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Heavy metals screening in feathers of resident birds and neotropical migrants at selected sites in Costa Rica and Panama

Metales pesados en las plumas de aves residentes y migratorias neotropicales, en sitios selectos de Costa Rica y Panam
Oksana Lane1, Oscar Brenes2, Peter Doherty3 , Pablo Elizondo4, and Robert Taylor5, Bruce Rinker1* 1 Biodiversity Research Institute, Gorham, Maine, USA; 2 Reserva Playa Tortuga, Ojochal, Costa Rica; 3 Virginia, USA; 4 INBioparque, San Jose, Costa Rica; 5 Trace Element Research Laboratory, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas, USA *Presenter

ABSTRACT: We non-lethally collected feather samples from resident and migrant birds from several sites representing different habitats in Costa Rica and Panama to assess if exposure to mercury (Hg) and/or other heavy metals are of concern at these sites. Of 43 species sampled in Costa Rica and nine in Panama, mercury exposure was in generally low at all sites. The American pygmy kingfisher (Chloroceryle aenea) had the highest mercury levels of all birds sampled, ranging from 2.8 to 5.7 ppm (parts per million) in Panama to 11 ppm at Cao Palma Research Station in Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica. Feather mercury concentrations over 4.6 ppm are considered elevated in songbirds (Jackson et al. 2011) and over 40 ppm in fish-eating birds (Evers et al. 2008). Invertivorous neotropical migrantssuch as the northern waterthrush (Seiurus noveboracencis), spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularius) and piscivorous species such as resident kingfishers foraging in aquatic habitats (ie. streams and mangroves) tended to have higher feather mercury concentrations than other species. A subset of feather samples (n = 39) were analyzed for other metals including several essential elements. Here we focus on selected metals that were elevated in sampled birds: aluminum (Al), barium (Ba), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), strontium (Sr), tin (Sn) and zinc (Zn).
RESUMEN: no letales recogieron muestras de plumas de aves residentes y migratorias de varios sitios que representan los diferentes hbitats en Costa Rica y Panam para evaluar si la exposicin al mercurio (Hg) y / u otros metales pesados son motivo de preocupacin en estos sitios. De 43 especies muestreadas en Costa Rica y nueve en Panam, la exposicin al mercurio fue en general baja en todos los sitios. El martn pescador estadounidense enano (Chloroceryle aenea) tenan los niveles ms altos de mercurio de todas lasaves objeto de muestreo, que van desde 2,8 hasta 5,7 ppm (partes por milln)en Panam a 11 ppm en Cao Palma Estacin de Investigacin en Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica. Concentraciones de mercurio en plumas de ms de 4,6 ppm se consideran elevadas en aves cantoras (Jackson et al. 2011) y ms de 40 ppm en aves piscvoras (Evers et al. 2008). Invertivorous migrantes neotropicales, tales como el waterthrush norte (Seiurus noveboracencis), playero manchado (Actitis macularius) y las especies se alimentan de peces como el martn pescador residente de alimentacin en los hbitats acuticos (ros y manglares es decir), tendan a tener mayores concentraciones de mercurio que otras especies de plumas. Un subconjunto de muestras de plumas (n = 39) fueron analizadas por otros metales incluyendo varios elementos esenciales. Aqu nos centramos en los metales seleccionados que fueron elevados en aves objeto de muestreo: de aluminio (Al), bario (Ba), cobre (Cu), hierro (Fe), manganeso (Mn), estroncio (Sr), estao (Sn) y zinc (Zn).

American Pygmy Kingfisher (Chloroceryle aenea), resident in Costa Rica and Panama

RESULTS
See table 1 for metal concentrations by site and individuals, and figures 2 and 3 for summary of selected heavy metals by site and species. Due to lack of funding only a few samples were screened for heavy metals. This study serves as a pilot screening to determine if further sampling is necessary to assess contaminant exposure to birds and other wildlife in Central America and to locate sources of contamination.

DISCUSSION
Certain species, such as the spotted sandpiper, appear to have elevated levels of several toxic elements including copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), Tin (Sn) and mercury (Hg). In addition to exposure through diet, shorebirds may ingest a portion of the metals by consuming contaminated sediment while foraging. Many heavy metals are also used in pesticides and manufacturing and birds may occupy agricultural habitats or areas downstream from polluted areas allowing for exposure to many contaminants. It appears that further investigation into contaminant exposure to birds in Central America is warranted based on these preliminary data.

