Moulting feathers and egg shell of waterfowl as а noninvasive bioindicators of the ecological status of aquatic ecosystems

Abstract

The content of trace elements in feathers and egg shells of waterfowl of Tengiz-Korgalzhyn lakes and Lake Sorbulak was investigated. According to the accumulated items relatively high characterized molting feathers of carnivorous birds, medium – feathers of birds with mixed diet and low – feathers of herbivorous species. In moulting feathers of Cormorant and Black-headed Gull from Tengiz-Korgalzhyn lakes high concentration of vanadium, manganese, copper, arsenic, and mercury was determined, as compared with their content in feathers of the same species of Sorbulak group. The possible use of moulting feathers as non-invasive bioindicators of ecological status of aquatic ecosystems particularly in protected wetlands are discussed.