Levels of Vanadium in tern eggs and sediments of Shidvar and Bani Farour Islands, Persian Gulf

Oil contains several heavy metals such as vanadium, which in high concentrations have adverse effects on animal breeding, physiology and their behaviour. Marine birds and sediments which are known as sentinel species and metal reservoir respectively are appropriate indicators of pollutions in marine ecosystems. This survey was conducted in July 2012. Objectives of the study were to examine the concentrations of Vanadium in randomly collected eggs of three breeding tern species and sediments on Shidvar and Bani Farour Islands, in the Persian Gulf; to survey the suitability of terns eggs as a biomonitoring agent. The highest mean of Vanadium level of egg contents and eggshells were found in Bridled Tern from Shidvar Island. The comparison between the same species from these islands indicated that the mean Vanadium level in the White-cheeked Tern and Bridled Tern on Bani Farour Island were more than Shidvar Island while the average was, in contrast, more for the Lesser Crested Tern nesting on Shidvar Island. There was significant difference between concentrations of Vanadium in sediments of these two islands (p<0.01). Although most Vanadium levels in eggs were lower than FSNZ and WHO standards, and the rates in sediments were lower than RSA standard, the relative coordination between concentrations of Vanadium in eggs and sediments in the present study shows that tern eggs represent the pollution status of studying areas as a proper biomonitoring agent.