TRACE ELEMENTS AND METAL CONTENT IN THE FEATHERS OF THE NORTHERN BALD IBIS (GERONTICUS EREMITA)

Long-lived bird species, such as the Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita), are exposed to heavy metals through air, water and food because they are at the highest point in the food supply chain Birds accumulate heavy metals in their bodies, organs, and in their feathers. The article aimed to investigate the trace element and heavy metal content of Northern bald ibis feathers using ICP-MS, as an endangered sentinel species, in order to both determine the contamination level of the area and evaluate the risk the species is facing. The study included 34 samples of feathers obtained from bald ibises released into their natural habitat. The results of the study showed that the average values of the trace elements (Na-11(+), Mg-24, Ca-20(+), K-39(+), P, Al-27(+), Fe-56(+)) which are necessary for the survival of living organisms were above 100 mu g g(-1), the second group of metals (Ti-205(+), Mn-55, Cu-63(+), Zn-66(+), Br-82) which are toxic to the body in high amounts were between 8.24-22.4 mu g g(-1) and those which are highly toxic at very low doses (Sb-51(+), Ni-60, As, Co-60, Ba-138(+), Pb-208(+), Cd-111(+), Mo, Se-75) were lower than 1 mu g g(-1). This study of the Northern Bald Ibis species, animals threatened by extinction due to environmental pollution, investigated their levels of heavy metal pollution in the feathers and indicates that Bald Ibis are possible bioindicators of environmental trace element contamination.