|
1J - Bioaccumulation (WEP/66) Heavy metals distribution in different tissues of great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis from Sardinia (Italy). Gallioto, Daniela1, Ancora, Stefania2, Bianchi, Nicola1, Orrù, Andrea3, Leonzio, Claudio1, Chessa, G.3, 1 Dipartimento Scienze Ambientali, Università di Siena, Siena, Siena, Italy2 Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Uomo e dell’Ambiente, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Pisa, Italy3 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale, Sassari, Sassari, Italy ABSTRACT- Distribution of Hg, Se, Pb, Cd, Fe, Cu and Mn in seabird, great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis, from wetland near Oristano, Sardinia (Italy) were investigated. Analyses were performed in muscle, liver and kidney selected from 53 specimens (20 males and 33 females). Results showed differences in metal concentrations between adults and chicks and between males and females. Possible causes of these differences were discussed on the basis of ecophysiological features. Hg detoxifying processes involving Se were considered since the ratio between Se and Hg was close to equimolarity mainly in specimen showing higher Hg levels. Results obtained also provide data on elements rarely investigated such as Cu, Fe and Mn .Metal concentrations found in great cormorant from Oristano wetland were lower than those reported for specimens from heavily polluted area. Key words: seabird, Heavy metals, cormorant, ecophysiology |
