Lead, cadmium and mercury in the blood of the blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii) from the coast of Sinaloa, Gulf of California, Mexico. Issue 1 (15th September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lerma, Miriam; Castillo-Guerrero, José Alfredo; Ruelas-Inzunza, Jorge; Fernández, Guillermo
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 110:Issue 1(2016:Sep.)
• Page Start: 293
• Page End: 298
• Publication Date: 2016-09-15
• Subjects: Age-related differences -- Breeding stage -- Heavy metals -- Seabird -- Sex-related differences; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.06.049
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: We used blood samples of the Blue-footed Booby, considering sex (female and male) and age-class (adult and chick) of individuals at different breeding stages during two breeding seasons (2010–2011 and 2011–2012) in Isla El Rancho, Sinaloa, to determine lead, cadmium, and mercury concentrations. Lead and cadmium concentrations were below our detection limit (0.05 and 0.36 ppm, respectively). A higher concentration of mercury was found in early stages of breeding, likely related to changes in mercury environmental availability. Mercury concentrations in adults did not relate with their breeding output. Males and adults had higher mercury concentration than females and chicks. We provide information of temporal, sex and age-related variations in the concentrations of mercury in blood of the Blue-footed Booby. Highlights: We obtain baseline blood concentrations of mercury of the Blue-footed Booby breeding at Isla El Rancho, Sinaloa, Mexico. Mercury concentrations decreased gradually as the breeding season progressed, possibly due to changes in mercury environmental availability. Adult males had higher mercury concentration than adult females throughout the breeding season. Pre-fledging chicks had lower mercury concentration than adults, without sex-related differences.