Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Heavy Metals and Selenium in Herring Gulls (LARUS ARGENTATUS) NESTING IN COLONIES FROM EASTERN LONG ISLAND TO VIRGINIA

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

With increasing interest in assessing the health or well-being ofcommunities and ecosystems, birds are being used asbioindicators. Coloniallynesting species breed mainly in coastal areas that are alsopreferred for humandevelopment, exposing the birds to various pollutants. Inthis paper concentrations of heavy metal and selenium in the feathers ofHerring Gulls(Larus argentatus) nesting in several colonies fromMassachusetts toDelaware are reported. There were significant differencesamong colonies forall metals, with metal concentrations being two to nearly fivetimes higher atsome colonies than others. Selenium showed the leastdifference, and cadmium showed the greatest difference among sites. Concentrations of lead werehighest at Prall‘s Island; mercury was highest at Shinnecock,Huckleberry andHarvey, and manganese was highest at Captree.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Applequist, H., Asbirk, S. and Drabeck, I.: 1984, ‘Mercury Monitoring: Mercury Stability in Bird Feathers’, Mar. Pollut. Bull. 15, 22–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker, P. H., Ternes, W. and Russel, H. A.: 1985, ‘Schadstoffe in Gelegen von Brutvogeln der Deutschen Nordseekuste’, H. Quecksilber. J. Ornith. 126, 253–262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berg, W., Johnels, A., Sjostrand, B. and Westermark, T.: 1966, ‘Mercury Content in Feathers of Swedish Birds from the Past 100 Years’, Oikos 17, 71–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burger, J.: 1993, ‘Metals in Avian Feathers: Bioindicators of Environmental Pollution’, Rev. Environ. Toxicol. 5, 197–306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burger, J.: 1995a, ‘A Risk Assessment for Lead in Birds’, J. Toxicol. Environ. Health 45, 369–396.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burger, J.: 1995b, ‘Heavy Metal and Selenium Levels in Feathers of Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus): Differences Due to Year, Gender, and Age at Captree, Long Island’, Environ. Monit. Assess. 38, 37–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burger, J.: 1996, ‘Heavy Metal and Selenium Levels in Feathers of Franklin's Gulls in Interior North America’, Auk 113, 399–407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burger, J. and Gochfeld, M.: 1993a, ‘Lead and Cadmium Accumulation in Eggs and Fledgling Seabirds in the New York Bight’, Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 12, 261–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burger, J. and Gochfeld, M.: 1993b, ‘Lead and Behavioral Development in Young Herring Gulls: Effects of Timing of Exposure on Individual Recognition’, Fund. Appl. Toxicol. 21, 187–195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burger, J. and Gochfeld, M.: 1994, ‘Behavioral Impairments of Lead-Injected Young Herring Gulls in Nature’, Fund. Appl. Toxicol. 23, 553–561.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burger, J. and Gochfeld, M.: 1995, ‘Effects of Varying Temporal Exposure to Lead on Behavioral Development in Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) Chicks’, Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 52, 601–608.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burger, J., Nisbet, I. C. T. and Gochfeld, M.: 1994, ‘Heavy Metal and Selenium Levels in Feathers of Known-Aged Common Terns (Sterna hirundo)’, Archiv. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 26, 351–355.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burger, J., Schreiber, E. A. E. and Gochfeld, M.: 1992, ‘Lead, Cadmium, Selenium and Mercury in Seabird Feathers from the Tropical Mid-Pacific’, Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 11, 815–822.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carson, R.: 1962, Silent Spring, Houghton-Miflin, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisler, R.: 1987, ‘Mercury Hazards to Fish, Wildlife, and Invertebrates: A Synoptic Review’. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Biolog. Rep. 85 (1.1).

  • Fimreite, N., Brevik, F. M. and Torp, R.: 1982, ‘Mercury and Organochlorines in Eggs from a Norwegian Gannet Colony’, Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 28, 58–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goede, A. A. and DeBruin, M.: 1984, ‘The Use of Bird Feather Parts as a Monitor for Metal Pollution’, Environ. Monit. Assess. 37, 287–309.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunsaker, C., Carpenter, D. and Messer, J.: 1990, ‘Ecological Indicators for Regional Monitoring’, Bull. Ecol. Soc. Amer. 71, 165–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, S. A., Becker, P. H. and Furness, R. W.: 1993, ‘Mercury Levels in Eggs, Tissues, and Feathers of Herring Gulls Larus argentatus from the German Wadden Sea Coast’, Environ. Pollut. 80, 293–299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreman, C.: 1992, ‘Assessing the Indicator Properties of Species Assemblages for Natural Areas Monitoring’, Ecol. Applic. 2, 203–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • NRC (National Research Council): 1981, ‘Ecological Knowledge and Environmental Problem-Solving’, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • NRC (National Research Council): 1986, ‘Ecological Knowledge and Environmental Problem-Solving’, National Academy Press, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'connor, J. S. and Dewling, R. T.: 1986, ‘Indices of Marine Degradation: Their Utility’, Environ. Manage. 10, 335–343.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Connor, T. P. and Ehler, C. N.: 1991, ‘Results from the NOAA National Status and Trends Program on Distribution and Effects of Chemical Contamination in the Coastal and Estuarine United States’, Environ. Monitor. Assess. 17, 33–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohlendorf, H. M., Hothem, R. L., Bunck, C. M., Aldrich, T. W. and Moore, J. R.: 1986, ‘Relationship Between Selenium Concentrations and Avian Reproduction’, Trans. 51st NA Wild. and Natl. Res. Conf., pp. 330–342.

  • Ohlendorf, H. M., Kilness, A. W., Stimmons, J. L., Stroud, R. D., Hoffman, D. J. and Moore, J. F.: 1988, ‘Selenium Toxicosis in Wild Aquatic Birds’, J. Toxicol. Environ. Health 24, 67–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohlendorf, H. M., Hothem, R. L. and Welsh, D.: 1989, ‘Nest Success, Cause-Specific Nest Failures, and Hatchability of Aquatic Birds at Selenium-Contaminated Kesterson Reservoir and a Reference Site’, Condor 91, 787–796.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peakall, D.: 1992, Animal Biomarkers as Pollution Indicators, Chapman and Hall, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peakall, D. B., Lincer, J. L., Risebrough, R. W., Pritchard, J. B. and Kinker, W. B.: 1973, ‘DDE-induced eggshell thinning: structural and physiological effects in three species’, Comp. Gen. Pharmacol. 4, 305–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Squibb, K. S., O'Connor, J. M. and Kneip, T. J.: 1991, ‘New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program: Toxics Characterization Report’. Final report, US Environmental Protection Agency, Region II, New York City.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suter, G. W.: 1993, Ecological Risk Assessment, Lewis Publ. Boca Raton, FL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, P. M.: 1990, ‘The Use of Seabirds as Monitors of Heavy Metals in the Marine Environment’, in R. W. Furness and P. S. Rainbow (eds.), Heavy Metals in the Marine Environment. CRC Press. Boca Raton, FL.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University and Nelson Biological Laboratories, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, 08855-1059, U.S.A

    Joanna Burger

Authors
  1. Joanna Burger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Burger, J. Heavy Metals and Selenium in Herring Gulls (LARUS ARGENTATUS) NESTING IN COLONIES FROM EASTERN LONG ISLAND TO VIRGINIA. Environ Monit Assess 48, 285–296 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005760321417

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005760321417

Search

Navigation