Efecto de la edad y la localidad en la concentración de cadmio y cobre en el hígado de la gaviota dominicana Larus dominicanus

Abstract

We analyzed Cu and Cd liver concentration in adults and fledglings of Kelp gull from an urban (Coquimbo city) and a wild (Pájaros Islet) colony. Cu concentration was 15.57 ± 0.079 μg g -1 dry weight for adults and fledglings of both colonies. Adults Cd concentration from both colonies was 9.72 ± 0.110 μg g -1 dw, being 194% of the level considered toxic but in the range for seabirds. In the urban fledglings Cd was below the detection level. Wild fledgling showed higher concentration of 1.54 ± 0.064 μg g -1 dw which probably reflects a biomagnification process, because parents kleptoparasite and consume eggs and chicks of other seabirds.