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Spatial gradients of methylmercury for breeding common loons in the Laurentian Great Lakes region.
- Source :
-
Ecotoxicology (London, England) [Ecotoxicology] 2011 Oct; Vol. 20 (7), pp. 1609-25. Date of Electronic Publication: 2011 Aug 20. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Much of the Laurentian Great Lakes region is a mercury-sensitive landscape, in which atmospheric deposition and waterborne sources of mercury (Hg) have led to high concentrations of bioavailable methylmercury (MeHg) in predatory fish and piscivorous wildlife. Efforts since the early 1990s have established the common loon (Gavia immer) as the primary avian indicator for evaluating the exposure and effects of MeHg in North America. A regional Hg dataset was compiled from multiple loon tissue types and yellow perch (Perca flavescens), a preferred prey fish species for loons. Hg exposure in loons and perch was modeled to develop male and female loon units (MLU and FLU, respectively), standardized metrics that represent the estimated blood Hg exposure of a male or female loon for a given loon territory or water body. Using this common endpoint approach to assess loon Hg exposure, the authors demonstrate spatial trends in biotic Hg concentrations, examine MeHg availability in aquatic ecosystems of the Great Lakes region in relation to landscape-level characteristics, and identify areas with potentially significant adverse reproductive impacts to loons and other avian piscivores. Based on 8,101 MLUs, seven biological Hg hotspots were identified in the Great Lakes region. Policy-relevant applications are presented.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Environmental Exposure analysis
Environmental Monitoring methods
Female
Great Lakes Region
Lakes
Male
Methylmercury Compounds pharmacokinetics
Michigan
Minnesota
New York
Ontario
Perches
Water Pollutants, Chemical pharmacokinetics
Wisconsin
Birds
Breeding
Methylmercury Compounds blood
Reproduction drug effects
Tissue Distribution drug effects
Water Pollutants, Chemical blood
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1573-3017
- Volume :
- 20
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Ecotoxicology (London, England)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 21858513
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-011-0753-7