Przemysław Pokorny

Residues of chromium, nickel, cadmium and lead in Rook Corvus frugilegus eggshells from urban and rural areas of Poland.

We examined the concentrations of chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in Rook Corvus frugilegus eggshells from 43 rookeries situated in rural and urban areas of western (=intensive agriculture) and eastern (=extensive agriculture) Poland. We found small ranges in the overall level of Cr (the difference between the extreme values was 1.8-fold; range of concentrations=5.21-9.40 Cr ppm), Ni (3.5-fold; 1.15-4.07 Ni ppm), and Cd (2.6-fold; 0.34-0.91 Cd ppm), whereas concentrations of Pb varied markedly, i.e. 6.7-fold between extreme values (1.71-11.53 Pb ppm). Eggshell levels of these four elements did not differ between rural rookeries from western and eastern Poland, but eggshells from rookeries in large/industrial cities had significantly higher concentrations of Cr, Ni and Pb than those from small towns and villages. Our study suggests that female Rooks exhibited an apparent variation in the intensity of trace metal bioaccumulation in their eggshells, that rapid site-dependent bioaccumulation of Cu, Cr, Ni and Pb occurs as a result of the pollution gradient (rural<urban), and that Cd levels are probably regulated physiologically, even though these were relatively high, which could be treated as an overall proxy of a heavy Cd load in the soil environment.

Bioaccumulations of heavy metals in submerged macrophytes in the mountain river Biała Lądecka (Poland, Sudety Mts.)

Abstract The study was conducted on the Biała Lądecka River which is a mountain river. It is similar to many European mountain rivers in terms of hydromorphology and catchment management. The aim of this study was to determine the bioconcentration factors of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, Ni, Cr, Cu and Zn) in Ranunculus aquatile (L.) Dumort., Fontinalis antipyretica (L. ex Hedw.), and Lemanea fluviatilis (L.) C.Ag. The content of metals in water, sediment, and submerged plants was determined. The metal concentrations in plants can be arranged as follows: Hg < Cd < Cr < Ni < Cu < Pb <Zn. The highest concentrations of Hg, Ni, Cr, and Cu were observed in F. antipyretica, but the highest concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Zn were in R. aquatile. L. fluviatilis always contained the least amounts of heavy metals. Bioconcentration factors (BCFs) were lowest in L. fluviatilis and highest in F. antipyretica. Among the analyzed metals, plants accumulated the highest amount of Zn, and the least of Hg. The BCFs for Zn were from 24111 (in L. fluviatilis) to 97574 (in R. aquatile), and BCFs for Hg were from 29 (in L. fluviatilis) to 226 (in F. antipyretica).

The pattern of distribution and interaction of metals and calcium in eggshells and egg contents in relation to the embryonic development of eggs in a small passerine bird

Differences in element concentrations have been observed between embryonated and non-embryonated eggs of the Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus, presumably due to the resorption of calcium and other elements from the shell. To investigate this difference, we tested the hypotheses that (1) the distribution of elements in eggshells and egg contents, (2) the individual element–element relationships between shells and contents, and (3) the relationships among the elements in eggshells and egg contents vary between the two egg samples. Based on the levels of 11 elements (Cr, Cu, Ni, Cd, Pb, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Mg and Ca) in Reed Warbler eggs, our results confirmed the second and third hypotheses. Importantly, we found that embryonic development tended to blur the lines between two types of relationships: (1) between elements in eggshells and egg contents through an increase in the number of significant correlations, some of which may be enhanced by high levels of certain elements (Cd, Co, Pb, Zn are indicative of trace metal pollution in fish ponds); (2) among the various elements in eggshells and egg contents, as demonstrated by the differential grouping of elements in principal components analysis (PCA). The consistent positive direction of relationships for almost all elements in both the shells and contents of eggs is presumed to result from the initial parallel co-sequestration of all the elements which accompanies intensive calcium transfer from the female body into the incipient egg. Our study highlights the fact that only limited inferences can be drawn from the interactions of metals and calcium in eggshells and egg contents if the fertility status of the eggs is unknown.ZusammenfassungVerteilungsmuster und Wechselwirkungen von Metallen und Calcium in Eischale und Eiinhalt in Bezug zum embryonalen Entwicklungszustand der Eier eines kleinen Singvogels Bebrütete und nicht bebrütete Eier des Teichrohrsängers Acrocephalus scirpaceus scheinen sich in den Konzentrationen der Elemente zu unterscheiden—vermutlich aufgrund der Resorption von Calcium und anderen Elementen aus der Schale. Vor diesem Hintergrund überprüften wir die Hypothesen, dass sich (1) die Verteilung der Elemente in den Eischalen und Eiinhalten, (2) die individuellen Element–Element-Verhältnisse zwischen Eischalen und Eiinhalten und (3) die Beziehungen zwischen den Elementen in Eischalen und Eiinhalten bei Proben der zwei Eitypen unterscheiden. Basierend auf dem Gehalt an elf Elementen (Cr, Cu, Ni, Cd, Pb, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Mg und Ca) in Teichrohrsängereiern bestätigten unsere Ergebnisse die zweite und die dritte Hypothese. Eine wichtige Erkenntnis war, dass die Embryonalentwicklung zwei Typen von Beziehungen tendenziell verschleiert: (1) zwischen den Elementen in den Eischalen und den Eiinhalten durch die Zunahme signifikanter Korrelationen, von denen manche durch den hohen Gehalt an einigen Elementen noch verstärkt werden können (Cd, Co, Pb und Zn weisen auf Spuren von Metallbelastung in Fischteichen hin); (2) zwischen den verschiedenen Elementen in den Eierschalen und Eiinhalten, wie durch die differenzielle Gruppierung der Elemente bei der Hauptkomponentenanalyse (PCA; principal components analysis) veranschaulicht wird. Die durchgehend positive Ausrichtung der Beziehungen für fast alle Elemente, sowohl in den Eischalen als auch in den Eiinhalten, ist vermutlich auf die ursprünglich parallele Zuteilung aller Elemente zurückzuführen, welche den intensiven Calciumtransfer aus dem Körper des Weibchens in das entstehende Ei begleitet. Unsere Studie unterstreicht die Tatsache, dass sich aus den Wechselwirkungen zwischen Metallen und Calcium in Eischale und Eiinhalt nur begrenzte Schlüsse ziehen lassen, wenn der embryonale Entwicklungszustand der Eier unbekannt ist.

