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Pattern of mercury accumulation in different tissues of migratory and resident birds: Western reef heron (Egretta gularis) and Siberian gull (Larus heuglini) in Hara International Wetland—Persian Gulf

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Abstract

The Hara Mangrove Forest of the Persian Gulf is undergoing increasing pollution from industrial, municipal, and petroleum sources; however, little research in ecotoxicology has been carried out in this ecosystem. In the present study, mercury distribution and accumulation were investigated in muscle, liver, kidney, and feather of the resident Western reef heron (n = 15) and the migratory Siberian gull (n = 15). We also evaluated the relation between Hg concentrations, sex, and age (juvenile vs. adult). Results showed that the highest concentrations of Hg were recorded in the feather (35 ± 0.14–3.0 ± 0.27 mg kg−1 dw) and at 3.7-, 1.6-, and 1.3-fold in muscle, kidney, and liver, respectively. Concentrations of mercury in tissues of migratory birds were two times higher than in resident birds; geographical differences and feeding habits were used to explain these variations. We found a weak relationship between Hg concentrations in feathers and internal tissues (r ≤ 0.50); conversely, liver presented strong positive correlations with other soft tissues, especially kidney (p > 0.05; r = 0.82). Results showed that sex and age have no significant effects on T-Hg accumulation in these birds (p > 0.05; r < −0.01). Based on these findings, Hg concentrations were low in both species. Therefore, Hg contamination of this aquatic ecosystem is not a threat. Accordingly, we recommend the use of the Western reef heron as a bioindicator of mercury pollution in this region.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by Tarbiat Modares University (TMU) of Iran. We thank Amir Majidi and Ali H. Nejad for the field assistance. We also thank Ali Kazemi and Jabber Azami for laboratory support and statistical advice. We are indebted to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.

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  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 46414-356, Noor, Mazandaran, Iran

    Yousef Majidi, Nader Bahramifar & Seyed Mahmoud Ghasempouri

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  1. Yousef Majidi
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  2. Nader Bahramifar
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  3. Seyed Mahmoud Ghasempouri
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Correspondence to Nader Bahramifar.

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Majidi, Y., Bahramifar, N. & Ghasempouri, S.M. Pattern of mercury accumulation in different tissues of migratory and resident birds: Western reef heron (Egretta gularis) and Siberian gull (Larus heuglini) in Hara International Wetland—Persian Gulf. Environ Monit Assess 187, 4082 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-4082-1

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