Blood Plasma Mineral Concentrations in Captive Lesser Flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor) of a German Zoological Collection

Lesser flamingos (<i>Phoeniconaias minor</i>) are a common species in zoological collections; however, little is known about their plasma mineral concentrations. For this reason, plasma concentrations of selected minerals (calcium, cobalt, copper, iodine, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sodium, inorganic phosphorus, selenium, and zinc) were measured in lesser flamingos (n = 84) from a zoological collection after the breeding season and before their molt. Differences between sexes were only found for cobalt, which was significantly (<i>P</i> = 0.004) lower in female flamingos. Significant positive correlations between the plasma mineral concentration and the age of the individuals were found for copper (r = 0.36, <i>P</i> = 0.001) and zinc (r = 0.27, <i>P</i> = 0.014), while negative correlations were found for iodine (r = -0.30, <i>P</i> = 0.006) and selenium (r = -0.24, <i>P</i> = 0.030). The results showed that the sex of the flamingos had a limited effect on the plasma mineral concentrations after the breeding season. The age of the individual influenced some minerals, although all flamingos were fed the same diet. Mineral concentrations in the blood reflect the current intake and the minerals currently circulating in the body.