Title of article :
Carotenoids in a food chain along a pollution gradient
Author/Authors :
Saila Sillanp??a، نويسنده , , ?، نويسنده , , Juha-Pekka Salminenb، نويسنده , , Esa Lehikoinena، نويسنده , , Eija Toivonena، نويسنده , , Tapio Eevaa، نويسنده ,
Issue Information :
روزنامه با شماره پیاپی سال 2008
Abstract :
Carotenoids are synthesized by plants, therefore insects and birds must obtain them from
their diet. They function in pigmentation and as antioxidants. We studied the carotenoid
profiles in a model food chain (plant–insect–bird) in an air pollution gradient to find out
whether heavy metal pollution affects the transfer of carotenoids across the trophic levels.
Birch leaves showed higher β-carotene and, one of the birch species (Betula pendula), higher
total carotenoids levels in the polluted area. There was no difference in the lutein
concentration of caterpillars’ food source, birch leaves, between the study areas.
Autumnal moth larvae accumulated lutein more efficiently than β-carotene while sawfly
larvae accumulated β-carotene over lutein. Because of different antioxidant profiles in
different leaf chewing insects their sensitivity to pollution stress may differ. The lutein
concentration of plasma and feathers of Great tit nestlings did not differ along the pollution
gradient. The lack of difference in lutein concentration of autumnal moth larvae along
pollution gradient may partly explain the lutein concentrations of Great tit nestlings, since
the abundance of autumnal moth larvae peak during the nestling phase of Great tit. The
lutein concentration of autumnal moth larvae was positively associated to circulating
plasma lutein level of Great tit indicating the importance of carotenoid rich diet during the
nestling phase. In addition, the higher the plasma lutein concentration the more lutein was
deposited to feathers, irrespective of the other possible functions of lutein in nestlings. We
found that carotenoid levels differed between the polluted and the unpolluted area
especially at lower levels of food chain: in birches and in caterpillars.
Keywords :
CarotenoidsCaterpillarsGreat titHeavy metal pollutionLuteinTerrestrial food chain
Journal title :
Science of the Total Environment
Journal title :
Science of the Total Environment