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Borges-Ramírez M, Escalona-Segura G, Huerta-Lwanga E, Iñigo-Elias E, Rendón-von Osten J. Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) feathers as bioindicators of exposure to metals and metalloids contamination in urban, semi-urban, and rural areas from Campeche state, Mexico. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 247:118241. [PMID: 38244967 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Landfills are sources of soil, water, and air pollution due to the release of toxic compounds such as metals and metalloids. In both tropical and temperate environments, scavenger birds such as the Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) that have learned to use these sites as a feeding area are probably exposed to metals, metalloids and other "persistent bioaccumulative toxic substances (PBTs)" released in open dumpsite (OD) and sanitary landfill (SL). The objective of this study is to evaluate the presence and distribution of toxic metals (Al, Sn, Hg, Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr) and As in OD and SL from urban, semi-urban and rural localities in Campeche, México, using molting feathers of C. atratus as bioindicators. A total of 125 Black Vulture primary and secondary wing feathers were collected from OD and SL. Metals were determined by voltammetry through acid digestion. The highest levels of metals occurred in landfills in urban, semi-urban, and rural localities. The elements with the highest concentrations were Al, with an average of 35.67 ± 33.51 μg g-1 from rural environments, and As, with 16.20 ± 30.06 μg g-1 from the urban localities. Mercury was the only element that had a very homogeneous distribution between the three environments we studied. In general, Pb, Hg, Cu and Cd were the elements that presented the lowest concentrations with 0.32 ± 0.35, 0.16 ± 0.22, 0.14 ± 0.31 and 0.06 ± 0.10 μg g-1, respectively regardless of any particular location or environment. Black Vultures from dumpsites are good bioindicators of what humans consume in urban, semi-urban, and rural environments. However, the conservation of vultures is of great importance since these scavenger birds perform ecosystem services by feeding on decomposing organic material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merle Borges-Ramírez
- Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), Avenida Rancho, Polígono 2-A, Ciudad Industrial Lerma, CP. 24500, Campeche, Campeche, Mexico; Instituto de Ecología, Pesquería y Oceanografía del Golfo de México (EPOMEX), Campus VI, Av. Héroes de Nacozari 480, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, 24070, Campeche, Mexico
| | - Griselda Escalona-Segura
- Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), Avenida Rancho, Polígono 2-A, Ciudad Industrial Lerma, CP. 24500, Campeche, Campeche, Mexico
| | - Esperanza Huerta-Lwanga
- Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), Avenida Rancho, Polígono 2-A, Ciudad Industrial Lerma, CP. 24500, Campeche, Campeche, Mexico; Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Eduardo Iñigo-Elias
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850, Cornell, University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA; 398 Ellis Hollow Creek Road, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Jaime Rendón-von Osten
- Instituto de Ecología, Pesquería y Oceanografía del Golfo de México (EPOMEX), Campus VI, Av. Héroes de Nacozari 480, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, 24070, Campeche, Mexico.
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Factors Influencing the Potential Distribution of Globally Endangered Egyptian Vulture Nesting Habitat in Nepal. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13040633. [PMID: 36830419 PMCID: PMC9951647 DOI: 10.3390/ani13040633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Habitat suitability is crucial to ensure the long-term persistence of species and can be identified based on relationships between species occurrences and underlying abiotic and biotic factors. We identified potential nesting habitat for the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) in Nepal using ecological niche modeling with climatic variables. We estimated the currently suitable nesting habitat for Egyptian vulture in Nepal at 38,204 km2. We found a high probability of suitable nesting habitat on east-facing aspects, and the probability of a suitable nesting habitat was greater in more mountainous areas, particularly in central and western regions of Nepal. Precipitation was a major factor for predicting probability of the presence of nest sites for Egyptian vultures. After identifying potentially suitable habitat, we identified environmental factors affecting landscape-level suitable nesting habitat for Egyptian vultures using generalized linear models. For Egyptian vultures, sites near forests and human settlements were most suitable for nesting, roosting, and foraging, especially in central and western Nepal. Based on potentially suitable nesting habitat and previous work on Egyptian vulture foraging and roosting habitat, we recommend protecting forests near water sources and open areas for their long-term conservation.
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Yasmeen R, Asif L. Heavy metal exposure and behavioral assessment of vultures in a captive environment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:68096-68102. [PMID: 35532822 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20656-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metals are a heterogeneous group of metals that can cause detrimental biological disruptions in vultures. Heavy metals play a threatening role and affect vulture populations around the globe. However, various conservation organizations are working for the captive breeding of these endangered animals so that they can reintroduce these captive-bred animals back to their natural environment. This research study was conducted at Changa Manga Vulture Conservatory, Punjab, with the help of Punjab Wildlife Department. A non-invasive technique was used to collect vulture feathers and fecal samples to study the exposure of heavy metals. The behavior of vultures in captivity was also recorded. Samples were chemically digested in aqua regia and analyzed for the detection of five heavy metal concentrations such as chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and magnesium (Mg) using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS). Among the selected heavy metals, non-essential metals such as Pb, Cr, and Cd were recorded in the least concentration, whereas essential metals Zn and Mg were recorded in the highest concentration. Behavioral studies showed that vultures in captivity become excessively hostile and afraid of any human interaction; they flew to the top of the trees if they felt any danger. It was concluded in the study that the higher levels of both essential and non-essential metals recorded in feathers and fecal samples might be due to the type of feed, even though a controlled food is provided to vultures in captivity. However, regular monitoring of the environment can bring improvements to the health of vultures in captivity and help to find accurate sources of contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roheela Yasmeen
- Department of Biology, Lahore Garrison University, Phase VI, Sector C, DHA, Lahore, Pakistan.
