| dc.description.abstract | Trace element analysis was done on five pairs of Eastern Imperial Eagles (Aquila heliaca), in
order to try and find an explanation for their long-term infertility. The samples used were eggs
and feathers from the vicinity of their nests. The elements examined were arsenic (As),
barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg),
manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). Anthropogenic
activity is a major contributor to the release of these elements in the environment, which can
be hazardous to the health of humans, wildlife, and ecosystems in inappropriate amounts.
Raptors are often used as biological sentinels for an ecosystem, as their position on the food
chain makes them susceptible to intoxication from trace elements via bioaccumulation and
biomagnification. The analysis was done by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer
(ICP-MS) and showed levels within the acceptable norms for all except nickel, manganese,
and cobalt. | en_US |
