title: Mercury concentrations in breast feathers of three upper trophic level marine predators from the western Aleutian Islands, Alaska.
abstract: Mercury (Hg) is a toxic element distributed globally through atmospheric transport. Agattu Island, located in the western Aleutian Islands, Alaska, has no history of point-sources of Hg contamination. We provide baseline levels of total mercury (THg) concentrations in breast feathers of three birds that breed on the island. Geometric mean THg concentrations in feathers of fork-tailed storm-petrels (Oceanodroma furcata; 6703 ± 1635, ng/g fresh weight [fw]) were higher than all other species, including snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus; 2105 ± 1631, ng/g fw), a raptor with a diet composed largely of storm-petrels at Agattu Island. There were no significant differences in mean THg concentrations of breast feathers among adult Kittlitz's murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris; 1658 ± 1276, ng/g fw) and chicks (1475 ± 671, ng/g fw) and snowy owls. The observed THg concentrations in fork-tailed storm-petrel feathers emphasizes the need for further study of Hg pollution in the western Aleutian Islands.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States. Electronic address: Robert_Kaler@fws.gov.
authors.forename: Robb S A
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kaler
authors.affiliation: Alaska Natural Heritage Program, Anchorage, AK 99501, United States.
authors.forename: Leah A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Kenney
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, and Environment Canada, Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada.
authors.forename: Alexander L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.affiliation: U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR 97330, United States.
authors.forename: Collin A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Eagles-Smith
mesh_terms: D000413:Alaska; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000378:metabolism*; D046091:Charadriiformes / Q000378:metabolism; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005241:Feathers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D020305:Strigiformes / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Fork-tailed storm-petrel; Kittlitz’s murrelet; Long-range transport; Near Islands; Snowy owl