuals collected early and late during their migration stopover. We analyzed blood and feathers, both nonlethal ways of exploring contaminants in birds. Blood contaminant analysis provides a direct measure of recent dietary exposure, whereas feathers reflect body burden at the time of feather molt. We found some differences among species and between early and late samples. Levels of Hg and Pb were higher in Sanderling blood collected early (36.52 ± 8.45 and 145.00 ± 12.56 ng/g ww respectively) compared with later (16.21 ± 6.03 and 33.60 ± 4.05 ng/g ww respectively) during the migration stopover. Blood Pb levels of Sanderling in the early period were higher than those of the other two species (75.38 ± 15.52 ng/g ww in Red Knot and 42.39 ± 8.42 ng/g ww in Semipalmated Sandpipers). Semipalmated Sandpipers had lower blood As levels than the other two species (254.33 ± 40.15 and 512.00 ± 66.79 ng/g ww early and late respectively) but higher feather levels (914.01 ± 167.29 and 770.00 ± 116.21 ng/g dw early and late respectively), and their blood As was higher in the later sampling period compared with the early sampling period. Arsenic levels in shorebird tissues were relatively high and may reflect levels in horseshoe crab eggs, their primary diet item in Delaware Bay. In Red Knot, blood Cr levels were elevated in the later samples (572.17 ± 62.82 ng/g ww) compared to the early samples (382.81 ± 95.35 ng/g ww) and to the other species. The mean values of the metals analyzed were mostly below effect levels—the level that has a measurable negative impact—although relatively high As levels in Semipalmated Sandpiper feathers and some high levels of Pb need to be further explored.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Clive Minton and the Red Knot field crew, and Patti Hodgetts, Albert Spry, Zack Batren, and the NJ Audubon field crews for help with sample collections in Delaware Bay. Christian Jeitner conducted analysis and Mike Allen assisted in map preparation. This project was funded by the Dupont’s Clear into the Future Program with supplemental in-kind support from NJ Audubon, Rutgers University, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, and the Endangered and Nongame Species Program of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.

Funding

This study was funded by Dupont’s Clear Into the Future program, http://clearintothefuture.com/grants-fellowships/grants-sponsorships/community-impact/shorebirds-research/.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. New Jersey Audubon, 11 Hardscrabble Rd, Bernardsville, NJ, USA

    Nellie Tsipoura & David Mizrahi

  2. Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854-8082, USA

    Joanna Burger

  3. Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA

    Joanna Burger

  4. Conserve Wildlife, 109 Market Land, Greenwich, NJ, 08323, USA

    Lawrence Niles

  5. Endangered and Nongame Species Program, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, 8747 Ferry Road, Millville, NJ, 08332, USA

    Amanda Dey

  6. EOHSI, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA

    Michael Gochfeld

  7. Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queens Park, Toronto, ON, USA

    Mark Peck

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  1. Nellie Tsipoura
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Correspondence to Nellie Tsipoura.

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Tsipoura, N., Burger, J., Niles, L. et al. Metal Levels in Shorebird Feathers and Blood During Migration Through Delaware Bay. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 72, 562–574 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-017-0400-2

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