Trace elements in canvasbacks ( Aythya valisineria) wintering in Louisiana, USA, 1987–1988

We determined trace element concentrations in livers of canvasbacks ( Aythya valisineria) collected at Catahoula Lake and the Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana during, the winter of 1987–1988. Forty percent of canvasbacks wintering at Lake Catahoula had elevated concentrations of lead (>6·7 μg g...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental pollution (1987) 1994, Vol.84 (3), p.253-259
Main Authors: Custer, Thomas W., Hohman, William L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
age
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Aves
Aythya valisineria
Biological and medical sciences
cadmium
canvasbacks
contaminants
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
game birds
gender differences
lead
lead poisoning
liver
mercury
metals
trace elements
waterfowl
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Summary:We determined trace element concentrations in livers of canvasbacks ( Aythya valisineria) collected at Catahoula Lake and the Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana during, the winter of 1987–1988. Forty percent of canvasbacks wintering at Lake Catahoula had elevated concentrations of lead (>6·7 μg g −1 dry weight) in the liver; 33% had concentrations consistent with lead intoxication (>26·7 μg g −1). Based on the number of canvasbacks that winter at Lake Catahoula and the frequency of lead exposure there, more than 5% of the continental population of canvasbacks may be exposed to lead at Lake Catahoula alone. Lead concentrations in livers differed among months and were higher in males than females, but were not different in adults and immatures. Concentrations of selenium and mercury in livers of females differed among months but not by age or location. Cadmium concentrations in livers differed by age, location and month of collection, but not by sex. Frequencies and concentrations of trace elements not commonly associated with adverse effects on avian species (aluminum, arsenic, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, nickel, silver, vanadium and zinc) are presented. Except for the elevated concentrations of lead at Catahoula Lake, all trace elements were at background concentrations.
ISSN:0269-7491
1873-6424
DOI:10.1016/0269-7491(94)90136-8