The Black-headed Gull's Adaptation to Polluted Environments: The Role of the Mixed-function Oxidase Detoxication System

This study was conducted to explore the role of the mixed-function oxidase (MFO) detoxication system in the ‘adaptation’ process of gulls to polluted environments. In two different populations of Black-headed Gull ( Larus ridibundus ), feeding in one case in a lagoon and in the other on an inland ru...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental Conservation
Main Authors: Fossi, Cristina, Leonzio, Claudio, Focardi, Silvano, Renzoni, Aristeo
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1988
Subjects:
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Nature and Landscape Conservation
Pollution
Water Science and Technology
Black-headed Gull
Larus ridibundus
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0376892900029350
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0376892900029350
Description
Summary:This study was conducted to explore the role of the mixed-function oxidase (MFO) detoxication system in the ‘adaptation’ process of gulls to polluted environments. In two different populations of Black-headed Gull ( Larus ridibundus ), feeding in one case in a lagoon and in the other on an inland rubbish-dump, MFO hepatic activities (aldrin epoxidase, 7-ethoxyresorufin o-deethylase, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, NADH-cytochrome c reductase, and NADH-ferrycianide reductase) and chlorinated hydrocarbon residues were determined. All the enzymatic activities detected, and the PCB residues, were higher in the Gulls feeding on the inland dump than in the gulls feeding in the lagoon. The results obtained suggest that the development of a strong detoxication system constitutes an important ‘survival mechanism’ for these birds when feeding customarily in polluted environments.

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