Accumulation of Some Heavy Metals in Various Environments and Organisms at Göksu Delta, Türkiye, 1991-1993

Over the last three decades the aquatic ecosystems have been contaminated by persistent pollutants of agricultural and industrial origin. Experimental research on toxic effects of heavy metals in waterbirds with pollutions from agricultural areas specially seed treated with use of organomercurial fungicides in agriculture resulted in pollution of aquatic systems with Hg (Beefting and Neuweshuize 1986). Heavy metals have been documented to have adverse effects on the reproduction and survival of certain waterbirds in aquatic ecosystems (Sanders, 1984; Molueg et al 1984; Rico et al 1988; Burton 1990; Fox et al 1991).