The screening method for use of wild pheasant feathers in the monitoring of environmental pollution with heavy metals
Abstract It has been shown that some species of birds, especially herbivorous and territorial ones, are more sensitive to the effects of toxic substances compared to mammals. This allows for taking integrated actions in the area of environmental protection and monitoring in a holistic sense (at vari...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33649-3 |
| _version_ | 1797841118239391744 |
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| author | Katarzyna Tajchman Kamil Drabik Aleksandra Ukalska-Jaruga Paweł Janiszewski Damian Spustek Karolina Wengerska |
| author_facet | Katarzyna Tajchman Kamil Drabik Aleksandra Ukalska-Jaruga Paweł Janiszewski Damian Spustek Karolina Wengerska |
| author_sort | Katarzyna Tajchman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract It has been shown that some species of birds, especially herbivorous and territorial ones, are more sensitive to the effects of toxic substances compared to mammals. This allows for taking integrated actions in the area of environmental protection and monitoring in a holistic sense (at various trophic levels). Therefore, this study aimed to assess the possibility of using pheasant feathers (Phasianus colchicus) as a potential bioindicator ofenvironmental contamination, and thus to determine the concentration of heavy metals (lead—Pb, arsenic—As, cadmium—Cd, chromium—Cr, nickel—Ni, and zinc—Zn) in the analyzed tissue of animals inhabiting the forest districts of the Lubartów, Tomaszów, Skierniewice, and Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski areas. The chemical analysis used to determine the concentration of toxic elements in pheasant feathers was carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The highest concentrations of Cr and Zn were found in birds from the Lubartów Forest District (1.93 mg/kg and 120.63 mg/kg, respectively), As and Ni in the Tomaszów Forest District (0.55 mg/kg and 1.60 mg/kg, respectively), Cd in the Lubartów Forest District and Skierniewice (0.04 mg/kg), and Pb in the Skierniewice Forest Distict (6.79 mg/kg). The observed results were strongly related to soil contamination and urbanization index, as key environmental factors which significantly determine the metal content in pheasant feathers. Therefore, proposed non-invasive measurements of the elemental composition of feathers of birds living in specific areas may be an important indicator of environmental pollution in relation to the high impact of anthropopressure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T16:25:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f8b4ca159f524eb08e4a6fc64367d295 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T16:25:49Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-f8b4ca159f524eb08e4a6fc64367d2952023-04-23T11:15:25ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-04-0113111010.1038/s41598-023-33649-3The screening method for use of wild pheasant feathers in the monitoring of environmental pollution with heavy metalsKatarzyna Tajchman0Kamil Drabik1Aleksandra Ukalska-Jaruga2Paweł Janiszewski3Damian Spustek4Karolina Wengerska5Department of Animal Ethology and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Sciences in LublinInstitute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in LublinDepartment of Soil Science Erosion and Land Protection, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation, State Research InstituteDepartment of Fur-Bearing Animal Breeding and Game Management, University of Warmia and Mazury in OlsztynInstitute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in LublinInstitute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in LublinAbstract It has been shown that some species of birds, especially herbivorous and territorial ones, are more sensitive to the effects of toxic substances compared to mammals. This allows for taking integrated actions in the area of environmental protection and monitoring in a holistic sense (at various trophic levels). Therefore, this study aimed to assess the possibility of using pheasant feathers (Phasianus colchicus) as a potential bioindicator ofenvironmental contamination, and thus to determine the concentration of heavy metals (lead—Pb, arsenic—As, cadmium—Cd, chromium—Cr, nickel—Ni, and zinc—Zn) in the analyzed tissue of animals inhabiting the forest districts of the Lubartów, Tomaszów, Skierniewice, and Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski areas. The chemical analysis used to determine the concentration of toxic elements in pheasant feathers was carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The highest concentrations of Cr and Zn were found in birds from the Lubartów Forest District (1.93 mg/kg and 120.63 mg/kg, respectively), As and Ni in the Tomaszów Forest District (0.55 mg/kg and 1.60 mg/kg, respectively), Cd in the Lubartów Forest District and Skierniewice (0.04 mg/kg), and Pb in the Skierniewice Forest Distict (6.79 mg/kg). The observed results were strongly related to soil contamination and urbanization index, as key environmental factors which significantly determine the metal content in pheasant feathers. Therefore, proposed non-invasive measurements of the elemental composition of feathers of birds living in specific areas may be an important indicator of environmental pollution in relation to the high impact of anthropopressure.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33649-3 |
| spellingShingle | Katarzyna Tajchman Kamil Drabik Aleksandra Ukalska-Jaruga Paweł Janiszewski Damian Spustek Karolina Wengerska The screening method for use of wild pheasant feathers in the monitoring of environmental pollution with heavy metals Scientific Reports |
| title | The screening method for use of wild pheasant feathers in the monitoring of environmental pollution with heavy metals |
| title_full | The screening method for use of wild pheasant feathers in the monitoring of environmental pollution with heavy metals |
| title_fullStr | The screening method for use of wild pheasant feathers in the monitoring of environmental pollution with heavy metals |
| title_full_unstemmed | The screening method for use of wild pheasant feathers in the monitoring of environmental pollution with heavy metals |
| title_short | The screening method for use of wild pheasant feathers in the monitoring of environmental pollution with heavy metals |
| title_sort | screening method for use of wild pheasant feathers in the monitoring of environmental pollution with heavy metals |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33649-3 |
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