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Spatial Trends in Mercury Exposure, its Dietary Sources and Clinical Health Effects in Finnish White-Tailed Eagle Nestlings

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dc.date.accessioned 2019-07-03T07:53:06Z
dc.date.available 2019-07-03T07:53:06Z
dc.date.issued 2019-07-03
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/24893
dc.title Spatial Trends in Mercury Exposure, its Dietary Sources and Clinical Health Effects in Finnish White-Tailed Eagle Nestlings en
ethesis.faculty Eläinlääketieteellinen tiedekunta fi
ethesis.faculty Faculty of Veterinary Medicine en
ethesis.faculty Veterinärmedicinska fakulteten sv
ethesis.faculty.URI http://data.hulib.helsinki.fi/id/f3d16a17-630c-43fb-86ad-031dba66d6a9
ethesis.university.URI http://data.hulib.helsinki.fi/id/50ae46d8-7ba9-4821-877c-c994c78b0d97
ethesis.university Helsingin yliopisto fi
ethesis.university University of Helsinki en
ethesis.university Helsingfors universitet sv
dct.creator Johansson, Venla
dct.issued 2019
dct.language.ISO639-2 eng
dct.abstract Despite the current increasing population trend, white-tailed eagles are still prone to many anthropogenic stressors. Mercury (Hg) is a very persistent naturally occurring element and apex predators as well as birds feeding on aquatic ecosystems are usually exposed to higher levels of Hg. Since global Hg emissions are still increasing, Hg remains as a topical health issue. The effects of mercury on wildlife have been studied extensively. Blood clinical-chemical parameters (BCCPs) can potentially be useful as biomarker endpoints for contaminant exposure. However, the effects of Hg on blood chemistry and metabolism are still poorly described. Mercury concentrations and stable isotope composition can be measured from the feathers of nestlings and the nestlings represents well the geographical area of interest. Stable isotope analyses can be used to investigate the potential dietary sources of mercury. In the experimental part we investigated the regional differences in stable isotope values, Hg concentration and BCCPs, as well as the interactions between stable isotope values and Hg exposure. We also investigated possible effects of Hg exposure on the health of WTE nestlings in three populations in Finland perceived by BCCPs. Blood and feather samples were collected from WTE nestlings in Finland during the years 2015 and 2016 in three different locations. Blood plasma was analysed for 16 different BCCPs. Feathers were analysed for total Hg concentration as well as for stable nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) composition. A significant difference in δ13C and δ15N values in Varsinais-Suomi and Ostrobothnia compared to Lappi was apparent and is likely to indicate variable local dietary habits. Nonetheless, the concurrent variation in δ15N and δ13C values is indicative of changes in prey composition rather than regional changes in baseline isotope signatures. We noted significantly higher Hg concentrations in Lapland population compared to the other regions. Since there was a high correlation between Hg and stable isotope values, dietary habits seem to have a strong effect on Hg exposure in WTE nestlings in Finland. In addition Hg was positively associated with alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin. The statistical relationship between Hg and total bilirubin could indicate negative impact on liver function. en
dct.subject Mercury en
dct.subject Blood Clinical Chemical Parameters en
dct.subject Dietary Ecology en
dct.subject White-tailed eagle en
dct.subject Feathers en
dct.language en
ethesis.language.URI http://data.hulib.helsinki.fi/id/languages/eng
ethesis.language englanti fi
ethesis.language English en
ethesis.language engelska sv
ethesis.supervisor Eulaers, Igor
ethesis.supervisor Sonne, Christian
ethesis.thesistype pro gradu -tutkielmat fi
ethesis.thesistype master's thesis en
ethesis.thesistype pro gradu-avhandlingar sv
ethesis.thesistype.URI http://data.hulib.helsinki.fi/id/thesistypes/mastersthesis
dct.identifier.ethesis E-thesisID:6c6378c8-ca1e-49ff-9ac1-271ff64bf003
personal.identifier lib und
studies.notes 14.11.2019 und
ethesis.principalprofessor Pohjanvirta, Raimo
dct.identifier.urn URN:NBN:fi:hulib-201907033143
dc.type.dcmitype Text
ethesis.mastersdegreeprogram Eläinlääketieteen lisensiaatin koulutusohjelma fi
ethesis.mastersdegreeprogram Degree programme in veterinary medicine en
ethesis.mastersdegreeprogram Utbildningsprogrammet i veterinärmedicin sv
ethesis.mastersdegreeprogram.URI http://data.hulib.helsinki.fi/id/MH90_001
ethesis.department.primary http://data.hulib.helsinki.fi/id/ela-2
ethesis.department.primary Elintarvikehygienian ja ympäristöterveyden osasto fi
ethesis.department.primary Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health en
ethesis.department.primary Avdelningen för livsmedelshygien och miljöhälsa sv

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