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European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) populations under arsenic and metal stress: evaluation of exposure at a mining site

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 161, pages 237–245 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Two populations of the European bee-eater were studied, one living at a reference site and the other at a metal mining site. The concentration of arsenic and 11 metals (Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) was measured in feathers and regurgitated pellets collected at both sites. Cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, and lead were at least twofold higher in feathers of birds from the contaminated site than in the reference site, suggesting that this population was exposed to higher metal levels. Similarly, levels of aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, iron, and lead were also at least twofold higher in pellets from the contaminated area. The obtained results suggested that the impacted population of Merops apiaster is at risk due to the exposure to some metals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CESAM and Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    I. Lopes

  2. IMAR-Instituto do Mar, Department of Zoology, University of Coimbra, Largo Marquês de Pombal, 3004-517, Coimbra, Portugal

    A. Sedlmayr, M. Moreira-Santos & R. Ribeiro

  3. Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucia (CSIC), Polígno Río San Pedro s/n, Apartado Oficial 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain

    I. Moreno-Garrido & J. Blasco

Authors
  1. I. Lopes
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  2. A. Sedlmayr
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  3. M. Moreira-Santos
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  4. I. Moreno-Garrido
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  5. J. Blasco
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  6. R. Ribeiro
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Correspondence to I. Lopes.

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Lopes, I., Sedlmayr, A., Moreira-Santos, M. et al. European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) populations under arsenic and metal stress: evaluation of exposure at a mining site. Environ Monit Assess 161, 237–245 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0741-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0741-4

Keywords

  • Merops apiaster
  • Metals
  • Feathers
  • Pellets
  • Acid mine drainage