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. 2017 Dec;46(8):825-841.
doi: 10.1007/s13280-017-0929-3. Epub 2017 Jun 15.

Concentrations of lead and other elements in the liver of the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), a European flagship species, wintering in Eastern Poland

Ignacy Kitowski  1 , Dariusz Jakubas  2 , Dariusz Wiącek  3 , Agnieszka Sujak  4
Affiliations

Concentrations of lead and other elements in the liver of the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), a European flagship species, wintering in Eastern Poland

Ignacy Kitowski et al. Ambio. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

As a top predator, the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) may serve as a good indicator species, providing information about the bioavailability of contaminants and their transfer within the food chain. In this study, we aimed to determine the common sources of origin of 17 metals and other elements in the liver of white-tailed eagles, and to compare the variations in their hepatic concentrations by age (adults vs immatures) and sex (males vs females) in groups of white-tailed eagles wintering in Eastern Poland. The element concentrations followed the pattern of S > K > Na > Fe > Mg > Ca > Zn > Cu > Mn > Se > Pb > Hg > Cd > Cr > Sr > V > Sc. We found significant age-related differences in the hepatic concentrations of some of the elements. Adults showed higher concentrations of Pb, Cd, Ca, Fe, and Zn and lower concentrations of Cu and Se than immatures. These differences may be explained by age-related differences in wintering strategy (adults are sedentary, and immatures are migratory) and hunting skills (adults are more successful when hunting for agile prey). Our study indicates that ingested Pb ammunition poses a serious threat to the health and lives of white-tailed eagles in Poland (32% of the studied individuals had acute lead poisoning). Our study also indicates a serious need for banning the use of lead hunting ammunition in the parts of Europe (including Poland) where it is still allowed.

Keywords: Bioaccumulation; Lead ammunition; Liver; Raptors; Trace elements.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study area in Eastern Poland divided into northern (N) and southern (S) parts with the locations of sampling sites with 20-km buffers. Two locations are not shown and were not considered for analysis because only two eagles were found in each
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
PCA biplot of element concentrations in the livers of immature and adult white-tailed eagles wintering in Eastern Poland. Convex hulls contain all samples representing a particular age category. Samples collected from adults and immatures are presented as points, and elements are presented as vectors
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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