Mercury residues in wood ducks and wood duck foods in eastern Tennessee
Liver, breast muscle and body fat from 50 juvenile and five adult wood ducks (Aix sponsa) collected on the Holston River, Tennessee were analyzed for total mercury content. Black fly larvae (Simulium vittatum) sago pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus), tapegrass (Vallisneria americanus), water stargrass (Heteranthera dubia), Elodea canadensis, and river bottom sediments were also analyzed to elucidate the distribution of mercury in the wood duck's environment. Liver tissues of juveniles contained the highest mean concentration of mercury (0.42 ppm). Mercury in breast muscle and body fat of juveniles averaged 0.15 and 0.10 ppm, respectively. Residues in corresponding tissues of adults were lower. Of environmental components tested, sediments had the highest mean concentration (0.76 ppm). Black fly larvae and aquatic plants had mean levels below 0.10 ppm.
- Research Organization:
- Haywood Technical College, Clyde, North Carolina
- OSTI ID:
- 5577499
- Journal Information:
- J. Wildl. Dis.; (United States), Vol. 19:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ADIPOSE TISSUE
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DUCKS
CONTAMINATION
LARVAE
LIVER
MERCURY
BIOLOGICAL LOCALIZATION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
MUSCLES
SEDIMENTS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
FLIES
FOOD CHAINS
RIVERS
TENNESSEE
WATER POLLUTION
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
BIRDS
BODY
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DIPTERA
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION IV
FOWL
GLANDS
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANS
POLLUTION
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TISSUES
USA
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)