Title

Birds as bioindicators of heavy metal contamination in wetlands

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Publication Title

Ornitologia Colombiana

Abstract

With the growth of the industrial, livestock, agricultural, and mining activities many ecosystems, including wetlands, have been affected and damaged. Wetlands represent important areas for the conservation of birds, in addition to contributing to economic activities of the neighboring populations. However, misuse of wetlands has led to their gradual degradation in the last century, with heavy metals being among the most important pollutants since they are highly stable in the environment and in the tissues of living beings. In addition, the birds are among the species most affected by these pollutants; they could present problems in reproduction, alteration in embryogenesis, nervous signs and metabolic problems. Therefore, biomoni-toring of levels of heavy metals in these most important wetlands is important, through such bioindicators as birds, which seem to be very appropriate due to their longevity and their biological and physiological characteristics. The choice of sam-ples of birds may vary according to the species of bird, the purpose of the investigation and the type of metal to evaluate, so samples of kidney, liver, muscle, bone, cartilage or feathers may be collected. In Colombia there have been several studies of pollution by heavy metals (especially in fish), mainly by mercury (Hg) in water bodies, but there are very few studies in wetlands. It is important to follow the levels of heavy metals in wetlands using bioindicators like birds and in this way to de-termine if such levels represent a danger to the animals and public health.

Volume

2014

Issue

14

First Page

145

Last Page

160

ISSN

17940915

Identifier

SCOPUS_ID:84943222816

Documento original

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