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<p>Cinereous vultures (<i>Aegypius monachus</i>) overwintering on the Korean Peninsula may be exposed to mercury (Hg); however, internal concentrations and neurochemical responses in this globally near threatened scavenger remain poorly understood. This study characterized tissue Hg concentrations and potential sublethal neurochemical effects in 74 immature individuals found near the Korean Demilitarized Zone between 2010 and 2014. Total Hg was measured in the liver and brain (<i>n</i> = 74), breast feathers (<i>n</i> = 42), and flight feathers of two additional individuals. Cerebral cholinesterase (ChE) activity was quantified as an indicator of cholinergic function. Median hepatic and cerebral Hg concentrations (15.2 and 13.3 ng/g dw, respectively) were generally low compared with levels associated with neurochemical alterations in other birds. Liver and brain Hg concentrations were positively correlated and increased with body length. Flight feathers contained substantially higher Hg concentrations (range: 32.5–1198.4 ng/g) than breast feathers (median: 47.1 ng/g) and internal tissues, underscoring the major role of flight feathers in Hg elimination. Hepatic Hg concentrations showed no relationship with selenium (Se), consistent with Hg concentrations below levels that typically elicit Se-mediated detoxification. Notably, brain Hg concentrations were positively associated with ChE activity after accounting for body size, a pattern consistent with compensatory regulation of cholinergic components at low exposure levels. This highlights the need for continued monitoring of Hg and co-contaminants along the Mongolia–China–Korea migration corridor.</p>

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Mercury exposure in wintering Cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) on the Korean Peninsula: tissue and feather distribution and associations with brain cholinesterase activity

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月1日

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  • Sub Hur,
  • Jung-Hoon Kang,
  • Ju-Young Moon,
  • Minjoo Jang,
  • Dam-Chae Lee,
  • Kyung-Soon Jin,
  • Jong-Gil Park,
  • Dong-Ha Nam

摘要

Cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) overwintering on the Korean Peninsula may be exposed to mercury (Hg); however, internal concentrations and neurochemical responses in this globally near threatened scavenger remain poorly understood. This study characterized tissue Hg concentrations and potential sublethal neurochemical effects in 74 immature individuals found near the Korean Demilitarized Zone between 2010 and 2014. Total Hg was measured in the liver and brain (n = 74), breast feathers (n = 42), and flight feathers of two additional individuals. Cerebral cholinesterase (ChE) activity was quantified as an indicator of cholinergic function. Median hepatic and cerebral Hg concentrations (15.2 and 13.3 ng/g dw, respectively) were generally low compared with levels associated with neurochemical alterations in other birds. Liver and brain Hg concentrations were positively correlated and increased with body length. Flight feathers contained substantially higher Hg concentrations (range: 32.5–1198.4 ng/g) than breast feathers (median: 47.1 ng/g) and internal tissues, underscoring the major role of flight feathers in Hg elimination. Hepatic Hg concentrations showed no relationship with selenium (Se), consistent with Hg concentrations below levels that typically elicit Se-mediated detoxification. Notably, brain Hg concentrations were positively associated with ChE activity after accounting for body size, a pattern consistent with compensatory regulation of cholinergic components at low exposure levels. This highlights the need for continued monitoring of Hg and co-contaminants along the Mongolia–China–Korea migration corridor.