Biomonitoring of heavy metals in the feathers raptors from eastern Anatolia of Türkiye

This study aimed to determine the levels of heavy metal(loid) in the primary, secondary and breast feathers of carcasses of raptor species detected on highways within the borders of Van and Hakkari Provinces. The study was planned to take place between 1 April 2021 and 30 May 2022, including the spr...

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Main Authors: Özgür Özdemir, Erkan Azizoğlu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2025.1647589/full
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author Özgür Özdemir
Erkan Azizoğlu
author_facet Özgür Özdemir
Erkan Azizoğlu
author_sort Özgür Özdemir
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to determine the levels of heavy metal(loid) in the primary, secondary and breast feathers of carcasses of raptor species detected on highways within the borders of Van and Hakkari Provinces. The study was planned to take place between 1 April 2021 and 30 May 2022, including the spring and autumn migration periods. The study stations were selected considering the routes where birds breed and are frequently active. In addition, observations were made along the way, and the amounts of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the primary and secondary wing feathers and breast feathers of 19 carcasses belonging to 11 species collected from 3 families (Accipitridae, Falconidae, Strigidae) belonging to two raptor orders (Accipitriformes, Strigiformes) were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The metal(loid) with the highest accumulation rates in the carcass feathers were ranked as follows: Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > As > Cd. Cd values were not found in the Strigidae and Falconidae families. It was only read in the family Accipitridae. There is a significant difference in the average Cu metal level between the Falconidae and Accipitridae families. When As, Ni, Cr and Pb evaluated, no difference was seen between the species groups (p>0.05). There was a difference between Zn and Cd, but no difference was observed for the other elements (p<0.05). According to the detected concentrations of these metals, it was seen that the levels of accumulation in the feathers of the examined birds varied depending on their feeding habits.
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spelling doaj-art-597aa31d3afa498eb2a1aeab55839ae82025-08-20T03:43:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2025-08-011310.3389/fevo.2025.16475891647589Biomonitoring of heavy metals in the feathers raptors from eastern Anatolia of TürkiyeÖzgür ÖzdemirErkan AzizoğluThis study aimed to determine the levels of heavy metal(loid) in the primary, secondary and breast feathers of carcasses of raptor species detected on highways within the borders of Van and Hakkari Provinces. The study was planned to take place between 1 April 2021 and 30 May 2022, including the spring and autumn migration periods. The study stations were selected considering the routes where birds breed and are frequently active. In addition, observations were made along the way, and the amounts of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the primary and secondary wing feathers and breast feathers of 19 carcasses belonging to 11 species collected from 3 families (Accipitridae, Falconidae, Strigidae) belonging to two raptor orders (Accipitriformes, Strigiformes) were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The metal(loid) with the highest accumulation rates in the carcass feathers were ranked as follows: Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > As > Cd. Cd values were not found in the Strigidae and Falconidae families. It was only read in the family Accipitridae. There is a significant difference in the average Cu metal level between the Falconidae and Accipitridae families. When As, Ni, Cr and Pb evaluated, no difference was seen between the species groups (p>0.05). There was a difference between Zn and Cd, but no difference was observed for the other elements (p<0.05). According to the detected concentrations of these metals, it was seen that the levels of accumulation in the feathers of the examined birds varied depending on their feeding habits.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2025.1647589/fullAccipitriformesbirds feathersecotoxicologymetal(loids) pollutionStrigiformes
spellingShingle Özgür Özdemir
Erkan Azizoğlu
Biomonitoring of heavy metals in the feathers raptors from eastern Anatolia of Türkiye
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
Accipitriformes
birds feathers
ecotoxicology
metal(loids) pollution
Strigiformes
title Biomonitoring of heavy metals in the feathers raptors from eastern Anatolia of Türkiye
title_full Biomonitoring of heavy metals in the feathers raptors from eastern Anatolia of Türkiye
title_fullStr Biomonitoring of heavy metals in the feathers raptors from eastern Anatolia of Türkiye
title_full_unstemmed Biomonitoring of heavy metals in the feathers raptors from eastern Anatolia of Türkiye
title_short Biomonitoring of heavy metals in the feathers raptors from eastern Anatolia of Türkiye
title_sort biomonitoring of heavy metals in the feathers raptors from eastern anatolia of turkiye
topic Accipitriformes
birds feathers
ecotoxicology
metal(loids) pollution
Strigiformes
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2025.1647589/full
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AT erkanazizoglu biomonitoringofheavymetalsinthefeathersraptorsfromeasternanatoliaofturkiye