Figure 2. Concentrations of trace elements in tail feathers of individual spotted sandpipers in Costa Rica and Panama.
12 10 Feather Mercury (ppm fw) Juan Diaz, Panama (3; 1) Cao Palma, Costa Rica (1)

INTRODUCTION

Heavy metals are among the most toxic poisons known with the nervous system often being the principal Rio Balso, Ojochal, Costa Rica (1) 8 target. We are unaware of any published studies that address heavy metal exposure to the resident birds and neotropical migrants of Mesoamerica. Most of the toxicity information available focus on aquatic 6 organisms, particularly fish, but little has been published on metal toxicity in other vertebrates including 4 birds. Elevated exposure to Al can be toxic to fish and cause pulmonary and developmental problems. Barium 2 does not bioaccumulate but at high exposures can induce gastrointestinal distress, muscular paralysis, and cardiovascular problems at concentrations exceeding 10 ppm (Moore 1991). Toxic effects to birds from 0 exposure to Cu include reduced growth rates, lowered egg production, and developmental abnormalities American Pygmy Kingfisher Green and Rufous Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle aenea) Kingfisher (Chloroceryle (Chloroceryle americana) (US EPA 2008). Elevated concentrations of Mn in birds have been known to cause decreased hemoglobin, inda) anemia, and reduced growth (ATSDR 1991). Elevated levels of Zn can cause mortality, pancreatic Figure 3. Mercury concentrations in feathers of kingfishers from Costa degradation, reduced growth, and decreased weight gain in birds (Eisler 1993, NAS 1980). And mercury, in Rica and Panama. its methylated form, is a well known neurotoxin and has been shown to affect reproductive success in birds (Evers et al. 2008, Jackson et al. in press). Table 1. Concentrations of heavy metals in bird feathers (ppm or mg/kg) from Costa Rica and Panama (numbers in red Many studies have surveyed for heavy metals in pelagic sea birds, but fewif anyhave assessed heavy we consider high or elevated; species in bold are considered residents). metal exposure to the resident and migrant birds of Mesoamerica. This study provides an initial survey of Site Species Al Ba Cu Hg Mn Sn Sr Zn heavy metal concentrations for the region. Cao Palma, CR American Pygmy kingfisher 9.5 0.81 9.87 11.29 2.98 3.62 2.29 141

METHODS AND STUDY AREA


Outer tail feathers (R6) were pulled from birds captured using mistnets. Birds were released following sampling at the site of capture. Sampling was completed between November 15, 2010 and April 19, 2011. Mercury analysis in feathers was done using a Direct Mercury Analyzer (DMA-80) by Millestone Inc. at Biodiversity Research Institute Wildlife Mercury Research Lab in Maine, USA. Trace metal scan was done using ICP-MS at the Trace Element Research Lab at Texas A&M University, Texas, USA. In Costa Rica we sampled 2 sites in the lowlands on the Caribbean Coast near Tortuguero (Cao Palma and Tortuguero), one site in a cacao plantation near Volcan Turrialbo (CATIE), one site in San Jose (INBio Parque) and one site on the Pacific Coast in the wetlands of Ojochal (Reserva Playa Tortuga). In Panama three mangrove sites were sampled on the Atlantic coast (Playa Bonita, Panama Vieja and Juan Diaz; Figure 1).

Figure 1. Study sites in Costa Rica and Panama

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are grateful to Alejandra Martinez and the staff from CATIE, Todd Lewis from Cao Palma Biostation, Costa Rica, biologists Jon Van Dort and Evelyn Paola Thibodeau, and the staff of the Center for Caribbean Conservation and Reserva Playa Tortuga all helped with bird capture and banding. We thank Kevin Regan at BRI for Hg analysis.

