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Pacyna-Kuchta AD, Souza-Kasprzyk J, Garbus SE, Eulaers I, Sonne C, Jakubas D. Exploring avian exposure to parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): Using the common eider Somateria mollissima in a global context. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 945:173801. [PMID: 38857802 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Compared to other organic contaminants, birds are rarely studied for their exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), mainly due to their effective metabolization of parent PAHs. However, as some studies suggest, exposure to PAHs may result in adverse health effects including decreased survival, especially following oil spills. In the present study, we analyzed samples from a sea duck, the common eider Somateria mollissima including feathers, preen oil, blood, liver and bile, to evaluate whether non- lethally collected samples could be reliably used for avian biomonitoring strategies. Phenanthrene was the only individual PAH detected across sample types, with the highest concentration found in preen gland and the lowest in blood. Significant differences in concentrations were observed between bile vs preen gland and liver vs preen gland, while for most compounds neither blood nor feathers showed detectable levels of parent PAHs. Therefore, the utility of those sample types for PAH exposure assessment may be limited and should be interpreted with caution, moreover as several physiological factors may affect them. Additionally, we also provide a comparison with the available literature to review current avian PAH exposure assessment and outline future research focused needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aneta Dorota Pacyna-Kuchta
- Gdańsk University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, 11/12 Narutowicza Street, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Juliana Souza-Kasprzyk
- Adam Mickiewicz University, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, 8 Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego Street, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Svend Erik Garbus
- Dyrlægehuset Randers (The Veterinary House Randers), Sallingvej 5, 8940 Randers, SV, Denmark
| | - Igor Eulaers
- FRAM Centre, Norwegian Polar Institute, 9007 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre; Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Dariusz Jakubas
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
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Pollet IL, Provencher JF, McFarlane Tranquilla L, Burgess NM, Mallory ML. Mercury levels in North Atlantic seabirds: A synthesis. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 181:113884. [PMID: 35809474 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is globally-distributed, with severe toxic effects on wildlife. Methylmercury biomagnifies within food webs, so long-lived, top predators such as seabirds are prone to high mercury concentrations. We synthesized historical and contemporary data on mercury concentrations in seabirds from the North Atlantic. We collected 614 values determined from 39 species and 115 locations, ranging from 1895 to 1940 and from 1970 to 2020. Highest blood-equivalent Hg values were in Phalacrocoracidae. For the same species/tissue/collection site, blood-equivalent values were lower during pre-1940 than post-1970 period. In almost 5 % of post-1970 values, mean blood-equivalent Hg concentrations were above those considered to pose severe risks of adverse effects, and 21 % were above the high-risk effect. We found an imbalance in sample effort and did not find Hg values for many species. We argue that stronger, trans-Atlantic Hg monitoring schemes are required to coordinate research and better compare trends across a wide scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid L Pollet
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada; Birds Canada, 43 Main Street, Sackville, NB E4L 1G6, Canada.
| | - Jennifer F Provencher
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada
| | | | - Neil M Burgess
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, 6 Bruce Street, Mount Pearl, NL A1N 4T3, Canada
| | - Mark L Mallory
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada
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3
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McPartland M, Noori B, Garbus SE, Lierhagen S, Sonne C, Krøkje Å. Circulating trace elements: Comparison between early and late incubation in common eiders (Somateria mollissima) in the central Baltic Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 191:110120. [PMID: 32841637 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We analyzed body mass and a panel of 64 trace elements in blood from incubating common eiders (Somateria mollissima) in the central Baltic Sea during the breeding seasons of 2017 (n = 27) and 2018 (n = 23). Using a non-invasive approach, the same incubating eiders nesting on Christiansø, Denmark were sampled once on day 4 and day 24 of incubation to provide a comparison between the early and late stages of incubation. Blood concentrations of chemical elements were quantified using high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS). Cadmium and lead significantly increased over the course of the incubation period while body mass, barium, calcium, cerium, cesium, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, selenium, strontium, sulfur, uranium, and zinc all significantly decreased. Excluding lead, all trace elements were within expected ranges. Lead blood concentrations had a 4.7-fold increase from 2017 to 2018 indicating a potential health threat. However, internal interactions between trace elements must be considered when making comparisons to toxicological thresholds. Body mass and many essential elements showed significantly higher levels in 2017 than 2018, which could be an indication of limitations in preferred food availability or harsher fasting conditions. Additional sampling years are needed to further investigate if these results reflect yearly fluctuations or decreasing health within the Christiansø eider colony. There was little overlap in element blood concentrations and body mass between days of incubation, indicating these parameters are affected by the physiological processes of reproduction and incubation. We recommend continued biomonitoring and use of complete trace element analysis for the Christiansø eiders to further understand year-to-year variations within colonies. Further investigation into the spatial ecology of the colony is also needed to provide a more robust understanding of exposure and source identification of trace elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly McPartland
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Biology, Høgskoleringen 5, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Brenley Noori
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Biology, Høgskoleringen 5, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Svend-Erik Garbus
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Syverin Lierhagen
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Chemistry, Høgskoleringen 5, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Christian Sonne
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark; Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Åse Krøkje
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Biology, Høgskoleringen 5, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway.
