Trace elements in feathers, pectoral plumage, and blood of griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) from a captive environment of Southern Italy

Abstract

Heavy metals and metalloids are increasingly recognised as a threat to avian health, especially in species at the top of the food chain such as vultures. Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) are ideal bioindicators for studying environmental contamination due to their scavenging habits and territorial behavior. In this study, we analysed the concentrations of six trace elements (Cd, Pb, Cr, Sb, Ni, and Cu) in feathers, pectoral plumage, and blood samples of Griffon Vultures from a captive environment in Sicily, Southern Italy, using an ICP-MS method. Significant differences in the levels of trace elements were observed between different matrices (p < 0.05). The ramigal feathers were divided into rachis (basal, medial, apical), calamus, and barbs (basal, medial apical). The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrated a clear differentiation in metal accumulation between the sections of feather matrices and between pectoral plumage and blood, reflecting the diverse pathways and time of exposure and deposition. No significant differences in heavy metal concentrations were observed between sexes and age classes. This work highlights the effectiveness of using feather matrices for monitoring environmental exposure to toxic elements and highlight the importance of continuous surveillance of heavy metal contamination in reintroduced vulture populations.

Keywords: Bioindicators; Gyps fulvus; ICP-MS; Trace elements.