title: The use of blood in Anas clypeata as an efficient and non-lethal method for the biomonitoring of mercury.
abstract: Hg was analyzed in seven tissues of 52 common shoveler Anas clypeata collected from the coast of SE Gulf of California. Mean Hg concentrations were highest in the liver (2,885 ng g⁻¹) and lowest in the gizzard (621 ng g⁻¹); they followed the order: liver, feathers > muscle tissue and tissues of the circulatory system > digestive organs. Hg levels were similar or higher than birds of the same trophic level and feeding habits. Considering the relationships of Hg among tissues and blood we recommend the use of blood as an efficient method to monitor Hg.
authors.affiliation: Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México-UNAM, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Raygoza-Viera
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Fernández
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruelas-Inzunza
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Páez-Osuna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004372:Ducks / Q000378:metabolism*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D020387:Food Chain; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008800:Mexico; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury