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Mercury in White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Chick Feathers from Northeastern Mediterranean Areas in Relation to Age, Brood Size, and Hatching Order

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Abstract

Mercury (Hg) levels in white stork (Ciconia ciconia) feathers collected in the mid-1990s from five northeastern Mediterranean (Greece) areas varied, with mean ranges between 301 ng g−1 dry weight (dw) (Pinios River) and 1911 ng g−1 dw (Sperchios Delta). A significant increase of Hg levels in chick feathers with age (surrogated by bill size) was found in the Evros and Pinios River areas, a nonsignificant increase in the Amvrakikos Gulf and the Epirus Region, and a marginally significant decrease in the Sperchios Delta area. For combined data of 1993 and 1995, Hg concentrations did not differ significantly in relation to hatching order among broods but differed significantly in relation to brood size being higher in 4-chick broods than those in 3-chick broods. All 10 areas formed 4 groups with levels mutually significantly different. Highest levels were detected in the Evros, Axios, and Sperchios riverine areas, whereas the lowest levels occurred at Drama plain, which lacks large water bodies in its vicinity. Levels were lower than those associated with intoxication to other ciconiiform species.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the Hellenic Public Power Corporation for providing us with technical facilities in the study areas. We are also indebted to U. Pijanowska (ICBM-Terramare) for laboratory technical support. Fieldwork for this project was funded by a grant from the Technological Education Institute. During laboratory analyses, V. Goutner was supported by a sabbatical from the University of Thessaloniki.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Vassilis Goutner

  2. Institute of Avian Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland”, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany

    Peter H. Becker

  3. P.O. Box 80705, 18510, Piraeus, Greece

    Vasilios Liordos

  4. Laboratory of Ecology and Wildlife Management, Department of Forestry and Environmental Management and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, 68200, Orestiada, Evros, Greece

    Efstathios P. Tsachalidis

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  1. Vassilis Goutner
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  2. Peter H. Becker
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  3. Vasilios Liordos
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  4. Efstathios P. Tsachalidis
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Correspondence to Vassilis Goutner.

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Goutner, V., Becker, P.H., Liordos, V. et al. Mercury in White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Chick Feathers from Northeastern Mediterranean Areas in Relation to Age, Brood Size, and Hatching Order. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 61, 327–336 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-010-9606-2

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