St Clair C Toby, Baird Patricia, Ydenberg Ron, Elner Robert, Bendell L I
Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada,
Ecotoxicology. 2015 Jan;24(1):29-44. doi: 10.1007/s10646-014-1352-1. Epub 2014 Sep 25.
Trace element concentrations were measured in Pacific Dunlin (Calidris alpina pacifica) to identify factors that influence accumulation and to assess toxicity risks. We report concentrations of cadmium, copper, and zinc in kidneys as well as copper, lead, mercury, selenium and zinc in feathers. Relationships between element concentrations and Dunlin age, sex, bill length, habitat preference, trophic level, and sample group were investigated with regression analyses. Stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen in Dunlin muscle tissue were used to determine habitat preference and trophic level, respectively. Cadmium concentrations in kidneys were significantly related to habitat preference: [Cd] in estuarine foragers >[Cd] in terrestrial foragers. Cadmium accumulation was age-dependent as concentrations increased significantly within 10 months of hatch dates but not afterward. Concentrations of cadmium and zinc in kidneys as well as lead and mercury in feathers were below those known to cause deleterious effects in birds. In contrast, selenium concentrations in feathers (range: 2.1-14.0 µg/g) were often at levels associated with toxicity risks (>5 µg/g). Toxicity thresholds are not available for copper in kidneys or copper and zinc in feathers; however, measured concentrations of these elements were within documented ranges for sandpipers. Future studies should assess potential impacts of selenium on embryonic development in Dunlin and other sandpipers. Risk assessments would yield more conclusive results for all elements if impacts under ecologically relevant stresses (e.g. development in the wild, migration, predation) were better understood.
对黑腹滨鹬（Calidris alpina pacifica）体内的微量元素浓度进行了测量，以确定影响其积累的因素并评估毒性风险。我们报告了肾脏中镉、铜和锌的浓度，以及羽毛中铜、铅、汞、硒和锌的浓度。通过回归分析研究了元素浓度与黑腹滨鹬年龄、性别、喙长、栖息地偏好、营养级和样本组之间的关系。分别利用黑腹滨鹬肌肉组织中碳和氮的稳定同位素比率来确定栖息地偏好和营养级。肾脏中的镉浓度与栖息地偏好显著相关：河口觅食者体内的[Cd] > 陆地觅食者体内的[Cd]。镉的积累与年龄有关，因为在孵化日期后的10个月内浓度显著增加，但之后不再增加。肾脏中的镉和锌浓度以及羽毛中的铅和汞浓度低于已知会对鸟类造成有害影响的浓度。相比之下，羽毛中的硒浓度（范围：2.1 - 14.0微克/克）往往处于与毒性风险相关的水平（>5微克/克）。目前尚无肾脏中铜或羽毛中铜和锌的毒性阈值；然而，这些元素的测量浓度在记录的鹬类范围内。未来的研究应评估硒对黑腹滨鹬和其他鹬类胚胎发育的潜在影响。如果能更好地了解生态相关压力（如野外发育、迁徙、捕食）下的影响，风险评估对所有元素将产生更具决定性的结果。
