METALS IN HERRING AND GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS FROM THE NEW YORK BIGHT: THE ROLE OF SALT GLAND IN EXCRETION

摘要

We examined the tissue distribution of metals in the herring (Larus argentatus) and great black-backed (Larus marinus) gualls obtained near the John. F. Kennedy Airport, on Long Island, New York, to determien whether there were species differences and whether levels in the salt gland were sufficiently high to suggest that this organ may be serving an excretory function. For most organs, herring gulls had signficnatly hgiher levels of lead (except for liver), but signficantly lower levels of mercury (except in the salt gland) than great black-backed gulls.