title: Mercury concentrations in feathers of marine birds in Arctic Canada.
abstract: Mercury (Hg) concentrations are a concern in the Canadian Arctic, because they are relatively high compared to background levels and to similar species farther south, and are increasing in many wildlife species. Among marine birds breeding in the Canadian Arctic, Hg concentrations have been monitored regularly in eggs and intermittently in livers, but feathers have generally not been used as an indicator of Hg exposure or burden. We examined Hg concentrations in six marine bird species in the Canadian Arctic. Ivory gull Pagophila eburnea, feather Hg was exceptionally high, while glaucous gull Larus hyperboreus feather Hg was unexpectedly low, and ratios of feather THg to egg THg varied across species. The proportion of total Hg that was comprised of methyl Hg in ivory gull feathers was lower than in other species, and may be related to photo-demethylation or keratin breakdown in semi-opaque feather tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Acadia University, 15 University Drive, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada. Electronic address: mark.mallory@acadiau.ca.
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mallory
authors.affiliation: National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment Canada, Raven Road, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada.
authors.forename: Birgit M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Braune
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada.
authors.forename: Jennifer F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Provencher
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Acadia University, 15 University Drive, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada.
authors.forename: D Benjamin
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Callaghan
authors.affiliation: National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment Canada, Raven Road, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada.
authors.forename: H Grant
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Gilchrist
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Acadia University, 15 University Drive, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada.
authors.forename: Samuel T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Edmonds
authors.affiliation: Environment Canada, 17 Waterfowl Lane, Sackville, New Brunswick E4L 1G6, Canada.
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Allard
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Acadia University, 15 University Drive, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada.
authors.forename: Nelson J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: O'Driscoll
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001110:Arctic Regions; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D002170:Canada; D046091:Charadriiformes; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005241:Feathers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Arctic; Ivory gull; Marine bird; Mercury; Photodemethylation