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. 2025 Jan;34(1):89-101.
doi: 10.1007/s10646-024-02816-1. Epub 2024 Oct 29.

Trace element contamination in three shorebird species migrating through Delaware Bay, New Jersey: arsenic, mercury and selenium are increasing

Joanna Burger  1   2 , Stephanie Feigin  3   4
Affiliations

Trace element contamination in three shorebird species migrating through Delaware Bay, New Jersey: arsenic, mercury and selenium are increasing

Joanna Burger et al. Ecotoxicology. 2025 Jan.

Abstract

Many shorebird populations are declining, and contaminants may be partly contributing to the decline by interfering with feeding, migration, and breeding success. The goal of our study was to determine whether there was a temporal change in concentrations of trace elements of red knot (Calidris canutus rufa), sanderling (Calidris alba), and ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres) during spring migration in Delaware Bay, New Jersey, USA. We sampled blood to 1) determine levels of trace elements in 2019, 2) compare 2019 trace element levels with those from shorebirds in 2011-2012, and 3) examine variability in blood levels of trace elements among species. In 2019: 1) trace element levels were significantly different among species (except cadmium[Cd]), 2) Cd was lowest in all species, and arsenic (As) and selenium (Se) were highest, and 3) sanderlings had the highest levels of As and Se, and knots had the highest levels of chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb). Se was higher in these shorebirds than reported for other shorebirds from elsewhere. As, mercury (Hg), and Se increased significantly between 2011-2012 and 2019 in all three species. There were no significant temporal changes in Cd. Chromium (Cr) decreased in knots and sanderling. The temporal increases in As, Se, and Hg bear watching as they are toxic in vertebrates, and each can decrease the toxicity of the others. The data indicate that shorebirds can be bioindicators of changing trace element levels in estuaries, potentially providing early warning of increasing levels of As, Hg, and Se in the environment.

Keywords: As; Hg; Se; Shorebirds; Temporal patterns; Trace elements.

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Conflict of interest statement

Compliance with ethical standards. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. This project was completed with appropriate protocols, and wereapproved by Rutgers University Institution Animal Review Board, within all ethical standard guidelines. Ethics approval and consent to participate: All authors have read, understood, and have complied with applicable statements on “Ethical responsibilities of authors” as found in the Instructions to Authors and are aware with minor exceptions, no changes can be made to authorship once the paper is submitted.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Map of Delaware Bay showing locations of blood collection in three species of shorebirds during migration in May 2019
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Comparison of blood trace element concentrations (wet weight, ng/g) in red knots migrating through Delaware Bay in May 2011/2012 and 2019. The line through each dataset is the median for that category
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Comparison of blood trace element concentrations (wet weight, ng/g) in sanderlings migrating through Delaware Bay in May 2011/2012 and 2019. The line through each dataset is the median for that category
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Comparison of blood trace element concentrations (wet weight, ng/g) in ruddy turnstones migrating through Delaware Bay in May 2011/2012 and 2019. The line through each dataset is the median for that category
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Ackerman E, Ambrogio E, Esher D, Rhoads E, Thomson R, Ubiet L, Uricheck A (1998) Contamination issues in the Delaware River basin: Present and future. In: Majumdar SK, Miller EW, Sage LE (eds) Ecology and restoration of the Delaware River basin. PA Academy Sci, Easton PA, p 234–245
    1. Adams EM, Williams KA, Olsen BJ, Evers DC (2020) Mercury exposure in migrating songbirds: Correlations with physical condition. Ecotoxicol 29:1240–1253. 10.1007/s10646-020-02190-8 - PubMed
    1. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) (1996) Toxicological Profile for Selenium. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. US Public Health Service, Atlanta, GA
    1. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) (1999) Toxicological Profile for Mercury. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. US Public Health Service, Atlanta, Georgia
    1. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) (2007) Toxicological Profile for Lead. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. US Public Health Service, Atlanta, GA

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