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Utilization of birds of different mating system behavior and feeding habits as a bioindicator for urbanization lead pollution

Article

Last updated: 24 Dec 2024

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Abstract

Anthropogenic contamination is spreading through every environment on the planet that affects the whole biota. Negative effects have been observed recently in a number of taxa, including birds. Birds are crucial as bioindicators as one of the best studied groups of organisms because they are noticeable, relatively simple to observe, and the subject of public interest and concern. Therefore, evaluation of lead (Pb) levels in the liver, muscle, kidney, and feathers of laughing dove (Streptopelia senegalensis), Egyptian barn swallow (Hirundo rustica savignii), and house sparrow (Passer domesticus niloticus) was done. These bird species, which live in the coastal region of Damietta, have various feeding routines, habitat preferences, and mating strategies. In both the breeding and nonbreeding seasons, these wild birds were collected. Measurement of the levels of lead (Pb) in their liver, kidney, muscle, and feathers were evaluated. The results showed that females of laughing doves and barn swallows had significantly higher Pb concentrations than males, while males of house sparrows accumulated significantly higher Pb concentrations than females. This could be attributed to the active food search in both female laughing doves and swallows, and male sparrows. House sparrows, with the widest range of distribution near main roads, showed the highest concentration of Pb, especially in the liver, kidney, and feather than laughing doves and swallows, which prefer the wild rural areas. Histological examination of the gonads revealed unhealthy testes and ovaries. The ovarian tissue was less impacted than the testicular tissue, especially during the nonbreeding season. Compared to the dove and swallow, the sparrow's gonadal architectural histopathological findings were more noticeable. It seems that testes are more affected and more related to the results of lead measurements, and can be used as a bioindicator for heavy metal pollution. The findings offer also some proof of the house sparrow's potential as a biomonitor for urban heavy metal pollution. This research emphasises the significance of using biomonitors from various habitat types and feeding guilds.  

DOI

10.21608/cat.2022.286900

Keywords

Egyptian barn swallow, house sparrow, laughing dove, Pb contamination

Authors

First Name

Basma

Last Name

Sheta

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Zoology Department. Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta, 34517, Egypt.

Email

basmasheta@du.edu.eg

City

New Damietta

Orcid

-

First Name

Israa

Last Name

El-Qenawy

MiddleName

M.

Affiliation

Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta, 34517, Egypt.

Email

mesraa098@gmail.com

City

Damietta

Orcid

-

First Name

Hekmat

Last Name

El-Gammal

MiddleName

L.

Affiliation

Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta, 34517, Egypt.

Email

mhekmat54@gmail.com

City

Damietta

Orcid

-

Volume

26

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

38230

Issue Date

2022-12-01

Receive Date

2022-10-19

Publish Date

2022-12-01

Page Start

67

Page End

73

Print ISSN

1687-5052

Online ISSN

2090-2786

Link

https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/article_286900.html

Detail API

https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=286900

Order

286,900

Type

Original Article

Type Code

644

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences

Publication Link

https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Utilization of birds of different mating system behavior and feeding habits as a bioindicator for urbanization lead pollution

Details

Type

Article

Created At

24 Dec 2024