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Ackerman JT, Peterson SH, Herzog MP, Yee JL. Methylmercury Effects on Birds: A Review, Meta-Analysis, and Development of Toxicity Reference Values for Injury Assessment Based on Tissue Residues and Diet. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024. [PMID: 38682592 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Birds are used as bioindicators of environmental mercury (Hg) contamination, and toxicity reference values are needed for injury assessments. We conducted a comprehensive review, summarized data from 168 studies, performed a series of Bayesian hierarchical meta-analyses, and developed new toxicity reference values for the effects of methylmercury (MeHg) on birds using a benchmark dose analysis framework. Lethal and sublethal effects of MeHg on birds were categorized into nine biologically relevant endpoint categories and three age classes. Effective Hg concentrations where there was a 10% reduction (EC10) in the production of juvenile offspring (0.55 µg/g wet wt adult blood-equivalent Hg concentrations, 80% credible interval: [0.33, 0.85]), histology endpoints (0.49 [0.15, 0.96] and 0.61 [0.09, 2.48]), and biochemical markers (0.77 [<0.25, 2.12] and 0.57 [0.35, 0.92]) were substantially lower than those for survival (2.97 [2.10, 4.73] and 5.24 [3.30, 9.55]) and behavior (6.23 [1.84, >13.42] and 3.11 [2.10, 4.64]) of juveniles and adults, respectively. Within the egg age class, survival was the most sensitive endpoint (EC10 = 2.02 µg/g wet wt adult blood-equivalent Hg concentrations [1.39, 2.94] or 1.17 µg/g fresh wet wt egg-equivalent Hg concentrations [0.80, 1.70]). Body morphology was not particularly sensitive to Hg. We developed toxicity reference values using a combined survival and reproduction endpoints category for juveniles, because juveniles were more sensitive to Hg toxicity than eggs or adults. Adult blood-equivalent Hg concentrations (µg/g wet wt) and egg-equivalent Hg concentrations (µg/g fresh wet wt) caused low injury to birds (EC1) at 0.09 [0.04, 0.17] and 0.04 [0.01, 0.08], moderate injury (EC5) at 0.6 [0.37, 0.84] and 0.3 [0.17, 0.44], high injury (EC10) at 1.3 [0.94, 1.89] and 0.7 [0.49, 1.02], and severe injury (EC20) at 3.2 [2.24, 4.78] and 1.8 [1.28, 2.79], respectively. Maternal dietary Hg (µg/g dry wt) caused low injury to juveniles at 0.16 [0.05, 0.38], moderate injury at 0.6 [0.29, 1.03], high injury at 1.1 [0.63, 1.87], and severe injury at 2.4 [1.42, 4.13]. We found few substantial differences in Hg toxicity among avian taxonomic orders, including for controlled laboratory studies that injected Hg into eggs. Our results can be used to quantify injury to birds caused by Hg pollution. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-52. Published 2024. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua T Ackerman
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, California, USA
| | - Sarah H Peterson
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, California, USA
| | - Mark P Herzog
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, California, USA
| | - Julie L Yee
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Santa Cruz Field Station, Santa Cruz, California, USA
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2
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Xu Z, Lu Q, Jia D, Li S, Luo K, Su T, Chen Z, Qiu G. Significant biomagnification of methylmercury in songbird nestlings through a rice-based food web: Insights from stable mercury isotopes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 468:133783. [PMID: 38367440 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
To elucidate the sources and transfer of mercury (Hg) in terrestrial food chains, particularly in heavily Hg-contaminated rice paddy ecosystems, we collected rice leaves, invertebrates, and Russet Sparrow nestlings from a clear food chain and analyzed the dietary compositions and potential Hg sources using stable Hg isotopes coupled with a Bayesian isotope mixing model (BIMM). Our findings indicated that MeHg exposure is dominant through the dietary route, with caterpillars, grasshoppers, and katydids being the main prey items, while the less provisioned spiders, dragonflies, and mantises contributed the most of the Hg to nestlings. We found minimal MIF but certain MDF in this terrestrial food chain and identified two distinct MeHg sources of dietary exposure and maternal transfer. We firstly found that the dietary route contributed substantially (almost tenfold) more MeHg to the nestlings than maternal transfer. These findings offer new insights into the integration of Hg from the dietary route and maternal transfers, enhancing our understanding of fluctuating Hg exposure risk during the nestling stage. Our study suggested that Hg isotopes combined with BIMM is an effective approach for tracing Hg sources in birds and for gaining in-depth insight into the trophic transfers and biomagnification of MeHg in food chains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhidong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Qinhui Lu
- The Key Laboratory of Environment Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Provincial Engineering Research Center of Ecological Food Innovation, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Dongya Jia
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Shenghao Li
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Kang Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China; Ailaoshan Station for Subtropical Forest Ecosystem Studies, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jingdong 676200, China
| | - Tongping Su
- Key Laboratory of Environment Change and Resources Use in Beibu Gulf, Ministry of Education, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, China
| | - Zhuo Chen
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China.
| | - Guangle Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China.
