Relationship between laying sequence and mercury concentration in tree swallow eggs.
When female birds lay eggs, some of their body burden of mercury is eliminated into each egg, potentially leading to declining mercury across the clutch. However, there was no decline in mercury with laying sequence in clutches of tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) eggs at a mercury-contaminated site, presumably due to daily replenishment of mercury in females during laying. Sampling just one egg from the nest provided an accurate measure of clutch mercury contamination.
Brasso
Rebecka L
RL
Department of Biology, Randolph College, 2500 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, Virginia 24503, USA. rlb1196@uncw.edu
Abdel Latif
Marwa K
MK
Cristol
Daniel A
DA
D000818:Animals; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology*; D010063:Ovum / Q000737:chemistry*; D046388:Swallows / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008628:Mercury