Relationships between heavy metal and metallothionein concentrations in lesser black-backed gulls, Larus fuscus, and Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea.

摘要: Metallothionein, cadmium, zinc, copper, and mercury concentrations were measured in adult lesser black-backed gulls, Larus fuscus; metallothionein, copper fledgling Cory's shearwaters, Calonectris diomedea. In metallothionein was positively correlated with cadmium (kidney r=0.83, liver r=0.46), zinc r=0.46, r=0.37), r=0.28, r=0.34). Mercury levels gulls showed no correlations or any other metal. shearwaters the kidney (r=0.41) but not liver, (r=0.43) (r=0.52), (r=0.55) liver. Cadmium most important factor determining tissue demonstrating role of heavy metal detoxification. concentrations, concentrations. During latter phases chick growth high are required for feather development, at this time binding may be masked by presence a large amount zinc- copper-bound metallothionein. These results illustrate disparate roles which will state flux both seasonally annually.