Abstract
The American woodcock is an important migratory species to both consumptive and nonconsumptive users throughout the species range. Woodcock populations have been declining steadily since surveys began in 1968. Laboratory and field studies have demonstrated several adverse effects associated with metals in other species, which has led to their inclusion as potential contributing factors to the woodcock population decline. We investigated the concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), and selenium (Se) in pectoral muscle (n = 100), livers (n = 108), and kidneys (n = 104) and Pb in wing bones (n = 53) from woodcock harvested in Connecticut. Cd concentrations were elevated in 99% of woodcock livers and kidneys; 30% of kidneys were above 100 μg/g dry weight, a Cd level of reported adverse tissue and reproductive effects in other species. Hg and Cr concentrations were below current biologically significant thresholds. Asc, Pb, and Se in soft tissues were associated with lead shot use in collection. Se in 24% of livers was above 10 μg/g dry weight, the reported threshold for avian health. Wing-bone Pb was elevated above 20 μg/g in 61% of adults and 23% of juveniles examined. Our findings indicate that woodcock are being exposed to potentially damaging levels of at least two metals with known effects in other species.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aguirre-Alvarez AA (1989) Clinical and toxicological findings in Caribbean flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) during a recent outbreak of lead poisoning in Yucatan, Mexico. In: Proceedings of the 1989 annual meeting of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, Greensboro, NC, October 1989, pp 209–212
Artmann JW, Schroeder LD (1976) A technique for sexing woodcock by wing measurement. J Wildl Manag 40:572–574
Blacklock EC, Sadler PA (1978) Shot-gun pellet identification and discrimination. Forens Sci Intern 12:109–117
Braune BM, Noble DG (2009) Environmental contaminants in Canadian shorebirds. Environ Monit Assess 148:185–204
Braune BM, Malone BJ, Burgess NM, Elliott JE, Garrity N, Hawkings J, Hines J, Marshall H, Marshall WK, Rodrigue J, Wakeford B, Wayland M, Weseloh DV, Whitehead PE (1999) Chemical residues in waterfowl and gamebirds harvested in Canada, 1987–1995. Technical Report Series No. 326. National Wildlife Research Centre, Wildlife Toxicology Division, Contaminant Section, Headquarters, Hull, Quebec, Canada
Custer TW, Franson JC, Pattee OH (1984) Tissue lead distribution and hematologic effects in American kestrels (Falco sparverius) fed biologically incorporated lead. J Wildl Dis 20:39–43
Eisler R (2000a) Arsenic. In: Handbook of chemical risk assessment, health hazards to humans, plants and animals. Volume 3. Metalloids, radiation, cumulative index to chemicals and species. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL, pp 1501–1566
Eisler R (2000b) Cadmium. In: Handbook of chemical risk assessment, health hazards to humans, plants and animals. Volume 1. Metals. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL, pp 1–34
Eisler R (2000c) Lead. In: Handbook of chemical risk assessment, health hazards to humans, plants and animals. Volume 1. Metals. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL, pp 201–312
Eisler R (2000d) Selenium. In: Handbook of chemical risk assessment, health hazards to humans, plants and animals. Volume 3. Metalloids, radiation, cumulative index to chemicals and species. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL, pp 1649–1703
Eisler R (2000e) In: Handbook of chemical risk assessment, health hazards to humans, plants and animals. Volume 1. Metals. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL, pp 45–82
Fan AM, Book SA, Neutra RR, Epstein DM (1988) Selenium and human health implications in California’s San Joaquin Valley. J Toxicol Environ Health 23:539–559
Frank A (1986) Lead fragments in tissues from wild birds: a cause of misleading analytical results. Sci Total Environ 54:275–281
Furness RW (1996) Cadmium in birds. In: Beyer WN, Heinz GH, Redmon-Norwood AW (eds) Environmental contaminants in wildlife; interpreting tissue concentrations. SETAC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp 389–401
Gish CD, Christensen RE (1973) Cadmium, nickel, lead, and zinc in earthworms from roadside soil. Environ Sci Tech 7(11):1060–1062
Gordus AE (1993) Lead concentrations in livers and kidneys of snow geese during an avian cholera epizootic in California. J Wildl Dis 29:582–586
Graphpad Software (2005) Grubb’s test to detect an outlier. Available from http://www.graphpad.com/quickcalcs/Grubbs1.cfm. Accessed 14 August 2005
Harrison RM, Laxen DPH (1981) Lead pollution. Causes and control. Chapman & Hall, New York
Havera SP, Wood SG, Georgi MM (1992) Blood and tissue parameters in wild mallards dosed with lead shot. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 49:238–245
Kelley JR Jr (2004) American woodcock population status, 2004. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Laurel, MD
Linde AR, Arribas P, Sanchez-Galan S, Garcia-Vasquez E (1996) Eel (Anguillia anguilla) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) target species to assess the biological impact of trace metal pollution in freshwater ecosystems. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 31:297–302
Longcore JR, Locke LN, Bagley GE, Andrews R (1974) Significance of lead residues in mallard tissues. US Fish and Wildlife Service Special Scientific Report Wildlife 183
Martin FW (1964) Woodcock age and sex determination from wings. J Wildl Manage 28:287–293
Mateo RJ, Belliure J, Dolz JC, Serrano JMA, Guitart R (1998) High prevalences of lead poisoning in wintering waterfowl in Spain. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 35:342–347