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Xu Z, Yang Y, Li J, Yang N, Zhang Q, Qiu G, Lu Q. Home-produced eggs: An important pathway of methylmercury exposure for residents in mercury mining areas, southwest China. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 268:115678. [PMID: 37979350 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
In light of the documented elevated concentrations of total mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in poultry originating from Hg-contaminated sites, a knowledge gap persists regarding the levels of Hg found in home-produced eggs (HPEs) and the associated dietary exposure risks in regions affected by Hg mining. To address this knowledge gap, a comprehensive investigation was undertaken with the primary objectives of ascertaining the concentrations of THg and MeHg in HPEs and evaluating the potential hazards associated with the consumption of eggs from the Wanshan Hg mining area in Southwest China. The results showed that THg concentrations in HPEs varied within a range of 10.5-809 ng/g (with a geometric mean (GM) of 64.1 ± 2.7 ng/g), whereas MeHg levels spanned from 1.3 to 291 ng/g (GM, 23.1 ± 3.4 ng/g). Remarkably, in half of all eggs, as well as those collected from regions significantly impacted by mining activities, THg concentrations exceeded the permissible maximum allowable value for fresh eggs (50 ng/g). Consumption of these eggs resulted in increased exposure risks associated with THg and MeHg, with GM values ranging from 0.024 to 0.17 µg/kg BW/day and 0.0089-0.066 µg/kg BW/day, respectively. Notably, the most substantial daily dosage was observed among children aged 2-3 years. The study found that consuming HPEs could result in a significant IQ reduction of 34.0 points for the whole mining area in a year. These findings highlight the potential exposure risk, particularly concerning MeHg, stemming from the consumption of local HPEs by residents in mining areas, thereby warranting serious consideration within the framework of Hg exposure risk assessment in mining locales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhidong Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Provincial Engineering Research Center of Ecological Food Innovation, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Yuhua Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Provincial Engineering Research Center of Ecological Food Innovation, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Jun Li
- College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Na Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Provincial Engineering Research Center of Ecological Food Innovation, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Qinghai Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Provincial Engineering Research Center of Ecological Food Innovation, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Guangle Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Qinhui Lu
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Provincial Engineering Research Center of Ecological Food Innovation, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China.
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Johnson JM, Smaga CR, Bock SL, Parrott BB. Maternal provisioning interacts with incubation temperature to affect hatchling mercury exposure in an oviparous reptile. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20230097. [PMID: 37554010 PMCID: PMC10410221 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The thermal environment experienced by developing embryos can influence the utilization of maternally provisioned resources. Despite being particularly consequential for oviparous ectotherms, these dynamics are largely unexplored within ecotoxicological frameworks. Here, we test if incubation temperature interacts with maternally transferred mercury to affect subsequent body burdens and tissue distributions of mercury in hatchling American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). Nine clutches of alligator eggs were collected from a mercury-contaminated reservoir and incubated at either female- or male-promoting temperatures. Total mercury (THg) concentration was measured in egg yolk collected during incubation and in a suite of tissues collected from hatchlings. THg concentrations in residual yolk and blood were higher in hatchlings incubated at cooler, female-promoting temperatures compared to the warmer, male-promoting temperatures. THg concentrations in most tissues were positively correlated with THg concentrations in blood and dermis, and egg yolk THg concentration was the best predictor of THg concentration in many resultant tissues. Our results highlight a hereto unknown role of the developmental environment in mediating tissue specific uptake of contaminants in an oviparous reptile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josiah M. Johnson
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Christopher R. Smaga
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Samantha L. Bock
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Benjamin B. Parrott
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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Johnson JM, Bock SL, Smaga CR, Lambert MR, Rainwater TR, Wilkinson PM, Parrott BB. Relationships between maternally-transferred mercury and hatchling development, behavior, and survival in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 870:162010. [PMID: 36739038 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a toxic and pervasive environmental contaminant that can be transferred from mother to offspring during development. Consequences of maternally-transferred mercury have been observed in vertebrate taxa, including reduced clutch viability, reduced offspring size, and behavioral alterations. These sublethal effects have been assumed to decrease survivorship, though this is seldom assessed. Here, we examined how maternally-transferred mercury interacts with incubation temperature to influence reproductive success, offspring behavior, and subsequent survival in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). We collected nine clutches of eggs from a mercury contaminated reservoir on the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, and incubated eggs at either female- or male-promoting temperatures. Clutch-averaged mercury in egg yolk was high relative to other studies in crocodilians and ranged from 0.248 to 0.554 ppm compared to 0.018-0.052 ppm at a site with low levels of mercury contamination; mercury levels in hatchling blood ranged from 0.090 to 0.490 ppm (x¯ = 0.240 ppm, n = 158). We found few, mostly negligible correlations between life history traits and mercury but noted a positive relationship with egg mass, possibly mediated by correlated maternal effects such as resource provisioning. Incubation temperature exerted strong effects on hatchling phenotypes, with warmer, male-promoting temperatures producing larger and bolder hatchlings. Presumptive females, produced from cooler incubation temperatures, spent more time in warm areas during behavior trials. Hatchlings were released 10-15 days post-hatch and surveyed over eight months to assess survival. Survivorship was positively correlated with hatchling size and negatively correlated with proportional time spent in warm areas. Presumptive females had much lower survival, and overall survivorship for the eight-month period was 0.185-0.208, depending on the modelling approach. Our study suggests that, within the range of concentrations we observed, incubation temperature has a stronger effect on offspring behavior and survival than maternally-transferred mercury pollution in American alligators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josiah M Johnson
