Trace element concentrations in feathers and blood of Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) nestlings from Norway and Spain

Information on trace element pollution in the terrestrial environment and its biota is limited compared to the
marine environment. In the present study, we collected body feathers and blood of 37 Northern goshawk
(Accipiter gentilis) nestlings from Tromsø (northern Norway), Trondheim (central Norway), and Murcia (southeastern
Spain) to study regional exposure, hypothesizing the potential health risks of metals and other trace
elements. Blood and body feathers were analyzed by a high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer
(HR-ICP-MS) for aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), cadmium
(Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb). The influence of regional differences, urbanization and agricultural land
usage in proximity to the nesting Northern goshawks was investigated using particular spatial analysis techniques.
Most trace elements were detected below literature blood toxicity thresholds, except for elevated concentrations
(mean±SD μg ml−1 ww) found for Zn (5.4±1.5), Cd (0.00023±0.0002), and Hg (0.021±0.01).
Corresponding mean concentrations in feathers (mean±SD μg g−1 dw) were 82.0±12.4, 0.0018±0.002, and
0.26±0.2 for Zn, Cd and Hg respectively. Multiple linear regressions indicated region was a significant factor
influencing Al, Zn, Se and Hg feather concentrations. Blood Cd and Hg concentrations were significantly influenced
by agricultural land cover. Urbanization did not have a significant impact on trace element concentrations
in either blood or feathers. Overall metal and trace element levels do not indicate a high risk for toxic
effects in the nestlings. Levels of Cd in Tromsø and Hg in Trondheim were however above sub-lethal toxic
threshold levels. For holistic risk assessment purposes it is important that the concentrations found in the
nestlings of this study indicate that terrestrial raptors are exposed to various trace elements.
Metal pollution
Blood
Feathers
Urbanization
Agriculture
GIS
Terrestrial
Biomonitoring
Bird of prey