McAuley DG, Longcore JR, Clugston DA, Allen RB, Weik A, Williamson S, Dunn J, Palmer W, Evans K, Staats W, Sepik GF, Halteman W (2005) Effects of hunting on survival of American woodcock in the Northeast. J Wildl Manage 69:1565–1577
Ohlendorf HM, Hothem RL, Bunck CM, Marois KC (1990) Bioaccumulation of selenium in birds at Kesterson Reservoir, California. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 19:495–507
Owen RB Jr (1977) Woodcock. In: Sanderson GC (ed) Management of migratory shore and upland game birds in North America. International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, pp 149–186
Peele ER, Havekost DG, Halberstam RC, Koons RD, Peters CA, Riley JP (1991) Comparison of bullets using the elemental composition of the lead component. In: Proceedings of international symposium on the forensic aspects of trace evidence. US Government Printing Office, Washington DC, pp 57–68
Prikhodko D, Tarassevych O (2004) Ukraine; Food and agricultural import regulations and standards, country report. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Global Agriculture Information Network (GAIN) Report No. UP4011
Rocque DA, Barclay JS (1995) Collection and handling of waterfowl specimens for laboratory analysis. In: Whitman WR et al (ed) Waterfowl habitat restoration, enhancement and management in the Atlantic Flyway, 3rd edn. Environmental Management Commission, Atlantic Flyway Council Technical Section, and Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife, Dover, DE, pp J-106–J-117
SAS Institute (1999) SAS users guide, version 8. SAS Institute, Cary, NC
Scheuhammer AM (1987) The chronic toxicity of aluminium, cadmium, mercury, and lead in birds: a review. Environ Pollut 46:263–295
Scheuhammer AM (1996) Influence of reduced dietary calcium on the accumulation and effects of lead, cadmium, and aluminum in birds. Environ Pollut 94:337–343
Scheuhammer AM, Perrault JA, Routhier E, Braune BM, Campbell GD (1998) Elevated lead concentrations in edible portions of game birds harvested with lead shot. Environ Pollut 102:251–257
Scheuhammer AM, Rogers CA, Bond D (1999) Elevated lead exposure in American woodcock (Scolopax minor) in Eastern Canada. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 36:334–340
Scheuhammer AM, Bond DE, Burgess NM, Rodrigue J (2003) Lead and stable isotope ratios in soil, earthworms, and bones of American woodcock (Scolopax minor) from Eastern Canada. Environ Toxicol Chem 22(11):2585–2591
Stickel WH, Hayne DW, Stickel LF (1965) Effects of heptachlor-contaminated earthworms on woodcocks. J Wildl Manage 29:132–146
Straw JA Jr, Krementz DG, Olinde MW, Sepik GF (1994) American woodcock. In: Tacha TC, Braun CE (eds) Migratory shore and upland game bird management in North America. International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Washington, DC, pp 97–114
Strom S, Patnode K, Langenberg J, Bodenstein B, Scheuhammer T, Beard B (2004) Final report: Determining the extent and source of lead contamination in woodcock from Wisconsin. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Thompson DR (1996) Mercury in birds and terrestrial mammals. In: Beyer WN, Heinz GH, Redmon-Norwood AW (eds) Environmental contaminants in wildlife; interpreting tissue concentrations. SETAC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp 389–401
US EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) (1992) Methods for determining metals in environmental samples. C.K. Smoley, Cincinnati, OH
US EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) (2004) Technical memorandum. Origin of 1 meal/week noncommercial fish consumption rate in national advisory for mercury. Available from http://www.epa.gov/mercury/. Accessed 15 December 2004
US EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) (2005) Chromated copper arsenate. Available from http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/reregistration/cca/
USFIS (US Food Safety Inspection Service) (2002) U.S. residue limits for veterinary drugs and unavoidable contaminants in meat, poultry, and egg products. US Food and Drug Administration, Washington, DC
White DH, Finley MT (1978) Uptake and retention of dietary cadmium in mallard ducks. Environ Res 17:53–59
White DH, Finley MT, Ferrell JF (1978) Histopathologic effects of dietary cadmium on kidneys and testes of mallard ducks. J Toxicol Environ Health 4:551–558
White DH, King KA, Prouty RM (1980) Significance of organochlorine and heavy metal residues in wintering shorebirds at Corpus Christi, Texas, 1976–77. Pest Monit J 14:58–63
Zar JH (1996) Biostatistical analysis, 3rd edn. Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ
Acknowledgments
This project was supported through the generosity of an anonymous private benefactor and the Wildlife Conservation Research Center in the University of Connecticut’s Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, whom we thank for the opportunity to conduct this research. We also thank Chris Perkins, Robin Smith, and Deb Lent for their technical assistance. Dr. Sylvain De Guise, Dr. David Schroeder, Dr. Margaret Rubega, and Dr. John Clausen provided patience and invaluable assistance in manuscript preparation. We also thank Dr. George Haas for his comments on early drafts of this manuscript. The authors thank the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection’s Wildlife Division for granting permit requests and suggestions on woodcock location throughout the state. Woodcock donations from volunteer hunters were vital to the success of this project and we sincerely thank each one for their participation.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hiller, B.J., Barclay, J.S. Concentrations of Heavy Metals in American Woodcock Harvested in Connecticut. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 60, 156–164 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-010-9525-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-010-9525-2