LITERATURE CITED
Evers, D. C., L. Savoy, C. DeSorbo, D. Yates, W. Hanson, K. Taylor, L. Siegel, J. Cooley, M. Bank, A. Major, K. Munney, B. Mower, H. Vogel, N. Schoch, M. Pokras, M. Goodale, and J. Fair. 2008. Adverse effects from environmental mercury loads on breeding common loons. Ecotoxicology 17:69-81. Jackson, A. K., D. C. Evers, M. A. Etterson, A. M. Condon, S. B. Folsom, J. Detweiler, J. Schmerfeld, D. A. Cristol. 2011. Mercury exposure affects the reproductive success of a free-living terrestrial songbird, the Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus). The Auk. In press.

Northern waterthrush Red-capped manakin Summer tanager Swainson's thrush Swainson's thrush White-collared manakin Wood thrush Wood thrush Tortuguero, CR Swainson's thrush Yellow bellied flycatcher CATIE, CR Baltimore oriole Chesnut-sided warbler Passarin's tanager Yellow-throated euphonia InBio, San Jose, CR Northern waterthrush Philadelphia vireo Reserva Play Tortuga, Ojochal, CR Black-hooded antshrike Blue-grey tanager Cherrie's tanager Cherrie's tanager Green kingfisher Mourning warbler Mourning warbler Northern waterthrush Northern waterthrush Spotted sandpiper Spotted sandpiper Swainson's thrush Juan Diaz, Panama American Pygmy kingfisher American Pygmy kingfisher American Pygmy kingfisher Green and Rufous Kingfish House wren Panama Viejo, Panama Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Spotted Sandpiper Playa Bonita, Panama Spotted Sandpiper

10.7 90.6 31.7 13.1 52.2 50.2 260 342 36.3 10.6 288 21.8 458 61 31.8 56.3 20.1 34.2 65.9 970 62.8 8.97 53.6 67.7 355 51.8 89.8 31.1 31.5 51.1 462 41.1 616 47.6 19 1590 124

1.96 3.39 4.41 2.09 2.35 4.83 7.86 9.01 3.9 3.83 6.34 2.83 25.5 31.9 2.03 1.56 4.25 7.19 7.29 11.5 1.79 1.27 2.87 0.94 15.7 0.55 1.61 2.97 0.5 2.39 1.42 3.8 7.14 2.31 1.09 1.09 2.1

5.62 7.9 5.97 6.57 6.68 6.36 7.92 6.53 9.58 6.2 8.34 6.66 7.33 5.3 19.6 6.59 7.43 7.14 7.14 8.89 9.77 5.84 8.7 8.75 11.1 8.71 14.5 7.39 8.8 8.87 8.01 7.64 7.57 15.8 9.44 45.6 45.6

2.20 0.50 0.09 0.50 0.19 0.35 1.89 1.67 1.02 1.26 0.27 0.08 0.06 1.24 0.21 0.03 <DL 0.04 0.02 1.30 0.52 0.13 1.27 2.57 1.35 2.32 0.54 5.74 2.90 5.49 1.73 4.63 0.01 0.04 5.68 2.51

14.9 24.2 13.5 8.86 12.8 8.67 47.8 37.9 9.98 40 15.3 12.4 52.9 8.87 17.5 1.43 19.6 13.1 16.2 70.1 11.4 6.33 24 3.99 32.2 1.71 2.21 5.73 10.3 79.5 46 88 97.7 3.03 5.87 58.4 35.2

1.29 3.91 3.65 3.85 2.28 3.3 2.22 2.15 3.36 3.31 2.06 4.18 2.15 4.24 2.57 4.32 5.13 8.64 9.59 10.6 11.4 14.5 9.14 4.36 12.1 4.65 15.3 15.9 5.42 6.23 7.9 3.47 6.39 14.2 3.35 2.73 3.45

1.43 2.73 1.31 1.25 1.57 2.76 4.62 4.1 1.51 2.02 4.61 1.23 11 8.63 2.58 1.12 5.28 10.5 9.8 12.5 5.78 1.96 3.2 1.53 68.3 1.08 0.99 2.92 1.78 9.41 9.41 8.87 17.7 1.5 5.81 14.6 9.61

119 106 104 97.7 93.7 109 96.1 95.2 102 96.6 61.2 110 103 100 96.8 90.2 154 121 98.9 96.3 98.1 71.9 75 73.8 117 131 190 85.3 148 204 133 137 361 130 139 168 184

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