Heavy metals in Franklin's gull tissues: Age and tissue differences

Abstract

We examined the concentrations of lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury, manganese, and selenium in feathers, liver, kidney, heart, brain, and breast muscle of Franklin's gulls (Larus pipixcan) nesting in northwestern Minnesota, USA, in 1994. Between 16% (chromium) and 71% (selenium, manganese) of the variation in metal concentrations was explained by tissue and age, except for selenium and arsenic, which were only explained by tissue. Of 35 possible differences (seven metals in five tissues), 24 significant age- related differences were found in Franklin's gulls, with young generally having lower concentrations of metals in all of their tissues than adults. A notable exception was the liver; young had significantly higher concentrations of selenium, chromium, manganese, and arsenic than did adults. Three notable findings were the following: young had significantly higher concentrations of selenium, chromium, manganese, and arsenic in their liver than did adults; young had 30 times as much chromium in the liver than adults; and adults had greatly elevated concentrations of cadmium in feathers, kidney, and liver.