Influence of taxa, trophic level, and location on bioaccumulation of toxic metals in bird’s feathers: A preliminary biomonitoring study using multiple bird species from Pakistan

•The first study which screens toxic metals in multiple birds species of Pakistan.•The study shows metals tendency for various taxonomic and trophic groups of birds.•This study reports metals concentration snapshot along the stretch of Pakistan.•It is the first endeavor which unveils the metals asso...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemosphere (Oxford) 2015-02, Vol.120, p.527-537
Main Authors: Abbasi, Naeem Akhtar, Jaspers, Veerle Leontina Bernard, Chaudhry, Muhammad Jamshed Iqbal, Ali, Sakhawat, Malik, Riffat Naseem
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Bioaccumulation
Birds
Cadmium
Chromium
Environmental Monitoring
Environmental Pollutants - analysis
Feathers
Feathers - chemistry
Food Chain
Heavy metals
Metals, Heavy - analysis
Pakistan
Phylogeny
Principal component analysis
Taxonomic affiliation
Toxic
Toxic metals
Toxicology
Trophic level
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Summary:•The first study which screens toxic metals in multiple birds species of Pakistan.•The study shows metals tendency for various taxonomic and trophic groups of birds.•This study reports metals concentration snapshot along the stretch of Pakistan.•It is the first endeavor which unveils the metals associated risks to local avifauna. Increasing concentrations of heavy metals in the environment and their effects on ecosystems and biota is still an imminent threat, particularly in developing parts of the globe. The aim of the present study was to screen the heavy metal concentrations in multiple bird species across Pakistan and to preliminary evaluate the influence of taxa, trophic level, and geographical location on heavy metal accumulation in various bird species. For this purpose, we measured the concentration of 9 heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Co, Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn) in feathers of 48 bird species from different localities in Pakistan. Species exhibited heterogeneous levels of heavy metals in feathers with marked inter and intra specific variations. Mean concentrations of studied metals in feathers followed the trend Fe>Zn>Cu>Pb>Mn>Cr>Ni>Co>Cd. Species belonging to closely related taxa (families) showed comparable metal concentrations in their feathers, inferring potential phylogenetic similarities in metal exposure or accumulation. In general, concentrations of metals were greatest in carnivorous species followed by omnivorous and insectivorous birds, and granivores showing minimal levels (p
ISSN:0045-6535
1879-1298
DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.08.054