Mercury Occurrence in Prothonotary Warblers ( Protonotaria citrea ) Inhabiting a National Priorities List Site and Reference Areas in Southern Alabama

Adair, Blakely M.; Reynolds, Kevin D.; McMurry, Scott T.; Cobb, George P.

doi:10.1007/s00244-002-2027-0

Cited by 10 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Other studies also have reported that mercury concentrations in these regions represent a risk to avian and mammalian wildlife (Halbrook et al 1994;Osowski et al 1995;Ambrose et al 2000;Adair et al 2003). Mercury has been suspected to cause reproductive effects, organ toxicity, and mortality in prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea), mink, and river otter throughout the southeastern United States (Halbrook et al 1994;Osowski et al 1995;Adair et al 2003). Ambrose et al (2000) reported that mercury concentrations in peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) breeding in the Yukon River Basin were associated with lower nest success.…”

Section: Dieldrin -Mink Dieldrin -Bald Eaglementioning

confidence: 96%

“…This relationship may explain the high fish concentrations and associated risk of mercury in the southeastern United States and Yukon River Basin, where mercury methylation rates are known to be high (Brumbaugh et al 2001). Other studies also have reported that mercury concentrations in these regions represent a risk to avian and mammalian wildlife (Halbrook et al 1994;Osowski et al 1995;Ambrose et al 2000;Adair et al 2003). Mercury has been suspected to cause reproductive effects, organ toxicity, and mortality in prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea), mink, and river otter throughout the southeastern United States (Halbrook et al 1994;Osowski et al 1995;Adair et al 2003).…”

Section: Dieldrin -Mink Dieldrin -Bald Eaglementioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental contaminants in freshwater fish and their risk to piscivorous wildlife based on a national monitoring program

Hinck

Schmitt

Chojnacki

et al. 2008

Environ Monit Assess

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Organochlorine chemical residues and elemental concentrations were measured in piscivorous and benthivorous fish at 111 sites from large U.S. river basins. Potential contaminant sources such as urban and agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, mine drainage, and irrigation varied among the sampling sites. Our objectives were to provide summary statistics for chemical contaminants and to determine if contaminant concentrations in the fish were a risk to wildlife that forage at these sites. Concentrations of dieldrin, total DDT, total PCBs, toxaphene, TCDD-EQ, cadmium, chromium, mercury, lead, selenium, and zinc exceeded toxicity thresholds to protect fish and piscivorous wildlife in samples from at least one site; most exceedences were for total PCBs, mercury, and zinc. Chemical concentrations in fish from the Mississippi River Basin exceeded the greatest number of toxicity thresholds. Screening level wildlife risk analysis models were developed for bald eagle and mink using no adverse effect levels (NOAELs), which were derived from adult dietary exposure or tissue concentration studies and based primarily on reproductive endpoints. No effect hazard concentrations (NEHC) were calculated by comparing the NOAEL to the food ingestion rate (dietary-based NOAEL) or biomagnification factor (tissue-based NOAEL) of each receptor. Piscivorous wildlife may be at risk from a contaminant if the measured concentration in fish exceeds the NEHC. Concentrations of most organochlorine residues and elemental contaminants represented no to low risk to bald eagle and mink at most sites. The risk associated with pentachloroanisole, aldrin, Dacthal, methoxychlor, mirex, and toxaphene was unknown because NOAELs for these contaminants were not available for bald eagle or mink. Risk differed among modeled species and sites. Our screening level analysis indicates that the greatest risk to piscivorous wildlife was from total DDT, total PCBs, TCDD-EQ, mercury, and selenium. Bald eagles were at greater risk to total DDT and total PCBs than mink, whereas risks of TCDD-EQ, mercury, and selenium were greater to mink than bald eagle.

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Section: Dieldrin -Mink Dieldrin -Bald Eaglementioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Dieldrin -Mink Dieldrin -Bald Eaglementioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental contaminants in freshwater fish and their risk to piscivorous wildlife based on a national monitoring program

Hinck

Schmitt

Chojnacki

et al. 2008

Environ Monit Assess

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“…At sites where point-source Hg pollution is known, Cristol et al [10] found spiders with a mean [THg] of 1.24 mg/g dry weight, while Adair et al [28] found spiders with a mean [THg] of 0.12 mg/g wet weight. In contrast, the mean [THg] in the spiders in the present study were 0.17 mg/g dry weight or 0.04 mg/g wet weight.…”

Section: Mercury Load In Spidersmentioning

confidence: 98%

Mercury bioaccumulation, speciation, and influence on web structure in orb‐weaving spiders from a forested watershed

Wyman

Rodenhouse

Bank³

2011

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Atmospheric deposition is an important source of Hg in remote terrestrial ecosystems of northeastern North America. As high-level invertebrate consumers, orb-weaving spiders (family Araneidae) are excellent subjects for studying the impact of sublethal levels of Hg on forest animals because their webs provide snapshots of behavior and neurological function. Spiders of the diadematus group of the genus Araneus were collected from the Jeffers Brook watershed in the White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire (USA), and analyzed for Hg content. Webs were photographed and measured to test for correlations between Hg body burden and web structure. Collected spiders contained concentrations of total Hg averaging 44.7 ± 10.0 ng/g Hg (wet mass; mean ± standard deviation), with 37 ± 6% of the total Hg present in the methylmercury form. Mercury loads were likely accumulated through diet (potential prey items contained an average of 43% of the Hg load in collected spiders) and possibly web ingestion. The present study found no direct evidence that the web structure-and thus the prey-capture ability-of spiders in the study area was affected by their Hg body burden.