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DeSorbo CR, Burgess NM, Todd CS, Evers DC, Bodaly RA, Massey BH, Mierzykowski SE, Persico CP, Gray RB, Hanson WE, Meattey DE, Regan KJ. Mercury concentrations in bald eagles across an impacted watershed in Maine, USA. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 627:1515-1527. [PMID: 30857113 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Revised: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) exposure was evaluated in bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in the lower Penobscot River watershed (PRW) in Maine to assess whether Hg discharges from a chlor-alkali plant (HoltraChem) influenced Hg concentrations in nestling tissues. Mean Hg concentrations in nestling blood and breast feathers sampled in marine and estuarine areas potentially contaminated with Hg from HoltraChem (the potential Hg impact zone) were significantly greater than those from reference sites spanning the Maine coast. To place Hg exposure in the potential Hg impact zone into a broader context, Hg exposure in bald eagle nestlings from four habitat types in the PRW was assessed. Mercury concentrations varied significantly across habitat types within the PRW, generally following the pattern: marine=estuarine<freshwater river<lake. While findings suggest that Hg inputs from HoltraChem elevated Hg concentrations in eagles in the potential Hg impact zone, those Hg concentrations were still significantly lower than those of nestlings raised in freshwater river and lake habitats in the PRW and elsewhere in Maine not contaminated by HoltraChem. Breast feathers had 31% higher statistical power to detect Hg differences among habitat types compared to nestling blood, demonstrating their higher value in biomonitoring efforts. Nestling tissue Hg concentrations in the PRW were within the range of reported Hg values for bald eagles, but were generally higher than most population comparisons within habitats. Mercury concentrations in lake-nesting bald eagles in the PRW were impacted primarily by inputs from atmospheric deposition, and Hg exposure in nestlings associated with this habitat type in the PRW often had similar or higher Hg exposure than those associated with point sources elsewhere. Mercury concentrations in bald eagle nestlings and a small sample of adults in our study commonly exceeded levels associated with adverse health effects in other bird species.
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Affiliation(s)
- C R DeSorbo
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Rd, Portland, ME 04103, United States.
| | - N M Burgess
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, 6 Bruce St., Mt. Pearl, NL A1N 4T3, Canada.
| | - C S Todd
- Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 650 State Street, Bangor, ME 04401, United States.
| | - D C Evers
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Rd, Portland, ME 04103, United States.
| | - R A Bodaly
- Penobscot River Mercury Study, 115 Oystercatcher Place, Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W5, Canada
| | - B H Massey
- University of Massachusetts, Department of Environmental Conservation, 160 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003-9285, United States
| | - S E Mierzykowski
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 17 Godfrey Drive, Suite 2, Orono, ME 04473, United States
| | - C P Persico
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Rd, Portland, ME 04103, United States.
| | - R B Gray
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Rd, Portland, ME 04103, United States
| | - W E Hanson
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Rd, Portland, ME 04103, United States.
| | - D E Meattey
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Rd, Portland, ME 04103, United States.
| | - K J Regan
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Rd, Portland, ME 04103, United States.
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Stenhouse IJ, Adams EM, Goyette JL, Regan KJ, Goodale MW, Evers DC. Changes in mercury exposure of marine birds breeding in the Gulf of Maine, 2008-2013. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2018; 128:156-161. [PMID: 29571358 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a potent contaminant that can disrupt an organism's behavior and physiology, ultimately affecting reproductive success. Over the last 100 years, environmental deposition of anthropogenic sourced mercury has increased globally, particularly in the U.S. Northeast region. Marine birds are considered effective bioindicators of ecosystem health, including persistent marine contaminants. Goodale et al. (2008) found that mercury exposure exceeded adverse effects levels in some marine bird species breeding across the Gulf of Maine. We re-examined mercury contamination in four species identified as effective bioindicators. Compared with the previous sampling effort, inshore-feeding species showed significant increases in mercury exposure, while one pelagic-feeding species remained stable. This suggests that a major shift may have occurred in methylmercury availability in inshore waters of the Gulf of Maine. Understanding environmental mercury trends in the Gulf of Maine, and its significance to marine birds and other taxa will require a dedicated, standardized, long-term monitoring scheme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain J Stenhouse
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME 04103, United States.
