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. 2024 Feb 5;196(3):235.
doi: 10.1007/s10661-024-12385-9.

Trace element levels in the muscles of three tern species (Aves: Laridae) from the western Arabian Gulf: environmental assessment and implications for conservation

Lamia Yacoubi  1 , Dario Savoca  2   3 , Radhouan Belgacem El Zrelli  4 , Jinoy Gopalan  5 , Mazen Nazal  5 , Yu-Jia Lin  6 , Antonella Maccotta  7   8 , Foued Hamza  9 , Md Simul Bhuyan  10 , Marco Arculeo  7 , Lotfi Jilani Rabaoui  9
Affiliations

Trace element levels in the muscles of three tern species (Aves: Laridae) from the western Arabian Gulf: environmental assessment and implications for conservation

Lamia Yacoubi et al. Environ Monit Assess. .

Abstract

In the Arabian Gulf (called also Persian Gulf; hereafter 'the Gulf'), Jana and Karan Islands are recognized as one of the most Important Bird Areas in the region. Many migratory breeding seabirds, like the Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii, White-cheeked Tern Sterna repressa and Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus, depend on these islands during the breeding season. However, these aquatic wildlife species are suffering from intensified urban and industrial coastal development and various contamination events including wars and related oil spills. In this study, we used these three piscivorous top predator birds to analyse the levels of 19 trace elements (TEs; i.e. Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, V and Zn) in 15 muscular tissue samples from Jana and Karan Islands. PERMANOVA analysis showed no difference in contamination profile between sites nor between species probably due to their spatial and ecological proximity and therefore similar levels of exposure to TEs. Comparing these levels with existing literature, our results showed no particular concern for all elements, except for Al (maximum values recorded = 116.5 µg g-1 d.w.) and, in two samples, Ba (33.67 µg g-1 d.w.) and Pb (5.6 µg g-1 d.w.). The results can be considered as an initial step for supplementary evaluations with a larger number of samples and specified time intervals for the collection of specimens. This study provided baseline information on the pollution status of these two ecologically important sites which require a continuous biomonitoring programme.

Keywords: Arabian/Persian-Gulf; Conservation; Contamination; Marine pollution; Migratory seabirds; Trace elements.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Map showing the location of the Jana and Karan Islands from where the freshly dead tern specimens were sampled
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Box and jitter plot showing the concentrations of Al (minimum value corresponds to LOD/2 = 1.25 µg g−1) found in muscle tissues of T. bergii (dot), S. repressa (square), and O. anaethetus (triangle) collected from Jana Is. (blue symbols) and Karan Is. (red symbols)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Box and jitter plot showing the concentrations of arsenic, barium and lead found in muscle tissues of T. bergii (dot), S. repressa (square) and O. anaethetus (triangle) collected from Jana Is. (blue symbols) or Karan Is. (red symbols). For As and Pb, minimum concentration values correspond to LOD/2 (As = 1.25 µg g−1; Pb = 0.625 µg g−1)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Box and jitter plot showing the concentrations of mercury found in muscle tissues of T. bergii (dot), S. repressa (square) and O. anaethetus (triangle) collected from Jana Is. (blue symbols) or Karan Is. (red symbols)
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Plot of Spearman correlation test showing significant correlations (p < 0.05) indicated as disk marks in the plot and related statistical values
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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