Mercury in the feathers of bird scavengers from two areas of Patagonia (Argentina) under the influence of different anthropogenic activities: a preliminary study

DI MARZIO A; GÓMEZ-RAMÍREZ P,; BARBAR, F.; LAMBERTUCCI, S A; GARCÍA-FERNÁNDEZ, A.J.; MARTÍNEZ-LÓPEZ, E.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

Lugar: HEIDELBERG; Año: 2018

0944-1344

Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant that bioaccumulates and biomagnifies in food chains, and is associated with adverse effects in both humans and wildlife. We used feather samples from bird scavengers to evaluate Hg concentrations in two different areas of Northern Patagonia. Hg concentrations were analysed in feathers obtained from Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura), Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus) and Southern Crested Caracaras (Caracara plancus) from two areas of Northern Patagonia(Argentina): Bariloche and El Valle. Hg was detected in all the samples analysed, butthe concentrations can be considered low for the three species in both sampling areas.The mean concentration of Hg in Bariloche was 0.22±0.16 mg/kg dry weight (d.w.) inBlack Vulture, 0.13±0.06 mg/kg d.w. in Turkey Vulture and 0.13±0.09 mg/kg d.w. inSouthern Crested Caracara; in El Valle the mean concentration of Hg was 1.02±0.89mg/kg d.w. in Black Vulture, 0.53±0.82 mg/kg d.w. in Turkey Vulture and 0.54±0.74mg/kg d.w. in Southern Crested Caracara. Hg concentrations in feathers wereexplained by the sampling area but not by the species. The concentrations of Hgcontamination were comparable to those obtained in other studies of terrestrial raptorsand aquatic bioindicator raptors. The species of the present study occur throughoutmuch of North and South America. Thus they may be appropriate bioindicators acrossthe species´ range, which is particularly useful as a surrogate, especially in distributionareas shared with endangered scavengers such as the California Condor (Gymnopsyscalifornianus) and the Andrean Condor (Vultur gryphus).