The Activity of Neutral α-Glucosidase and Selected Biochemical Parameters in the Annual Cycle of Breeding Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

The aim of the study was to demonstrate seasonal changes in the hydrolytic and transferase activity of neutral α-glucosidase, the level of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and total protein in the annual breeding cycle of the carp. The study was conducted on fish from a fish farm in Lower Silesia (Poland). Blood serum was collected from the heart in: June, September and December of two consecutive years. The results of the study show that the hydrolytic and transferase activity of neutral α-glucosidase, as well as the results of basic biochemical parameters are highest in summer, when the fish seek and intake food intensively. The lowest values were observed in spring, when carp have the lowest metabolism after the wintering period.

Speckled and plain regions of avian eggshells differ in maternal deposition of calcium and metals: A hitherto overlooked chemical aspect of egg maculation

ABSTRACT Although it has been strongly implied that studies on structural function might resolve certain conflicting theories regarding the huge variability of coloration in avian eggs, including maculation, the fundamental physiological question about the functional role of eggshell speckling in the maternal deposition of micronutrients into maculated (pigment spots) and plain (unpigmented) eggshell regions remains largely unanswered. We measured (within the same egg) the concentrations of 2 micronutrients, the staple components of avian eggshells (calcium and magnesium), and 6 trace elements (copper, manganese, iron, cobalt, cadmium, and lead) in maculated (a superficial layer of brown pigment) and unpigmented areas of eggshells in 2 groups of Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) eggs representing 2 extremes of eggshell coloration: those with darker eggshells and more extensive pigment spots vs. those with bright eggshells and small, more clearly demarcated pigment spots. We found evidence that the concentrations of calcium and magnesium and of 2 trace elements (copper and cadmium) in both types of egg were significantly higher in speckled eggshell areas (where the shells were also significantly thicker) than in unpigmented ones. Conversely, lead (a toxic element) peaked markedly in the plain areas of eggshells compared with the speckled ones, whereas the concentrations of the 3 other trace elements (manganese, iron, and cobalt) measured in the speckled and unpigmented eggshell regions were variable and dependent on egg coloration. Our results give a clear indication that egg maculation can play a functional role in the chemistry of avian eggs, one that enables females to distribute micronutrients and trace elements into pigment spots and unpigmented regions of an eggshell to varying extents. This presumably represents a mechanism permitting prompt physiological adjustment to varying levels of maternal resources. It is possible that elements sequestered into protoporphyrin speckles are not further utilized by developing embryos; this might be a form of physiological chemoprotection through the disposal or deactivation of certain elements in pigment speckles, which do not (or only marginally) contribute to the biochemical processes of embryogenesis.

Variation in egg size, shell thickness, and metal and calcium content in eggshells and egg contents in relation to laying order and embryonic development in a small passerine bird

ABSTRACT Although there are quite a number of studies examining the effect of egg laying order on the levels of elements and various chemical substances, none have taken into account the presence or absence of embryonic development in the eggs. In this study, we measured the morphometry (length, breadth, volume, and mass), shell thickness, and concentrations of calcium and 10 other metals (including 8 essential elements: chromium, copper, nickel, manganese, iron, cobalt, zinc, and magnesium; and 2 nonessential elements: lead and cadmium) in the shells and contents of embryonated and nonembryonated eggs across the laying order of Eurasian Reed-Warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus). We found a significant increase in egg volume in both nonembryonated and embryonated eggs, and an increase in egg length and mass in embryonated eggs, with laying order. Analysis confirmed significant differences related to laying order between nonembryonated and embryonated eggs in the concentrations of elements measured in shells (Cu, Cd, Pb, Mn, Fe, and Zn) and egg contents (Pb). Analysis of the relationships between laying order and concentrations of elements revealed a significant increase in Mg and Ca concentrations in the shells of embryonated eggs, and a significant decrease in Ni in the contents of nonembryonated eggs and in Cu, Cd, Mn, and Co in the contents of embryonated eggs. Our results indicate that laying order and the presence of an embryo are critical factors responsible for variation in some features of egg morphometry and element concentrations in eggshells and egg contents. These factors should therefore be taken into consideration in studies of the chemistry and morphometry of avian eggs.