Assessment of trace metal concentration in feathers of seabird (Larus dominicanus) sampled in the Florianópolis, SC, Brazilian coast

Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn, and Pb were measured in feathersamples of adult, subadult, and juvenileof Larus dominicanus, sampled in the Florianolis, SC, in the south of Brazil in December 2005, by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The average of the distribution of Cd concentration in adult feathers(0.072 μg g − 1) was significantly different than that found in juvenile feathers(0.021 μg g − 1). Cu concentration averages were not significantly different between adults (13.30 μg g − 1), subadults (9.67 μg g − 1), and juveniles(13.76 μg g − 1). For adults and juvenilesthere was significant difference in featherconcentrations for Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, and Pb. The distribution of Mn concentration averages in feathersdiffers between adults (11.36 μg g − 1) and juveniles(1.184 μg g − 1). Ni concentration averages of adults (5.92 μg g − 1) were significantly higher than those of juveniles(2.23 μg g − 1). For Pb, concentration averages were significantly higher in adults (7.53 μg g − 1) than in juveniles(1.47 μg g − 1). The concentration of Co and Cr in juvenileand subadults are statistically different when compared with the adults. In the present study, levels of Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Zn, and Pb increased with age. The concentrations of essential trace elements in L. dominicanus were generally comparable to values reported in other studies. With non-essentialmetals (Cd, Pb, and Ni), in our study, L. dominicanus had lower values than those reported for their northern Atlantic counterparts.