Nickel concentration in two bird species from Hara Biosphere Reserve of southern Iran

Abstract

We investigated the levels of nickel in the feathers of the Western Reef Heron (Egretta gularis) and Siberian Gull (Larus heuglini) from the Hara Biosphere Reserve in southern Iran from November to December 2010. Analysis of variance shows that no significant differences in nickel levels were found between gender and age groups in either species, but it should be pointed out that the number of samples was small. Student t tests show that the amount of nickel in the feathers of the Siberian Gull was higher than in the Western Reef Heron. The level of nickel concentration in the Western Reef Heron was higher in females than in males; on the other hand, this level of concentration in the Siberian Gull was higher in males.