Geographic and temporal patterns of variation in total mercury concentrations in blood of harlequin ducks and blue mussels from Alaska.
We compared total mercury (Hg) concentrations in whole blood of harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) sampled within and among two geographically distinct locations and across three years in southwest Alaska. Blue mussels were collected to assess correlation between Hg concentrations in locally available forage and birds. Mercury concentrations in harlequin duck blood were significantly higher at Unalaska Island (0.31±0.19 mean±SD, μg/g blood) than Kodiak Island (0.04±0.02 mean±SD, μg/g blood). We found no evidence for annual variation in blood Hg concentration between years at Unalaska Island. However, blood Hg concentration did vary among specific sampling locations (i.e., bays) at Unalaska Island. Findings from this study demonstrate harlequin ducks are exposed to environmental sources of Hg, and whole blood Hg concentrations are associated with their local food source.
Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME 04103, USA. Electronic address: lucas.savoy@briloon.org.
Lucas
L
Savoy
U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA.
Paul
P
Flint
USFWS, Kodiak Island National Wildlife Refuge, 1390 Buskin River Road, Kodiak, AK 99615, USA.
Denny
D
Zwiefelhofer
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29802, USA.
Heather
H
Brant
Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of Connecticut, 3107 Horsebarn Hill Road, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
Christopher
C
Perkins
Trace Element Research Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
Robert
R
Taylor
Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME 04103, USA.
Oksana
O
Lane
Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory, Utah State University, 5700 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA.
Jeff
J
Hall
Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME 04103, USA.
David
D
Evers
U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA.
Jason
J
Schamber
D000413:Alaska; D000818:Animals; D004372:Ducks / Q000097:blood*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood*; D049880:Mytilus edulis / Q000737:chemistry*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000097:blood; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000097:blood*
D014873:Water Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury
Alaska; Blue mussel; Harlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Mercury