| | - Evan M Adams
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME 04103, United States
| | - Jennifer L Goyette
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME 04103, United States
| | - Kevin J Regan
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME 04103, United States
| | - M Wing Goodale
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME 04103, United States
| | - David C Evers
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME 04103, United States
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Mallory CD, Gilchrist HG, Robertson GJ, Provencher JF, Braune BM, Forbes MR, Mallory ML. Hepatic trace element concentrations of breeding female common eiders across a latitudinal gradient in the eastern Canadian Arctic. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2017; 124:252-257. [PMID: 28739104 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.07.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2017] [Revised: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
We examined hepatic concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), rubidium (Rb), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) in 10 breeding female common eiders (Somateria mollissima) from each of three colonies across 20° of latitude. Levels of many elements were elevated in eiders, although generally below levels of toxicological concern. We found significant differences in concentrations of As, Rb, Hg, Mn and Se among colonies, but not in a consistent pattern with latitude, and Hg:Se molar ratios did not vary among colonies. Furthermore, overlap in element concentrations from birds at different colonies meant that we could not reliably differentiate birds from different colonies based on a suite of their hepatic trace element concentrations. We encourage other researchers to assess baseline trace element levels on this important, harvested species, as a means of tracking contamination of nearshore benthic environments in the circumpolar Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conor D Mallory
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada.
| | - H Grant Gilchrist
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Gregory J Robertson
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 6 Bruce Street, Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador A1N 4T3, Canada
| | | | - Birgit M Braune
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Mark R Forbes
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Mark L Mallory
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada
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7
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Savoy L, Flint P, Zwiefelhofer D, Brant H, Perkins C, Taylor R, Lane O, Hall J, Evers D, Schamber J. Geographic and temporal patterns of variation in total mercury concentrations in blood of harlequin ducks and blue mussels from Alaska. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2017; 117:178-183. [PMID: 28162252 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.01.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Revised: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We compared total mercury (Hg) concentrations in whole blood of harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) sampled within and among two geographically distinct locations and across three years in southwest Alaska. Blue mussels were collected to assess correlation between Hg concentrations in locally available forage and birds. Mercury concentrations in harlequin duck blood were significantly higher at Unalaska Island (0.31±0.19 mean±SD, μg/g blood) than Kodiak Island (0.04±0.02 mean±SD, μg/g blood). We found no evidence for annual variation in blood Hg concentration between years at Unalaska Island. However, blood Hg concentration did vary among specific sampling locations (i.e., bays) at Unalaska Island. Findings from this study demonstrate harlequin ducks are exposed to environmental sources of Hg, and whole blood Hg concentrations are associated with their local food source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Savoy
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME 04103, USA.
| | - Paul Flint
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
| | - Denny Zwiefelhofer
- USFWS, Kodiak Island National Wildlife Refuge, 1390 Buskin River Road, Kodiak, AK 99615, USA
| | - Heather Brant
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
| | - Christopher Perkins
- Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of Connecticut, 3107 Horsebarn Hill Road, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Robert Taylor
- Trace Element Research Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Oksana Lane
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME 04103, USA
| | - Jeff Hall
- Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory, Utah State University, 5700 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - David Evers
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME 04103, USA
| | - Jason Schamber
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
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Fenstad AA, Bustnes JO, Lierhagen S, Gabrielsen KM, Öst M, Jaatinen K, Hanssen SA, Moe B, Jenssen BM, Krøkje Å. Blood and feather concentrations of toxic elements in a Baltic and an Arctic seabird population. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2017; 114:1152-1158. [PMID: 27784535 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.10.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Revised: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We report blood and feather concentrations of elements in the Baltic Sea and Arctic population of common eiders (Somateria mollissima). The endangered Baltic Sea population of eiders was demonstrably affected by element pollution in the 1990s. While blood concentrations of Hg were higher in Baltic breeding eiders, blood Se, As and Cd concentrations were higher in Arctic eiders. Blood concentrations of Pb, Cr, Zn and Cu did not differ between the two populations. While blood Pb concentrations had declined in Baltic eiders since the 1990s, Hg concentrations had not declined, and were above concentrations associated with adverse oxidative effects in other bird species. Inconsistent with blood concentrations, feather concentrations suggested that Pb, Zn, and Cd exposure was higher in Baltic eiders, and that Hg exposure was higher in Arctic eiders. Our study thus emphasizes the need for comprehensive evaluation of toxic element status, covering the annual cycle of a species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anette A Fenstad