| | - Laiba Asif
- Department of Biology, Lahore Garrison University, Phase VI, Sector C, DHA, Lahore, Pakistan
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Brink CW, Santangeli A, Amar A, Wolter K, Tate G, Krüger S, Tucker AS, Thomson RL. Quantifying the spatial distribution and trends of supplementary feeding sites in South Africa and their potential contribution to vulture energetic requirements. Anim Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. W. Brink
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology DST‐NRF Centre of Excellence University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
| | - A. Santangeli
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology DST‐NRF Centre of Excellence University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
- The Helsinki Lab of Ornithology Finnish Museum of Natural History University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - A. Amar
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology DST‐NRF Centre of Excellence University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
| | | | - G. Tate
- Birds of Prey Programme Endangered Wildlife Trust Modderfontein South Africa
| | - S. Krüger
- Ezemvelo KwaZulu‐Natal Wildlife Cascades South Africa
| | | | - R. L. Thomson
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology DST‐NRF Centre of Excellence University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
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Plaza PI, Lambertucci SA. What do we know about lead contamination in wild vultures and condors? A review of decades of research. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 654:409-417. [PMID: 30447579 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 11/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Vultures and condors (hereafter vultures) make up one the most threatened avian guilds in the world due to a variety of human-mediated impacts and disturbances. In fact, 70% of vulture species are currently suffering impacted by significant conservation threats, with lead contamination being particularly important. Unfortunately, lead contamination in vulture species remains poorly studied in many regions of the world. We reviewed the existing scientific knowledge about this threat to vultures. We found 62 scientific articles studying lead contamination in vultures. Seventy-two percent of these articles were from North America and Europe, with the rest corresponding to Asia (13%), South America (8%), and Africa (7%). Most (92%) were published recently (2001-2018). Published articles included information on 13 vulture species out of a total of 23 from both the Old (9) and New World (4). Eighty-eight percent of the articles showed individuals with lead concentrations above threshold levels in some tissues sampled, with New World (Cathartidae) vultures more affected than Old World vultures (Accipitridae). The most suspected but rarely probed source of lead was lead ammunition, but other sources such as pollution or industry were also reported. It is concerning that lead contamination is considered a major threat for just 8% (2/23) of the vulture species categorized by the IUCN Red list. Our review shows that lead contamination is an important threat for several vulture species worldwide, but remains undiagnosed and not well-recognized in some species and geographical areas. The effect of this contaminant on vulture demography is not well known but merits particular attention since it may be leading to population declines in several species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo I Plaza
- Grupo de investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA (Universidad Nacional del Comahue - CONICET), Quintral 1250 (R8400FRF), San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina.
| | - Sergio A Lambertucci
- Grupo de investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA (Universidad Nacional del Comahue - CONICET), Quintral 1250 (R8400FRF), San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina.
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Yamac E, Ozden M, Kirazli C, Malkoc S. Heavy-metal concentrations in feathers of cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus L.) as an endangered species in Turkey. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:833-843. [PMID: 30415366 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-3649-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study is to find out the certain heavy-metal levels in the feathers of cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus L.), which is a threatened species. The feathers of the cinereous vultures were collected from the breeding areas in Sündiken and Türkmenbaba Mountains. To avoid misleading results, vanes and calamuses of the rectrices were evaluated separately in terms of their As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn contents. ICP-OES was used to analyse the metal levels in feathers which belonged to 43 different individuals. All of the heavy-metal concentrations except for Cu were higher in vanes than in calamuses. The mean levels of Cd (0.254 ± 1.589 μg/g d.w. in the calamus and 0.334 ± 0.156 μg/g d.w. in the vane), Cr (6.536 ± 6.378 μg/g d.w. in the vane), Ni (11.886 ± 10.891 μg/g d.w. in the vane) and Pb (5.671 ± 3.884 μg/g d.w. in the vane) exceeded the threshold values for the birds. As a result, we recommend further studies to understand the effects of the heavy metals on the population of the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Yamac
- Department of Biology, Science Faculty, Eskişehir Technical University, Eskişehir, Turkey.
| | - Menekse Ozden
- Graduate School of Sciences, Anadolu University, Eskişehir, Turkey
| | - Cihangir Kirazli
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Abant İzzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey
| | - Semra Malkoc
- Porsuk Vocational School, Eskişehir Technical Universtiy, Eskişehir, Turkey
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