2010
DOI: 10.1002/etc.144
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Relationship between laying sequence and mercury concentration in tree swallow eggs

Abstract: 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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Cited by 33 publications
(34 citation statements)
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“…Thus, it is possible that contaminated females deposited large enough quantities of mercury into their eggs to reduce hatching success appreciably, irrespective of weather conditions encountered prior to laying or during incubation. In fact, elevated egg mercury levels have already been described in this population (Brasso et al 2010).…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 95%
“…Thus, it is possible that contaminated females deposited large enough quantities of mercury into their eggs to reduce hatching success appreciably, irrespective of weather conditions encountered prior to laying or during incubation. In fact, elevated egg mercury levels have already been described in this population (Brasso et al 2010).…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 95%
“…Egg laying is a major elimination route in female birds through which mercury is deposited into the egg yolk, albumen, membrane, and shell (Kennamer et al 2005). Egg mercury concentrations are significantly correlated with female blood mercury concentrations, as well as prey mercury concentrations, and are therefore equally informative of contamination levels (Evers et al 2003;Brasso et al 2010).…”
mentioning
confidence: 97%
“…Egg laying is a major elimination route in female birds through which mercury is deposited into the egg yolk, albumen, membrane, and shell (Kennamer et al 2005). Egg mercury concentrations are significantly correlated with female blood mercury concentrations, as well as prey mercury concentrations, and are therefore equally informative of contamination levels (Evers et al 2003;Brasso et al 2010).Although most studies use homogenized albumen and yolk to determine the mercury concentration of an egg, the shell and membrane can also be used document mercury concentrations (Morera et al 1997;Evers et al 2003;Akearok et al 2010). It is imperative to understand how mercury is allocated into the major components of bird eggs (shell, membrane, albumen, and yolk) to make comparisons across species and studies using different components.…”
mentioning
confidence: 98%
“…No intra-clutch variation in the egg Hg level was reported in some piscivore and insectivore birds. The reason for this could be the body replenishment of Hg during egg-laying season mainly through ingestion and/or partly from the stored methylmercury in tissues and muscles (Brasso et al 2010). Burger et al (2008) reported that the clutches with more number of eggs exhibit variation than those with less number of eggs.…”
Section: Temporal Variations (Inter-clutch and Intra-clutch Differences)mentioning
confidence: 99%