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Biology, Realfagbygget, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jan O Bustnes
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Framsenteret, Hjalmar, Johansens gate 14, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Syverin Lierhagen
- NTNU, Department of Chemistry, Realfagbygget, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Kristin M Gabrielsen
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Biology, Realfagbygget, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Markus Öst
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Artillerigatan 6, FI-20520 Turku, Finland; Novia University of Applied Sciences (NOVIA), Coastal Zone Research Team, Raseborgsvägen 9, FI-10600, Ekenäs, Finland
| | - Kim Jaatinen
- Novia University of Applied Sciences (NOVIA), Coastal Zone Research Team, Raseborgsvägen 9, FI-10600, Ekenäs, Finland
| | - Sveinn A Hanssen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Framsenteret, Hjalmar, Johansens gate 14, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Børge Moe
- NINA, Høgskoleringen 9, 7034 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Bjørn M Jenssen
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Biology, Realfagbygget, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Åse Krøkje
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Biology, Realfagbygget, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
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Provencher JF, Forbes MR, Hennin HL, Love OP, Braune BM, Mallory ML, Gilchrist HG. Implications of mercury and lead concentrations on breeding physiology and phenology in an Arctic bird. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2016; 218:1014-1022. [PMID: 27567168 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.08.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Revised: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/21/2016] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Although physiological traits and phenology are thought to be evolved traits, they often show marked variation within populations, which may be related to extrinsic factors. For example, trace elements such as mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) alter biochemical processes within wildlife that may affect migration and breeding. While there is a growing understanding of how contaminants may influence wildlife physiology, studies addressing these interactions in free-living species are still limited. We examined how four non-essential trace elements (cadmium, Hg, Pb and selenium) interacted with physiological and breeding measures known to influence breeding in a free-living population of common eider ducks (Somateria mollissima). We collected blood from female eiders as they arrived at a breeding colony in northern Canada. Blood was subsequently assessed for baseline corticosterone (CORT), immunoglobulin Y (IgY), and the four trace elements. We used model selection to identify which elements varied most with CORT, IgY, arrival condition, and arrival timing. We then used path analysis to assess how the top two elements from the model selection process (Hg and Pb) varied with metrics known to influence reproduction. We found that arrival date, blood Hg, CORT, and IgY showed significant inter-annual variation. While blood Pb concentrations were low, blood Pb levels significantly increased with later arrival date of the birds, and varied negatively with eider body condition, suggesting that even at low blood concentrations, Pb may be related to lower investment in reproduction in eiders. In contrast, blood Hg concentrations were positively correlated with eider body condition, indicating that fatter birds also had higher Hg burdens. Overall, our results suggest that although blood Hg and Pb concentrations were below no-effect levels, these low level concentrations of known toxic metals show significant relationships with breeding onset and condition in female eider ducks, factors that could influence reproductive success in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- J F Provencher
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - M R Forbes
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - H L Hennin
- Department of Biological Sciences and Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - O P Love
- Department of Biological Sciences and Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - B M Braune
- WLSD, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - M L Mallory
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada
| | - H G Gilchrist
- WLSD, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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10
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Pratte I, Tomlik MD, Betsch TA, Braune BM, Milton GR, Mallory ML. Trace elements in eggs of common eiders (Somateria mollissima) breeding in Nova Scotia, Canada. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2015; 100:586-591. [PMID: 26409818 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Revised: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 08/12/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We provide the first report on trace element concentrations in eggs of common eiders (Somateria mollissima), a coastal benthic foraging sea duck, from Nova Scotia, Canada, and compare those to known values from this species elsewhere. Most trace elements of toxicological concern (Hg, Se, Cd, Cu, Zn) were lower in eider eggs from Nova Scotia than from eider eggs collected farther north in Canada, although As was elevated. Our data provide strong support for a pattern of increasing Hg at higher latitudes for this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabeau Pratte
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Molly D Tomlik
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Taylor A Betsch
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Birgit M Braune
- Environment Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Raven Road, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - G Randy Milton
- Department of Natural Resources, 136 Exhibition Street, Kentville, NS B4N 4E5, Canada
| | - Mark L Mallory
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada.
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