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The distribution and extent of heavy metal accumulation in song sparrows along Arizona’s upper Santa Cruz River

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Abstract

Heavy metals are persistent environmental contaminants, and transport of metals into the environment poses a threat to ecosystems, as plants and wildlife are susceptible to long-term exposure, bioaccumulation, and potential toxicity. We investigated the distribution and cascading extent of heavy metal accumulation in southwestern song sparrows (Melospiza melodia fallax), a resident riparian bird species that occurs along the US/Mexico border in Arizona’s upper Santa Cruz River watershed. This study had three goals: (1) quantify the degree of heavy metal accumulation in sparrows and determine the distributional patterns among study sites, (2) compare concentrations of metals found in this study to those found in studies performed prior to a 2009 international wastewater facility upgrade, and (3) assess the condition of song sparrows among sites with differing potential levels of exposure. We examined five study sites along with a reference site that reflect different potential sources of contamination. Body mass residuals and leukocyte counts were used to assess sparrow condition. Birds at our study sites typically had higher metal concentrations than birds at the reference site. Copper, mercury, nickel, and selenium in song sparrows did exceed background levels, although most metals were below background concentrations determined from previous studies. Song sparrows generally showed lower heavy metal concentrations compared to studies conducted prior to the 2009 wastewater facility upgrade. We found no cascading effects as a result of metal exposure.

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Notes

  1. Although Se is not truly a heavy metal, for simplicity, it will be referred to as such throughout this paper.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Marshall Massayesva and Francesca Massarotto for their help with fieldwork. Arizona State Parks, Tumacacori National Historical Park, and the US International Boundary and Water Commission graciously provided access to study sites. The US Geological Survey, the US National Park Service, T&E Inc., the Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch Foundation, and Arizona Field Ornithologists generously provided funding for this study. This project was completed with IACUC approval, PHS Assurance No. A-3248-01, USDA No. 86-3. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the US government.

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  1. School of Natural Resources and the Environment, The University of Arizona, 1110 E. South Campus Dr., Room 123, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA

    Michael B. Lester & Charles van Riper III

  2. U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center SDRS, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA

    Charles van Riper III

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  1. Michael B. Lester
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Correspondence to Michael B. Lester.

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Lester, M.B., van Riper, C. The distribution and extent of heavy metal accumulation in song sparrows along Arizona’s upper Santa Cruz River. Environ Monit Assess 186, 4779–4791 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3737-2

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