Um estranho no ninho : presença de contaminantes antrópicos em harpias da Mata Atlântica

Abstract

Since the 18th century, with the intensification of industrial activities, the introduction of persistent pollutants into the environment has increased significantly. Among these are heavy metals, which accumulate and amplify their effects throughout food chains. These elements can cause severe impacts on organisms, such as hormonal imbalances, physiological and psychological alterations, population declines, and even death, thereby compromising biodiversity. Birds are particularly vulnerable due to their high metabolism and low lipid reserves, making them important environmental indicators. Non-invasive methods, such as feather analysis, are increasingly utilized as they allow monitoring of contamination levels, among other aspects, without further impacting already threatened species. The harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja), the largest eagle in the Americas, plays an essential role in ecosystem regulation and is significant in studies of pollutants and bioaccumulation due to its position at the top of the food chain. This study aims to investigate the occurrence and levels of heavy metals in harpy eagles and their prey in fragments of the Atlantic Forest in northern Espírito Santo and southern Bahia, regions crucial for the species conservation