Distribution of mercury in archived fur from little brown bats across Atlantic Canada.
Total mercury (Hg) concentrations were measured in archived fur from adult female little brown bats sampled at maternity roosts across Atlantic Canada. Mercury concentrations varied significantly among regions and roosts. Bats from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland had the highest median Hg concentrations (9.67 μg/g and 9.51 μg/g) among regions, and individuals from Kejimkujik National Park had the highest Hg (median: 28.38 μg/g) among roosts. Over one third of individuals sampled had fur Hg concentrations exceeding thresholds associated with neurochemical responses. Within-roost examinations of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in fur showed inconsistent associations with Hg concentrations. Therefore, the hypothesis that within-roost variation in Hg is driven by variation in diet is not supported by this data, and it is recommended that key prey items be included in future mercury bioaccumulation studies for bats. The elevated mercury fur concentrations for bats from southern Nova Scotia remains an anomaly of concern even when placed in the larger context of Atlantic Canada.
Environmental Science, Saint Mary's University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 3C3, Canada.
Megan E
ME
Little
Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment Canada, Mount Pearl, Newfoundland & Labrador A1N 4T3, Canada.
Neil M
NM
Burgess
Biology Department, Saint Mary's University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 3C3, Canada.
Hugh G
HG
Broders
Environmental Science, Saint Mary's University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 3C3, Canada. Electronic address: LM.Campbell@smu.ca.
Linda M
LM
Campbell
D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D002685:Chiroptera; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D008628:Mercury
Chiroptera; Myotis lucifugus; Newfoundland; Nova Scotia; Prince Edward Island; Stable isotopes