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Metal Contamination in Select Species of Birds in Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu, India

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology volume 87, pages 166–170 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Variation in metal contamination in six species of birds, namely the Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii), Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) and Jungle Babbler (Turdoides striatus) in Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu, India. The accumulation of heavy metals differed among the species studied. On an average, Little Egret accumulated high concentrations of copper (53.31 ± 23.19 ppm) followed by Cattle Egret (16.27 ± 9.83 ppm) in liver. Of all the species, Jungle Babbler recorded the maximum concentrations (20.59 ± 9.07 ppm) in muscle. The Pond Heron recorded the maximum concentration (35.38 ± 11.14 ppm) in brain. On an average the maximum level was in the kidney of Common Myna (7.76 ± 1.80 ppm).

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge Dr. V. S. Vijayan, Founder Director, SACON for his support. One of us (Jayakumar) is thankful to Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology for partial financial assistance. Mr. S. Patturajan is appreciated for his assistance in the laboratory work.

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Affiliations

  1. GITAM University, Hyderabad Campus, Rudraram, Medak, Andhra Pradesh, 502 329, India

    R. Jayakumar

  2. Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641 108, India

    S. Muralidharan

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  1. R. Jayakumar
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  2. S. Muralidharan
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Correspondence to R. Jayakumar.

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Jayakumar, R., Muralidharan, S. Metal Contamination in Select Species of Birds in Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu, India. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 87, 166–170 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-011-0323-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-011-0323-y

Keywords

  • Birds
  • Indicators
  • Metal contamination
  • India