Mercury exposure in breeding common loons (<i>Gavia immer</i>) in central Ontario, Canada

Scheuhammer, Anton M.; Atchison, Carolyn M.; Wong, Allan H. K.; Evers, David C.

doi:10.1002/etc.5620170208

Cited by 45 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The significant positive correlation between blood and feather Hg concentrations observed for eaglets in the present study is similar to relationships reported previously for eaglets [22] and growing young of other piscivorous species, including common loons [9], great egrets [23], and osprey [6], although slopes of the relationships differ among studies. Whereas bald eagle chicks from central Florida, USA, had approximately 25-fold more Hg in feathers than in blood [22], eagle chicks from Maine had approximately 44-fold greater Hg in feathers than in blood (L.J.…”

Section: Mercury In Eagletssupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Blood and eggs. For samples collected in 2000, approximately 1 g of freeze-dried whole blood or 1 g of freeze-dried homogenized grebe egg material was digested and analyzed by continuous-flow, cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry using a Perkin-Elmer 3030B spectrophotometer (Perkin-Elmer Canada, Woodbridge, ON, Canada) [9,12]. For samples collected in 2001 and 2002, solid samples (ϳ50 mg) of freeze-dried whole blood or egg material were analyzed directly for total Hg using an automated mercury analyzer (AMA-254; Canalytical, Burlington, ON, Canada) [7].…”

Section: Mercury Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both bald eagles and red-necked grebes prefer to feed primarily on fish during the breeding season, and almost all (94-99%) of the Hg found in fish muscle is in the methylated form [8,9]. The present study examined Hg in the blood and feathers of adult bald eagles and eaglets, Hg in the eggs of red-necked grebes, stable nitrogen isotopes (␦ 15 N) in eagle blood and grebe eggs, and relationships between ␦ 15 N and Hg concentrations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Mercury exposure and reproduction in fish‐eating birds breeding in the Pinchi Lake region, British Columbia, Canada

Weech

Scheuhammer

Elliott³

2006

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To determine whether Hg from geologic/mining-related sources at Pinchi Lake (BC, Canada) was causing elevated Hg exposure and/or adversely affecting reproduction in fish-eating birds, breeding bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) on Pinchi Lake and four nearby reference lakes were sampled for blood and feather Hg concentrations and monitored for reproductive success during the summers of 2000, 2001, and 2002. Eggs of red-necked grebes (Podiceps grisgena) also were collected and analyzed. Mercury levels in species at various trophic levels from Pinchi Lake averaged approximately twice those in the same species from nearby lakes combined, even in the absence of substantial new inputs of Hg to Pinchi Lake over several decades. In Pinchi Lake, Hg concentrations in blood and feathers of eagles and eggs of grebes were significantly higher than those in corresponding samples from reference lakes. However, the mean Hg concentration (0.25 microg/g wet wt) in grebe eggs from Pinchi Lake was substantially lower than accepted threshold levels for reproductive toxicity in most avian species (0.5-1.0 microg/g wet wt). Mercury concentrations in the blood of adult eagles and their chicks were highly correlated (r = 0.91, p = 0.004). Despite elevated Hg exposure in adult eagles nesting on Pinchi Lake (blood Hg concentration, 4.3-9.4 microg/ml), birds appeared to be in good body condition, did not differ significantly in terms of weight from eagles nesting on reference lakes, and exhibited no evidence of obvious abnormal behavior or lack of coordination. Eagle reproductive success and productivity on Pinchi Lake were not significantly different from those on all reference lakes combined (p = 0.483).

show abstract

Section: Mercury In Eagletssupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Mercury Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Mercury exposure and reproduction in fish‐eating birds breeding in the Pinchi Lake region, British Columbia, Canada

Weech

Scheuhammer

Elliott³

2006

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…There are few reports on Hg concentrations in blood from nestlings of fish-eating birds. The concentration of Hg in blood of great egrets from southern Florida reported here is higher than that reported in great blue herons (Ardea herodias) from California [10], common terns (Sterna hirundo) from New York [11], common loons (Gavia immer) from Ontario [12], and bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) from Oregon, Washington, and Florida [13][14][15] (Table 2).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 59%

