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Mercury Exposure in Birds Linked to Marine Ecosystems in the Western Mediterranean

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Abstract

Mercury (Hg), particularly as methylmercury (MeHg), is a nonessential, persistent, and bioaccumulative toxic element with high biomagnification capacity and is considered a threat to marine environments. We evaluated total Hg concentrations in liver, kidney, and brain in 62 individuals of 9 bird species linked to marine ecosystems from western Mediterranean admitted in a Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (WRC) (Alicante, Spain, 2005–2020). Age- and sex-related differences in Hg levels, as well as the cause of admission to the WRC, were also evaluated in certain species. The species studied were: northern gannet (Morus bassanus), European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis), great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus), yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis), razorbill (Alca torda), common tern (Sterna hirundo), and black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus). Concentrations in feathers of 27 individuals, and concentrations in internal tissues in 7 other individuals of 7 different species were also reported but not statistically evaluated due to the limited number of samples. Results suggest that individuals were chronically exposed to Hg through diet. The differences in Hg concentrations among species may be explained by their diet habits. Mercury concentrations strongly correlated between tissues (r = 0.78–0.94, p < 0.001, n = 61–62). Some individuals of certain species (i.e., European shag, northern gannet, and great cormorant) showed Hg concentrations close to or above those described in the literature as causing reproductive alterations in other avian species. Consequently, certain individuals inhabiting western Mediterranean could be at risk of suffering long-term, Hg-related effects. Some of the species evaluated are listed within different categories of threat according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and are endangered at a national level, so this study will provide valuable information for assessors and authorities in charge of the management of the environment and pollution.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Fundación Séneca—Agencia de Ciencia y Tecnología de la Región de Murcia (MASCA′2014 project, 19481/PI/14). S. Espín was financially supported by Fundación Séneca (Saavedra-Fajardo Project 20031/SF/16) and by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Juan de la Cierva-Incorporación contract, IJCI-2017-34653). The authors thank the COST Action 16224 ERBFacility for maintaining an international collaboration network for researchers. Two anonymous referees are acknowledged for their help in improving the manuscript.

Funding

This study was funded by Fundación Séneca—Agencia de Ciencia y Tecnología de la Región de Murcia (MASCA′2014 project, 19481/PI/14). S. Espín was financially supported by Fundación Séneca (Saavedra-Fajardo Project 20031/SF/16) and by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Juan de la Cierva-Incorporación contract, IJCI-2017-34653).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Socio-Sanitary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, Area of Toxicology, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain

    Silvia Albertos, Neus I. Berenguer, Pablo Sánchez-Virosta, Pilar Gómez-Ramírez, Pedro Jiménez, María Y. Torres-Chaparro, Irene Valverde, Isabel Navas, Pedro María-Mojica, Antonio J. García-Fernández & Silvia Espín

  2. Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, IMIB-Arrixaca, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain

    Pilar Gómez-Ramírez, Isabel Navas, Antonio J. García-Fernández & Silvia Espín

  3. “Santa Faz” Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Consellería de Agricultura, Medio Ambiente, Cambio Climático y Desarrollo Rural, Alicante, Generalitat Valenciana, Spain

    Pedro María-Mojica

Authors
  1. Silvia Albertos
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  2. Neus I. Berenguer
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  3. Pablo Sánchez-Virosta
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  4. Pilar Gómez-Ramírez
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  5. Pedro Jiménez
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  6. María Y. Torres-Chaparro
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  7. Irene Valverde
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  8. Isabel Navas
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  9. Pedro María-Mojica
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  10. Antonio J. García-Fernández
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  11. Silvia Espín
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Contributions

SA: Methodology, Formal analysis, Writing—Original Draft NB, PS-V, IN: Methodology, Formal analysis, Writing—Review and Editing PG-R, PJ, MYT-C, IV: Methodology, Writing—Review and Editing PM-M: Conceptualization, Methodology, Resources, Writing—Review and Editing, Supervision AJG-F, SE: Conceptualization, Methodology, Formal analysis, Resources, Writing—Review and Editing, Supervision, Funding acquisition.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Pedro María-Mojica, Antonio J. García-Fernández or Silvia Espín.

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Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics Approval

Not applicable. Carcasses from dead individuals admitted in the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre were used in this study.

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Albertos, S., Berenguer, N.I., Sánchez-Virosta, P. et al. Mercury Exposure in Birds Linked to Marine Ecosystems in the Western Mediterranean. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 79, 435–453 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-020-00768-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-020-00768-1

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