Mercury in herons, egrets, and their foods
Mercury concentration levels were measured in herons and egrets and their foods collected in the southwestern Lake Erie region. Primary wing feathers, breast muscle, liver, and brain tissues were analyzed from 432 great blue herons (Ardea herodias), 44 black-crowned night herons (Nycticorax nycticorax), and 43 great egrets (Casmerodius albus). Concentrations were higher in island nesting birds than birds collected at the Winous Point Shooting Club, with primary wing feathers the highest, followed by liver, breast muscle, and brain tissues. Mercury levels in breast muscle, liver, and brain tissue of adult birds correlated (P < 0.01) within each population. Tissues of adult birds exhibited higher (P < 0.05) mercury concentrations than did tissues from nestlings of the same population. An importance index for each population of birds showing the significance of individual food items as sources of mercury indicated that birds nesting on West Sister Island acquired mercury from fish species found more frequently in Lake Erie than in marshes. Mercury concentration factors of the Lake Erie marsh ecosystem show a relationship between trophic levels and mercury concentration levels. 25 references, 6 tables.
- Research Organization:
- Ohio State Univ., Columbus
- OSTI ID:
- 5650732
- Journal Information:
- J. Wildl. Manage.; (United States), Vol. 43:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BIRDS
CONTAMINATION
FOOD CHAINS
MERCURY
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
AGE DEPENDENCE
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BRAIN
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEATHERS
FISHES
LAKE ERIE
LIVER
MUSCLES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BODY
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DATA
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
GLANDS
GREAT LAKES
INFORMATION
LAKES
METALS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANS
SURFACE WATERS
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)