Metals in albatross feathers from Midway Atoll: Influence of species, age, and nest location

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 2000 · Environmental Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1006/enrs.1999.4015· OSTI ID:20026723

Burger, J; Gochfeld, M

In this paper the authors examine the concentrations of metals (heavy metals, mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium, manganese, tin; and metalloids, arsenic and selenium), in the down and contour (body) feathers of half-grown young albatrosses, and contour feathers of one of their parents. They collected feathers from Laysan Diomedea immutabilis and black-footed Diomedea nigripes albatrosses from Midway Atoll in the central Pacific Ocean. The authors test the null hypotheses that there is no difference in metal levels as a function of species, age, feather type, and location on the island. Using linear regression they found significant models accounting for the variation in the concentrations of mercury, lead, cadmium, selenium, chromium, and manganese (but not arsenic or tin) as a function of feather type (all metals), collection location (all metals but lead), species (selenium only), and interactions between these factors. Most metals (except mercury, arsenic, and tin) were significantly higher in down than in the contour feathers of either chicks or adults. Comparing the two species, black-footed albatross chicks had higher levels of most elements (except arsenic) in their feathers and/or down. Black-footed adults had significantly higher levels of mercury and selenium. They also collected down and feathers from Laysan albatross chicks whose nests were close to buildings, including buildings with flaking lead paint and those that had been lead-abated.

• Research Organization: Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
• DOE Contract Number: FC01-95EW55084
• OSTI ID: 20026723
• Journal Information: Environmental Research, Journal Name: Environmental Research Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 82; ISSN ENVRAL; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE DEPENDENCE
AIR POLLUTION
ARSENIC
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BIRDS
CADMIUM
CHROMIUM
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FEATHERS
ISLANDS
LEAD
MANGANESE
MERCURY
PACIFIC OCEAN
SELENIUM
TIN