Mercury Contamination in Free-Ranging Great Egret Nestlings (Ardea Albus) From Southern Florida, Usa

Sepúlveda¹,

Frederick²,

Spalding³

et al. 1999

Environ Toxicol Chem

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Between March and June of 1994 and 1995, mercury (Hg) concentrations were determined from 393 blood and 164 growing scapular feathers from 252 great egret nestlings (Ardea albus). Nestlings came from eight colonies located in Water Conservation Area 3 in the Everglades region in southern Florida. The ages of these birds ranged from 1 to 44 d (bill length 1.1 to 10.2 cm). Mercury concentrations in blood and feathers of first-hatched great egret nestlings sampled during 1994 averaged 1.2 g/g (range ϭ 0.07-3.9) wet weight and 16 g/g (4.5-40) dry weight, respectively. During 1995, first-hatched chicks had blood and feather Hg concentrations that averaged 0.8 g/g (0.2-1.7) and 9.7 g/g (2.3-26), respectively. In both years, Hg concentrations in blood and feathers were significantly correlated, and a significant correlation also was found between Hg in blood and age of the chicks. Blood and feather Hg concentrations differed significantly between years, with higher concentrations during 1994. Birds from JW1 and L67 colonies had the highest concentrations of Hg in blood and feathers. Mercury concentrations did not differ between chicks of different hatch order. Mercury in feathers of great egret nestlings from southern Florida are approximately six times higher when compared to feather Hg concentrations of nestling wading birds sampled elsewhere.

show abstract

“…In contrast, bird feathers primarily have been used for monitoring exposure to inorganic contaminants, particularly Hg [4]. Positive correlations have been documented between metal concentrations in feathers and other tissues sampled from the same individuals [26][27][28], female feather and egg concentrations [29,30], female and chick feather concentrations [31], and chick feathers and eggs collected from the same nests [32]. However, other analyses have revealed contradictory relationships [27,33,34].…”

Section: Comparisons To Other Vertebratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional relationships among selenium concentrations in the diet, target tissues, and nondestructive tissue samples of two species of snakes

Hopkins

Snodgrass

Baionno

et al. 2005

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Nondestructive sampling methods, such as removal of feathers for contaminant analysis, are desirable in ecological monitoring programs that seek to minimize the impacts of harvesting organisms. Although many reptiles are declining worldwide, nondestructive sampling techniques seldom have been employed for assessing contaminant exposure in these organisms. In this study, we examined the utility of nondestructive tissue sampling for assessing Se exposure in reptiles. We describe the functional relationships among dietary Se concentrations, target tissue Se concentrations, and Se concentrations in nondestructive tissue samples (blood and tail tissue biopsy) in two species of snakes that had been exposed to Se under very different experimental protocols. Using nonlinear regression, we found strong positive correlations (r2 > 0.92) in all comparisons among Se concentrations in nondestructive tissues, diet, and target tissues. Moreover, equations describing these relationships can be used to estimate concentrations of Se in diet and target organs, from known concentrations of Se in nondestructive tissue samples. Although the current paucity of toxicity data on reptiles precludes tests of our models, we demonstrate how the equations describing these relationships might be used to make predictions about Se accumulation in target organs for risk assessment. Future studies on reptiles that examine these relationships under different Se exposure conditions, and those that document physiological responses of reptiles to various concentrations of Se, will help to refine our models and test their efficacy for predicting health risk.

show abstract

Mercury exposure in breeding common loons (Gavia immer) in central Ontario, Canada

Cited by 45 publications

References 31 publications

Mercury exposure and reproduction in fish‐eating birds breeding in the Pinchi Lake region, British Columbia, Canada

Mercury exposure and reproduction in fish‐eating birds breeding in the Pinchi Lake region, British Columbia, Canada

Mercury Contamination in Free-Ranging Great Egret Nestlings (Ardea Albus) From Southern Florida, Usa

Functional relationships among selenium concentrations in the diet, target tissues, and nondestructive tissue samples of two species of snakes

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About