1.08 St. Clair, C., Baird, P., Ydenberg, R., Elner, R. & Bendell, L. (2015)

Das Autorenteam konnte bei einer der im westlichen Alaska brütenden Unterarten (Calidris a. pacifica) erhöhte Kontentrationen verschiedener Schwermetalle in Federn und Nieren feststellen: "We report concentrations of cadmium, copper, and zinc in kidneys as well as copper, lead, mercury, selenium and zinc in feathers. (...) Cadmium concentrations in kidneys were significantly related to habitat preference: [Cd] in estuarine foragers >[Cd] in terrestrial foragers. Cadmium accumulation was agedependent as concentrations increased significantly within 10 months of hatch dates but not afterward. Concentrations of cadmium and zinc in kidneys as well as lead and mercury in feathers were below those known to cause deleterious effects in birds. In contrast, selenium concentrations in feathers (range: 2.1-14.0 ?g/g ) were often at levels associated with toxicity risks (>5 ?g/g). Toxicity thresholds are not available for copper in kidneys or copper and zinc in feathers; however, measured concentrations of these elements were within documented ranges for sandpipers. Future studies should assess potential impacts of selenium on embryonic development in Dunlin and other sandpipers."

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