RBMO 46(2): 287-292 | 2011
Nota Científica 

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Efecto de la edad y la localidad en la concentración de cadmio y cobre en el hígado de la gaviota dominicana Larus dominicanus

Maritza Cortés¹ y Guillermo Luna-Jorquera^1,2*

¹Laboratorio de Ecología y Diversidad de Aves Marinas, Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile

²Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile

*This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We analyzed Cu and Cd liver concentration in adults and fledglings of Kelp gull from an urban (Coquimbo city) and a wild (Pájaros Islet) colony. Cu concentration was 15.57 ± 0.079 mg g^-1 dry weight for adults and fledglings of both colonies. Adults Cd concentration from both colonies was 9.72 ± 0.110 mg g^-1 dw, being 194% of the level considered toxic but in the range for seabirds. In the urban fledglings Cd was below the detection level. Wild fledgling showed higher concentration of 1.54 ± 0.064 mg g^-1 dw which probably reflects a biomagnification process, because parents kleptoparasite and consume eggs and chicks of other seabirds.

Key words: Heavy metals, seabirds, Kelp gull, biomagnification

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