Evaluación de la exposición a elementos inorgánicos (Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd y Pb) en cormoranes grandes (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) de la laguna costera del Mar Menor de Murcia

Abstract

For this study, the levels of nine inorganic elements such as chromium, manganese, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, cadmium and lead, have been measured in different tissues coming from liver, kidney, muscle, bone and feather in great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis), which are installed in the Mar Menor coastal lagoon during the winter. We have had juvenile birds found dead on La Manga del Mar Menor coast. The analyses were made by inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Waterbirds are useful for biomonitoring contaminant exposure in aquatic ecosystems as they are on the top of food webs. The Mar Menor coastal lagoon (Murcia, Spain) has high ecological value which integrity is threatened due to impacts of mining and agricultural activities, and urban growing and touristic development that contributes with considerable quantities of contaminants, which can get into the food web joining different strata leading to biomagnification, endangering not only wildlife but also humans. Feathers are presented as an excellent sample for monitoring lead and chromium pollution. Kidney and liver are presented as the most appropriate sample for monitoring cadmium and selenium pollution. Lead and chromium levels are higher than those obtained by other authors from other geographic locations, while other element levels are lower. We have confirmed the utility in the biomonitoring of inorganic elements in great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) from the Mar Menor coastal lagoon.