Transfer of methylmercury to hens' eggs after oral administration

Kambamanoli-Dimou, A.; Kamarianos, Athanasios; Kilikidis, Stylianos

doi:10.1007/bf01688265

Cited by 20 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Mercury has been detected in eggs within 2 d of a single oral dose of methylmercury in chickens [19]. These studies also reported significant declines in egg mercury within days of the cessation of dietary mercury administration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Laboratory dosing studies on mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), chickens (Gallus gallus), and Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix) have demonstrated that egg mercury concentrations increase in a dose-dependent manner in response to increasing dietary methylmercury [8,19,20]. Mercury has been detected in eggs within 2 d of a single oral dose of methylmercury in chickens [19]. These studies also reported significant declines in egg mercury within days of the cessation of dietary mercury administration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Relationship between laying sequence and mercury concentration in tree swallow eggs

Brasso

Latif

Cristol

2010

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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When female birds lay eggs, some of their body burden of mercury is eliminated into each egg, potentially leading to declining mercury across the clutch. However, there was no decline in mercury with laying sequence in clutches of tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) eggs at a mercury-contaminated site, presumably due to daily replenishment of mercury in females during laying. Sampling just one egg from the nest provided an accurate measure of clutch mercury contamination.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between laying sequence and mercury concentration in tree swallow eggs

Brasso

Latif

Cristol

2010

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…Depending on the success of initial nesting attempts, female Bicknell's thrushes may produce up to three clutches in a single breeding season (Rimmer et al, 2001). Because a rapid equilibrium between dietary uptake of MeHg and blood MeHg is typical (Kambamandi-Dimou et al, 1991) and because egg MeHg primarily reflects blood MeHg levels (Evers et al, 2003), the influence of egg MeHg depuration on blood-feather decoupling of Hg levels is likely not a driving factor. However, loss of Hg through eggs may at least partly contribute to gender differences in Hg levels of Bicknell's Thrush, particularly because the species exhibits no significant sexual dimorphism in body mass or bill size (important metrics for dimorphism) (Rimmer et al, 2001) that might account for niche partitioning of prey.…”

Section: Interpreting Blood-feather Hg Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Mercury Concentrations in Bicknell?s Thrush and Other Insectivorous Passerines in Montane Forests of Northeastern North America

Rimmer¹,

McFarland²,

et al. 2005

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Anthropogenic input of mercury (Hg) into the environment has elevated risk to fish and wildlife, particularly in northeastern North America. Investigations into the transfer and fate of Hg have focused on inhabitants of freshwater aquatic ecosystems, as these are the habitats at greatest risk for methylmercury (MeHg) biomagnification. Deviating from such an approach, we documented MeHg availability in a terrestrial montane ecosystem using a suite of insectivorous passerines. Intensive and extensive sampling of Bicknell's thrush (Catharus bicknelli) indicated significant heterogeneity in MeHg availability across 21 mountaintops in northeastern North America. Southern parts of the breeding range tended to be at greater risk than northern parts. Mean blood Hg concentrations for Bicknell's thrush at 21 distinct breeding sites ranged from 0.08 to 0.38 ug/g (ww) and at seven Greater Antillean wintering sites ranged from 0.03 to 0.42 ug/g (ww). Overall concentrations were significantly greater in wintering than in breeding areas. Mercury exposure profiles for four passerine species on Mt. Mansfield, Vermont indicated greatest MeHg uptake in Bicknell's thrush and yellow-rumped warbler (Dendroica coronata) and lowest in blackpoll warbler (Dendroica striata) and white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). The MeHg and total Hg ratio in blood in these four species was nearly 1:1. There was no correlation between blood and feather Hg concentrations in breeding Bicknell's thrush, in part because of apparent retention of winter Hg body burdens, within-season variation of MeHg availability, and confounding factors such as influences from age. Adult thrushes had significantly higher concentrations of feather Hg than did young-of-the-year. Although individual patterns of inter-year feather Hg concentrations were disordered, some individuals exhibited bioaccumulation of MeHg. Female blood Hg concentrations were significantly lower than males', in part because females have additional depurating mechanisms through eggs. Older male Bicknell's thrushes that breed in New England are therefore likely at greatest risk. Mechanisms for Hg methylation in montane areas without standing water are not yet fully understood. However, recent studies indicate that MeHg is present in forest tree leaves and leaf detritus; saturated soils and other moist microhabitats may also contribute to MeHg availability. Our finding of a correlation between regional litterfall Hg flux patterns and Bicknell's thrush blood Hg concentrations demonstrates on-site availability of MeHg. Further investigations into MeHg availability in montane environments are recommended to assess risk to insectivorous passerines, particularly the Bicknell's thrush.

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“…Egg production results in the excretion of environme ntal contaminants, particularly hydrophilic pollutants, by females (Burger, 1994;Gochfeld and Burger, 1998;Connell et al, 2003;Lam et al, 2004) and several studies have shown that seabird eggs are indicative of local contamination, reflecting pollutant intake by females foraging close to the colony prior to laying (Walker, 1994;Becker et al, 1998). Previous winter intake and age-dependent bioaccumulation are only minor contributors to the overall contaminant concentrations in eggs (Sell et al, 1974;Kambamanolidimou et al, 1991).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term trends in mercury and PCB congener concentrations in gannet (Morus bassanus) eggs in Britain

Pereira

Walker

Best

et al. 2009

Environmental Pollution

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Transfer of methylmercury to hens' eggs after oral administration

Cited by 20 publications

References 14 publications

Relationship between laying sequence and mercury concentration in tree swallow eggs

Relationship between laying sequence and mercury concentration in tree swallow eggs

Mercury Concentrations in Bicknell?s Thrush and Other Insectivorous Passerines in Montane Forests of Northeastern North America

Long-term trends in mercury and PCB congener concentrations in gannet (Morus bassanus) eggs in Britain

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