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An Evaluation of the Contribution of Macro‐ and Microelements from Colonial Nesting Waterbirds to Surface Water
Author(s) -
TelesfordCheckley Judlyn M.,
Mora Miguel A.,
Boellstorff Diane E.,
Provin Tony L.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2016.01.0019
Subject(s) - feces , zoology , water quality , phosphorus , surface water , chemistry , nutrient , zinc , environmental chemistry , magnesium , potassium , cadmium , sodium , biology , ecology , environmental science , environmental engineering , organic chemistry
Macro‐ and microelements contained in the feces of cattle egrets ( Bubulcus ibis ) and other colonial birds in heronries can be sources of contamination of nearby waterways. Concentrations of the macroelements potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), sulfur (S) and the microelements zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and boron (B) were measured in water and fecal samples collected from four locations containing heronries during the breeding seasons of 2011, 2012, and 2013. Nitrogen and phosphorus were measured but not reported in this study. Concentrations of K in feces ranged from 8.19 × 10 3 ± 4.38 × 10 2 to 4.88 × 10 4 ± 7.57 × 10 2 mg kg −1 , and concentrations in water ranged from 3.92 ± 0.05 to 17.93 ± 0.37 mg L −1 . Similarly, concentrations of Ca in feces ranged from 4.17 × 10 3 ± 1.84 × 10 3 to 1.16 × 10 4 ± 4.14 × 10 3 mg L −1 , and concentrations in water ranged from 25.28 ± 0.89 to 67.88 ± 2.02 mg L −1 . When birds nested directly over water, concentrations of K, Ca, and Mg in water were significantly higher ( p < 0.05) than concentrations in water adjacent to birds nesting on islands. The results from this study show that macroelements from avian feces have the potential to enrich surface water and to negatively affect surface water quality. These results provide information regarding the contribution of nutrients from heronries (comprised primarily by cattle egrets) to watersheds. Core Ideas Deposition of inorganic elements to soil and water from bird feces is dependent on heronry size. Potassium, Ca, and Mg are the main elements deposited from avian feces to water. Birds nesting over or near water contribute significant amounts of nutrients to water.