title: Blood selenium concentrations in female Pacific black brant molting in Arctic Alaska: Relationships with age and habitat salinity.
abstract: Blood samples collected from 81 female Pacific black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) molting near Teshekpuk Lake, Alaska, were analyzed for selenium concentration. The concentration of selenium in blood of after second year (hatched two or more years ago) females (0.84μg/g wet weight) was significantly greater than the concentration in second year (hatched the previous year) females (0.61μg/g wet weight). The concentrations of selenium we found in blood of black brant were 1.5 to 2 times greater than baseline values typical of freshwater birds, but considerably lower than reported in other marine waterfowl sampled in Alaska. This finding may be attributable in part to the nearly exclusive herbivorous diet of black brant. No relationship was noted between blood selenium concentration and molting habitat salinity. We are unaware of any previous reports of blood selenium concentrations in black brant.
authors.affiliation: US Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Road, Madison, WI 53711, USA. Electronic address: jfranson@usgs.gov.
authors.forename: J Christian
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Franson
authors.affiliation: US Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA.
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Flint
authors.affiliation: US Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA.
authors.forename: Joel A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schmutz
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000413:Alaska; D000818:Animals; D046090:Anseriformes / Q000097:blood*; D001110:Arctic Regions; D017753:Ecosystem; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D018978:Molting; D054712:Salinity; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D012643:Selenium
keywords: Alaska; Blood; Branta bernicla nigricans; Molt; Pacific black brant; Selenium