Assessment of lead exposure in Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) from spent ammunition in central Spain

The Spanish imperial eagle ( Aquila adalberti ) is found only in the Iberian Peninsula and is considered one of the most threatened birds of prey in Europe. Here we analyze lead concentrations in bones (n = 84), livers (n = 15), primary feathers (n = 69), secondary feathers (n = 71) and blood feathe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecotoxicology (London) 2011-06, Vol.20 (4), p.670-681
Main Authors: Rodriguez-Ramos Fernandez, Julia, Höfle, Ursula, Mateo, Rafael, Nicolas de Francisco, Olga, Abbott, Rachel, Acevedo, Pelayo, Blanco, Juan Manuel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Animals
Birds
Bone and Bones - metabolism
Eagles
Eagles - metabolism
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecology
Ecotoxicology
Environment
Environmental Management
Environmental Monitoring
Environmental Pollutants - metabolism
Environmental Pollution - statistics & numerical data
Feathers - metabolism
Female
Lead - metabolism
Liver - metabolism
Male
Spain
Weapons - statistics & numerical data
Wildlife conservation
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Summary:The Spanish imperial eagle ( Aquila adalberti ) is found only in the Iberian Peninsula and is considered one of the most threatened birds of prey in Europe. Here we analyze lead concentrations in bones (n = 84), livers (n = 15), primary feathers (n = 69), secondary feathers (n = 71) and blood feathers (n = 14) of 85 individuals collected between 1997 and 2008 in central Spain. Three birds (3.6%) had bone lead concentration > 20 μg/g and all livers were within background lead concentration. Bone lead concentrations increased with the age of the birds and were correlated with lead concentration in rachis of secondary feathers. Spatial aggregation of elevated bone lead concentration was found in some areas of Montes de Toledo. Lead concentrations in feathers were positively associated with the density of large game animals in the area where birds were found dead or injured. Discontinuous lead exposure in eagles was evidenced by differences in lead concentration in longitudinal portions of the rachis of feathers.
ISSN:0963-9292
1573-3017
DOI:10.1007/s10646-011-0607-3