Skip to main content
WCS
Menu
Library
Library Catalog
eJournals & eBooks
WCS Research
Archives
Research Use
Finding Aids
Digital Collections
WCS History
WCS Research
Research Publications
Science Data
Services for WCS Researchers
Archives Shop
Bronx Zoo
Department of Tropical Research
Browse By Product
About Us
FAQs
Intern or Volunteer
Staff
Donate
Search WCS.org
Search
search
Popular Search Terms
WCS History
Library and Archives
Library and Archives Menu
Library
Archives
WCS Research
Archives Shop
About Us
Donate
en
fr
Title
Factors influencing mercury exposure in Arctic-breeding shorebirds
Author(s)
Perkins, Marie;Stenhouse, Iain J.;Lanctot, Richard B.;Brown, Stephen;Bêty, Joël;Boldenow, Megan;Cunningham, Jenny;English, Willow;Gates, River;Gilchrist, H. Grant;Giroux, Marie-Andrée;Grond, Kirsten;Hill, Brooke;Kwon, Eunbi;Lamarre, Jean-Francois;Lank, David B.;Lecomte, Nicolas;Pavlik, David;Rausch, Jennie;Regan, Kevin;Robards, Martin;Saalfeld, Sarah T.;Smith, Fletcher;Smith, Paul A.;Wilkinson, Bradley;Woodard, Paul;Basu, Niladri
Published
2023
Publisher
Ecotoxicology
Published Version DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-023-02708-w
Pre-Publication DOI
DOI for Open Access preprint or postprint version of article
10.21203/rs.3.rs-3016159/v1
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) pollution remains a concern to Arctic ecosystems, due to long-range transport from southern industrial regions and melting permafrost and glaciers. The objective of this study was to identify intrinsic, extrinsic, and temporal factors influencing Hg concentrations in Arctic-breeding shorebirds and highlight regions and species at greatest risk of Hg exposure. We analyzed 1094 blood and 1384 feather samples from 12 shorebird species breeding at nine sites across the North American Arctic during 2012 and 2013. Blood Hg concentrations, which reflect Hg exposure in the local area in individual shorebirds: 1) ranged from 0.01–3.52 μg/g ww, with an overall mean of 0.30 ± 0.27 μg/g ww 2) were influenced by species and study site, but not sampling year, with birds sampled near Utqiaġvik, AK, having the highest concentrations and 3) were influenced by foraging habitat at some sites. Feather Hg concentrations, which reflected Hg exposure from the wintering grounds: 1) ranged from 0.07–12.14 μg/g fw in individuals, with an overall mean of 1.14 ± 1.18 μg/g fw and 2) were influenced by species and year. Most Arctic-breeding shorebirds had blood and feather Hg concentrations at levels where no adverse effects of exposure were predicted, though some individuals sampled near Utqiaġvik had Hg levels that would be considered of concern. Overall, these data increase our understanding of how Hg is distributed in the various shorebird breeding areas of the Arctic, what factors predispose Arctic-breeding shorebirds to Hg exposure, and lay the foundation for future monitoring efforts.
Keywords
wildlife; bioindicators; arctic; shorebirds; mercury exposure; avian
Access Full Text
A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the
WCS Library
to request.
Back
PUB36173