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, United States; Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States.
| | - Samantha L Bock
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, United States; Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States
| | - Christopher R Smaga
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, United States; Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States
| | - Max R Lambert
- Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Thomas R Rainwater
- Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science, Clemson University, Georgetown, SC 29442, United States; Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center, Georgetown, SC 29440, United States
| | | | - Benjamin B Parrott
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, United States; Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States
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6
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Jouanneau W, Léandri-Breton DJ, Herzke D, Moe B, Nikiforov VA, Pallud M, Parenteau C, Gabrielsen GW, Chastel O. Does contaminant exposure disrupt maternal hormones deposition? A study on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in an Arctic seabird. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 868:161413. [PMID: 36621503 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Maternal effects are thought to be essential tools for females to modulate offspring development. The selective deposition of avian maternal hormones could therefore allow females to strategically adjust the phenotype of their offspring to the environmental situation encountered. However, at the time of egg formation, several contaminants are also transferred to the egg, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) which are ubiquitous organic contaminants with endocrine disrupting properties. It is, however, unknown if they can disrupt maternal hormone deposition. In this study we explored relationships between female PFAS burden and maternal deposition in the eggs of steroids (dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione and testosterone), glucocorticoids (corticosterone) and thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine and thyroxine) in a population of the Arctic-breeding black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla). Egg yolk hormone levels were unrelated to female hormone plasma levels. Second-laid eggs had significantly lower concentrations of androstenedione than first-laid eggs. Triiodothyronine yolk levels were decreasing with increasing egg mass but increasing with increasing females' body condition. Testosterone was the only transferred yolk hormone correlated to maternal PFAS burden: specifically, we found a positive correlation between testosterone in yolks and circulating maternal perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDcA) and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) in first-laid eggs. This correlative study provides a first insight into the potential of some long-chain perfluoroalkyl acids to disrupt maternal hormones deposition in eggs and raises the question about the consequences of increased testosterone deposition on the developing embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Jouanneau
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 17031 La Rochelle, France; Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Don-Jean Léandri-Breton
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 17031 La Rochelle, France; Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Dorte Herzke
- NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Børge Moe
- NINA - Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, NO-7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Vladimir A Nikiforov
- NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Marie Pallud
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 17031 La Rochelle, France
| | - Charline Parenteau
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 17031 La Rochelle, France
| | | | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 17031 La Rochelle, France
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7
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Zhang F, Xu Z, Xu X, Liang L, Chen Z, Dong X, Luo K, Dinis F, Qiu G. Terrestrial mercury and methylmercury bioaccumulation and trophic transfer in subtropical urban forest food webs. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 299:134424. [PMID: 35351481 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
As the "lungs of the city", urban forests can improve air quality by absorbing air pollutants, becoming hotspots for mercury (Hg) pollution from anthropogenic activities. However, the bioaccumulation and transfer of Hg in the urban forest food web are unclear. In this study, total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations, as well as the stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) in organisms with different trophic levels (TLs) were investigated in a mid-subtropical urban forest of the Changpoling Forest Park (CFP) in Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, southwestern China. The results showed that THg and MeHg among all taxa ranged from 5.6 to 1267 ng g-1 and 0.046-692 ng g-1, respectively. MeHg% (% of Hg present as MeHg) at different TLs exhibited a wide range of 5.0-69% on average. Both THg and MeHg increased with the TLs from plants to nestling birds, indicating distinct biomagnification through the food web of grasses/pine needles - grasshoppers/caterpillars/katydids/mantis - spiders/songbird nestlings. The trophic magnification slope (TMS) of THg and MeHg were 0.18 ± 0.05 and 0.37 ± 0.08, respectively, suggesting both of them significantly increase along food webs. These findings improve the understanding of biogeochemical Hg cycles in terrestrial food webs and highlight the impacts of terrestrial MeHg on nestling birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fudong Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China
| | - Zhidong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China
| | - Xiaohang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Longchao Liang
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China
| | - Zhuo Chen
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China.
