Mercury and cause of death in great white herons
- Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)
- National Audobon Research, Tavernier, FL (United States)
Mercury contamination is suspected to adversely affect wading birds in southern Florida. To determine the magnitude of contamination associated with cause of death we followed 3 adult and 19 juvenile radio-tagged great white herons (Ardea herodias occidentalis), recovered them soon after death, and determined liver mercury content and cause of death. Birds that died from acute causes had less (P < 0.001) mercury in their livers (geometric [bar x] [GM] = 1.77 ppm wet mass [wm], range 0.6-4.0 ppm, n = 9) than did those that died of chronic, often multiple, diseases (GM = 9.76 ppm, range 2.9-59.4 ppm, n = 13). Juvenile herons that migrated to mainland Florida accumulated more (P = 0.009) mercury in their livers than those that did not migrate. Kidney disease and gout were present in birds that died with >25 ppm wm liver mercury. Although detrimental to the health of wading birds, mercury contamination is presumably more detrimental to their reproductive efforts; therefore, an understanding of its ill effects is important in the management of these birds. 29 refs., 1 fig.
- OSTI ID:
- 6703906
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Wildlife Management; (United States), Vol. 58:4; ISSN 0022-541X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BIRDS
MORTALITY
REPRODUCTION
MERCURY
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
WETLANDS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
FLORIDA
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
USA
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology