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Title: Mercury in herons, egrets, and their foods

Abstract

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.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Ohio State Univ., Columbus
OSTI Identifier:
5650732
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
J. Wildl. Manage.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 43:1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; 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)

Citation Formats

Hoffman, R D, and Curnow, R D. Mercury in herons, egrets, and their foods. United States: N. p., 1979. Web. doi:10.2307/3800638.
Hoffman, R D, & Curnow, R D. Mercury in herons, egrets, and their foods. United States. https://doi.org/10.2307/3800638
Hoffman, R D, and Curnow, R D. 1979. "Mercury in herons, egrets, and their foods". United States. https://doi.org/10.2307/3800638.
@article{osti_5650732,
title = {Mercury in herons, egrets, and their foods},
author = {Hoffman, R D and Curnow, R D},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.2307/3800638},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5650732}, journal = {J. Wildl. Manage.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 43:1,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1979},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1979}
}