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“…The use of piscivorous birds as bioindicators of MeHg availability and risk in freshwater systems is common (e.g., Fimreite, 1974;Barr, 1986;Scheuhammer, 1987;Rumbold et al, 2001;Henny et al, 2002;Evers et al, 2003), although insectivorous birds are increasingly being used as well (Wolfe and Norman, 1998;Gerrard and St. Louis, 2001;Adair et al, 2003). Historically, Hg exposure was primarily determined by killing birds and was therefore based on organs analysis (Thompson, 1996).…”

Section: Using Birds As Bioindicators Of Mehg Availabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many past and even current inputs of waterborne Hg sources occur throughout North America and the Northeast. These are related to past improper waste disposal of Hg at weapons facilities (Halbrook et al, 1999), chlor-alkali plants (Fimreite, 1974;Gardner et al, 1978;Barr, 1986;Adair et al, 2003), mercury, gold, and silver mines Henny et al, 2002;Seiler et al, 2004;Weech et al, 2004) and governmental storage facilities (Moore et al, 1999) as well as current inputs from wastewater treatment plants .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns and Interpretation of Mercury Exposure in Freshwater Avian Communities in Northeastern North America

et al. 2005

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Abstract. A large data set of over 4,700 records of avian mercury (Hg) levels in northeastern North America was compiled and evaluated. As Hg emissions remain poorly regulated in the United States and Canada, atmospheric deposition patterns and associated ecological responses continue to elicit interest by landscape managers, conservation biologists, policy makers, and the general public. How avian Hg exposure is interpreted greatly influences decision-making practices. The geographic extent and size of this data set is valuable in understanding the factors that affect the exposure of Hg to birds. Featured are differences found among tissues, major aquatic habitats and geographic areas, between age class and gender, and among species. While Hg concentrations in egg and blood reflect short-term Hg exposure, Hg concentrations in liver and feather provide insight into long-term Hg exposure. Blood is a particularly important matrix for relating site-specific exposure to methylmercury (MeHg). The level of MeHg is generally 5-10x greater in adults compared to nestlings. Age also influences MeHg bioaccumulation, particularly for individuals where MeHg intake exceeds elimination. Gender is of interpretive concern when evaluating Hg exposure for species exhibiting sexual dimorphism and niche partitioning. Based on two indicator species, the belted kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) and bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), we found MeHg availability increased from marine, to estuarine and riverine systems, and was greatest in lake habitats. A large sample of >1,800 blood and egg Hg levels from the common loon (Gavia immer) facilitated a suitable comparison of geographic differences. Although some clusters of highly elevated Hg exposure (i.e., blood levels >3.0 lg/g, ww and egg levels >1.3 lg/g, ww) were associated with hydrological and biogeochemical factors known to increase MeHg production and availability, others were not. Geographic areas without a relationship between Hg exposure and biogeochemical processes were associated with emission or waterborne point sources. Differences in Hg exposure among species are primarily correlated with trophic position and availability of MeHg. Although piscivorous species were repeatedly *To whom correspondence should be addressed: Tel.: 207-839-7600; Fax: 207-839-7655; E-mail: david.evers@briloon.org Ecotoxicology, 14, 193-221, 2005 Ó 2005 shown to have some of the highest MeHg levels of the 38 species analyzed, insectivorous birds in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats (such as montane areas) were also found with elevated MeHg levels. A better understanding of the factors confounding interpretation of Hg exposure provides an effective basis for choice of indicator species and tissues according to 12 selected scenarios. This and the national need for spatiotemporal monitoring of MeHg availability require careful consideration of indicator species choice. Only then will local, regional, continental, and even global monitoring efforts be effective.

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Mercury Occurrence in Prothonotary Warblers ( Protonotaria citrea ) Inhabiting a National Priorities List Site and Reference Areas in Southern Alabama

Cited by 10 publications

References 17 publications

Environmental contaminants in freshwater fish and their risk to piscivorous wildlife based on a national monitoring program

Environmental contaminants in freshwater fish and their risk to piscivorous wildlife based on a national monitoring program

Mercury bioaccumulation, speciation, and influence on web structure in orb‐weaving spiders from a forested watershed

Patterns and Interpretation of Mercury Exposure in Freshwater Avian Communities in Northeastern North America

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