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Mercury levels in avian feathers from different trophic levels of eight families collected from the northern region of Iran

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Abstract

Mercury levels were determined in feathers from 83 birds belonging to 18 species (eight families), all collected from the northern region of Iran. Mercury levels were evaluated in relation to taxonomic affiliation and feeding strategies. Mercury levels in the feathers were between 0.05 ± 0.01 and 1.10 ± 0.15 μg g−1 dry weight, and there was a significant effect of taxonomic groups (p < 0.05). The highest mercury levels were found in Accipitridae, and mercury was not detected in the family Upupidae. The pattern for mercury levels was Accipitridae > Pelecanidae > Sternidae > Ardeidae > Anatidae > Rallidae > Phasianidae (p < 0.05). Significant differences (p < 0.05) in the mean mercury levels were found among species as a function of feeding method and trophic level. Mercury levels were highest in the carnivorous species and lowest in the herbivorous species. Mercury levels in feathers of birds in this study were generally below the thresholds reported to affect reproduction.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Forensic Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resource, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 64414-356, Noor, Mazandaran, Iran

    Abdulreza Mashroofeh & Alireza Riyahi Bakhtiari

  2. Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Marine Natural Resources, Khorramshahr Marine Science and Technology University, P.O. Box 669, Khorramshahr, Khouzestan, Iran

    Ahmad Ghobeishavi & Asad Asadi

  3. Young Researchers Club, Qaemshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran

    Mohsen Ahmadpour, Mousa Ahmadpour & Sayyed Hamid Hosseini

  4. Department of Environment, Mazandaran Provincial Directorate of Environment Protection, P.O. Box 48156-97917, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran

    Tahereh Eskandari

  5. Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854-8082, USA

    Joanna Burger

Authors
  1. Abdulreza Mashroofeh
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  2. Alireza Riyahi Bakhtiari
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  3. Ahmad Ghobeishavi
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  4. Mohsen Ahmadpour
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  5. Asad Asadi
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  6. Mousa Ahmadpour
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  7. Sayyed Hamid Hosseini
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  8. Tahereh Eskandari
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  9. Joanna Burger
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alireza Riyahi Bakhtiari.

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Highlights

• We measured Hg levels in 83 avian feathers, belonging to 18 species.

• These birds were collected from the northern region of Iran.

• Highest Hg levels were found in marsh harrier feathers and lowest in chukar.

• Mercury levels were significantly different between families.

• Hg levels were significantly higher in carnivore birds than those in trophic levels.

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Mashroofeh, A., Bakhtiari, A.R., Ghobeishavi, A. et al. Mercury levels in avian feathers from different trophic levels of eight families collected from the northern region of Iran. Environ Monit Assess 187, 275 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4482-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4482-x

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