A recent study shows that contaminant levels in pink-footed geese are
three times higher than in barnacle geese. This may be caused by a different
pollutant exposure in their wintering areas in continental Europe and
Scotland, respectively.
For his master thesis 'Screening of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in
migrating waterfowl; barnacle goose Branta leucopsis and pink-footed
goose Anser brachyrhynchus' Eirik Hovland Steindal, student at the
University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, analysed POPs in eggs collected
from goose nests in Svalbard in 2006. Study species were the pink-footed
goose, wintering in Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgia and the barnacle
goose that winters in Scotland.
The exposure to POPs in terrestrial herbivores is in general lower than in
predators or marine species. However, Arctic species that migrate to
temperate areas in winter experience often higher pollution levels in the
wintering areas than in the breeding areas.
It can be assumed that the higher the nutrient uptake by the geese in the
wintering areas prior to migration is, i.e. the more egg production is
relying on stored resources, the higher will be the contanimant level in
their eggs. Steindal related the amount of nutrients derived at winter
habitats and POP concentrations in eggs of pink-footed geese and could
support this assumption.
Organic pollutants (POPs)
Only low levels of persistent organic pollutants were found in both goose
species. However, the concentration of POPs was approximately three times
higher in pink-footed geese, compared to corresponding levels in barnacle
geese. The author suggests that this species-specific difference is due to a
higher exposure for the pink-footed geese wintering at continental Europe.
Flame retardants
Somewhat surprisingly, the levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs),
used as flame retardants, were in the same magnitude as levels reported in
various seabird species. Unexpectedly, PBDE 209 predominated the PBDE
pattern in both goose species - a trend that has not been reported in biota
previously.
Effects on embryonic development
Little is known about the effects of contaminants on the development of
embryos in geese, but this study indicates that the studied contaminants may
effect the growth and weight of the embryos.
Steindals findings accentuate the importance of including migratory
herbivorous species in future monitoring programmes of POPs.
This master thesis project was a cooperation between The Institute of
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, The Norwegian
Polar Institute (NPI) and The Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology,
Norwegian School of Veterinary Science. Supervisors were Geir Wing
Gabrielsen (NPI) and Pim de Voogt (University of Amsterdam).
(Source: Eirik Hovland Steindal and
www.npolar.no)
Contact: Eirik Hovland
Steindal
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The Barnacle goose winters in Caerlaverock in
Scotland, UK (Photo: C. Hübner).
Pink-footed geese winter in Denmark, the Netherlands
and Belgia (Photo: C. Hübner).
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