title: Elevated mercury concentrations in the feathers of grey-faced petrels (Pterodroma gouldi) in New Zealand.
abstract: Our objective was to measure the concentrations of Hg, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Pb, Sb, V and Zn in the body feathers of grey-faced petrel (Pterodroma gouldi), fluttering shearwater (Puffinus gavia), little shearwater (Puffinus assimilis) and common diving petrel (Pelecanoides urinatrix) from breeding colonies in New Zealand between 2006 and 2013. The mean Hg concentration (36.48ppm; SD=9.59) in grey-faced petrel feathers was approximately 8.5 to 14 times that detected in the other three species sampled. We detected no trend or differences in Hg concentrations in grey-faced petrels over the 8years of this study, but Hg concentrations varied between breeding colonies although there was no strong relationship with latitude. The elevated Hg concentrations detected in grey-faced petrels could pose a risk to the breeding performance of grey-faced petrels and the customary harvest of chicks by Māori (New Zealand's indigenous peoples).
authors.affiliation: Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand; University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University,1474 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. Electronic address: lyverp@landcareresearch.co.nz.
authors.forename: P O' B
authors.initials: POB
authors.lastname: Lyver
authors.affiliation: Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand; University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University,1474 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Aldridge
authors.affiliation: Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand; University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University,1474 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gormley
authors.affiliation: Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand; University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University,1474 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gaw
authors.affiliation: Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand; University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University,1474 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.affiliation: Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand; University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University,1474 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Buxton
authors.affiliation: Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand; University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University,1474 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D005241:Feathers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D009520:New Zealand
chemical_list: D008628:Mercury
keywords: Common diving petrel contaminants; Fluttering shearwater; Little shearwater; New Zealand; Trace elements