A Pilot Study on Bioaccumulation and Tissue Distribution of Mercury in Barn Swallow (<i>Hirundo rustica</i>)
Although extensive research has been carried out on the occurrence of mercury (Hg) in biota, bioaccumulation and tissue distribution of Hg in songbirds have not been well characterized. In the present study, Hg was investigated in insects and barn swallows (<i>Hirundo rustica</i>) to exp...
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Toxics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/3/206 |
| _version_ | 1797239198447566848 |
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| author | Li Tian Yujing Zhu Ruiming Yu Xiaobo Zheng |
| author_facet | Li Tian Yujing Zhu Ruiming Yu Xiaobo Zheng |
| author_sort | Li Tian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although extensive research has been carried out on the occurrence of mercury (Hg) in biota, bioaccumulation and tissue distribution of Hg in songbirds have not been well characterized. In the present study, Hg was investigated in insects and barn swallows (<i>Hirundo rustica</i>) to explore the bioaccumulation characteristics of Hg. Hg in swallow feathers and tissues including muscle, liver, and bone was investigated to determine the tissue distribution of Hg. The concentrations of Hg were 1.39 ± 1.01 μg/g, 0.33 ± 0.09 μg/g, 0.47 ± 0.10 μg/g, and 0.23 ± 0.09 μg/g in feather, muscle, liver, and bone samples, respectively. The trophic magnification factor of Hg in swallows and insects was higher than 1. However, the Hg concentrations in swallow feathers were not significantly correlated with stable isotope values of carbon or nitrogen, which implies the complex food sources and exposure processes of Hg for swallows. Feathers had significantly higher concentrations of Hg than liver, muscle, and bone samples (<i>p</i> < 0.01 for all comparisons). Feather, muscle, bone, and other organs had fractions of 64.4 ± 11.9%, 6.07 ± 2.06%, 20.0 ± 8.19%, and 9.56 ± 2.96% in total body burden of Hg in swallows. Hg in feathers contributed more than half of Hg in the whole body for most swallow individuals. Swallows may efficiently eliminate Hg by molting, and the excretion flux of Hg and other contaminants via molting deserves more investigation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:47:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d71af9f337614cc6bca0114553b40a40 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2305-6304 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:47:43Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
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| series | Toxics |
| spelling | doaj.art-d71af9f337614cc6bca0114553b40a402024-03-27T14:06:14ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042024-03-0112320610.3390/toxics12030206A Pilot Study on Bioaccumulation and Tissue Distribution of Mercury in Barn Swallow (<i>Hirundo rustica</i>)Li Tian0Yujing Zhu1Ruiming Yu2Xiaobo Zheng3Life Science and Technology School, Lingnan Normal University, Zhanjiang 524048, ChinaMaoming Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaSchool of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY 10044, USAMaoming Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaAlthough extensive research has been carried out on the occurrence of mercury (Hg) in biota, bioaccumulation and tissue distribution of Hg in songbirds have not been well characterized. In the present study, Hg was investigated in insects and barn swallows (<i>Hirundo rustica</i>) to explore the bioaccumulation characteristics of Hg. Hg in swallow feathers and tissues including muscle, liver, and bone was investigated to determine the tissue distribution of Hg. The concentrations of Hg were 1.39 ± 1.01 μg/g, 0.33 ± 0.09 μg/g, 0.47 ± 0.10 μg/g, and 0.23 ± 0.09 μg/g in feather, muscle, liver, and bone samples, respectively. The trophic magnification factor of Hg in swallows and insects was higher than 1. However, the Hg concentrations in swallow feathers were not significantly correlated with stable isotope values of carbon or nitrogen, which implies the complex food sources and exposure processes of Hg for swallows. Feathers had significantly higher concentrations of Hg than liver, muscle, and bone samples (<i>p</i> < 0.01 for all comparisons). Feather, muscle, bone, and other organs had fractions of 64.4 ± 11.9%, 6.07 ± 2.06%, 20.0 ± 8.19%, and 9.56 ± 2.96% in total body burden of Hg in swallows. Hg in feathers contributed more than half of Hg in the whole body for most swallow individuals. Swallows may efficiently eliminate Hg by molting, and the excretion flux of Hg and other contaminants via molting deserves more investigation.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/3/206stable isotopemercurybirdtissue distribution |
| spellingShingle | Li Tian Yujing Zhu Ruiming Yu Xiaobo Zheng A Pilot Study on Bioaccumulation and Tissue Distribution of Mercury in Barn Swallow (<i>Hirundo rustica</i>) Toxics stable isotope mercury bird tissue distribution |
| title | A Pilot Study on Bioaccumulation and Tissue Distribution of Mercury in Barn Swallow (<i>Hirundo rustica</i>) |
| title_full | A Pilot Study on Bioaccumulation and Tissue Distribution of Mercury in Barn Swallow (<i>Hirundo rustica</i>) |
| title_fullStr | A Pilot Study on Bioaccumulation and Tissue Distribution of Mercury in Barn Swallow (<i>Hirundo rustica</i>) |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Pilot Study on Bioaccumulation and Tissue Distribution of Mercury in Barn Swallow (<i>Hirundo rustica</i>) |
| title_short | A Pilot Study on Bioaccumulation and Tissue Distribution of Mercury in Barn Swallow (<i>Hirundo rustica</i>) |
| title_sort | pilot study on bioaccumulation and tissue distribution of mercury in barn swallow i hirundo rustica i |
| topic | stable isotope mercury bird tissue distribution |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/3/206 |
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