| | - Xian Dong
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China
| | - Kang Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; Ailaoshan Station for Subtropical Forest Ecosystem Studies, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jingdong, 676200, China
| | - Faustino Dinis
- College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Guangle Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China.
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Carravieri A, Vincze O, Bustamante P, Ackerman JT, Adams EM, Angelier F, Chastel O, Cherel Y, Gilg O, Golubova E, Kitaysky A, Luff K, Seewagen CL, Strøm H, Will AP, Yannic G, Giraudeau M, Fort J. Quantitative meta-analysis reveals no association between mercury contamination and body condition in birds. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:1253-1271. [PMID: 35174617 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Mercury contamination is a major threat to the global environment, and is still increasing in some regions despite international regulations. The methylated form of mercury is hazardous to biota, yet its sublethal effects are difficult to detect in wildlife. Body condition can vary in response to stressors, but previous studies have shown mixed effects of mercury on body condition in wildlife. Using birds as study organisms, we provide the first quantitative synthesis of the effect of mercury on body condition in animals. In addition, we explored the influence of intrinsic, extrinsic and methodological factors potentially explaining cross-study heterogeneity in results. We considered experimental and correlative studies carried out in adult birds and chicks, and mercury exposure inferred from blood and feathers. Most experimental investigations (90%) showed a significant relationship between mercury concentrations and body condition. Experimental exposure to mercury disrupted nutrient (fat) metabolism, metabolic rates, and food intake, resulting in either positive or negative associations with body condition. Correlative studies also showed either positive or negative associations, of which only 14% were statistically significant. Therefore, the overall effect of mercury concentrations on body condition was null in both experimental (estimate ± SE = 0.262 ± 0.309, 20 effect sizes, five species) and correlative studies (-0.011 ± 0.020, 315 effect sizes, 145 species). The single and interactive effects of age class and tissue type were accounted for in meta-analytic models of the correlative data set, since chicks and adults, as well as blood and feathers, are known to behave differently in terms of mercury accumulation and health effects. Of the 15 moderators tested, only wintering status explained cross-study heterogeneity in the correlative data set: free-ranging wintering birds were more likely to show a negative association between mercury and body condition. However, wintering effect sizes were limited to passerines, further studies should thus confirm this trend in other taxa. Collectively, our results suggest that (i) effects of mercury on body condition are weak and mostly detectable under controlled conditions, and (ii) body condition indices are unreliable indicators of mercury sublethal effects in the wild. Food availability, feeding rates and other sources of variation that are challenging to quantify likely confound the association between mercury and body condition in natura. Future studies could explore the metabolic effects of mercury further using designs that allow for the estimation and/or manipulation of food intake in both wild and captive birds, especially in under-represented life-history stages such as migration and overwintering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Carravieri
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle, 17000, France
| | - Orsolya Vincze
- Centre for Ecological Research-DRI, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, 18/C Bem tér, Debrecen, 4026, Hungary.,Evolutionary Ecology Group, Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, 5-7 Clinicilor street, Cluj-Napoca, 400006, Romania
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle, 17000, France.,Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, Paris, 75005, France
| | - Joshua T Ackerman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA, 95620, U.S.A
| | - Evan M Adams
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, U.S.A
| | - Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 405 Route de Prissé la Charrière, Villiers-en-Bois, 79360, France
| | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 405 Route de Prissé la Charrière, Villiers-en-Bois, 79360, France
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 405 Route de Prissé la Charrière, Villiers-en-Bois, 79360, France
| | - Olivier Gilg
- UMR 6249 CNRS-Chrono-environnement, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, Besançon, 25000, France.,Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique (GREA), 16 rue de Vernot, Francheville, 21440, France
| | - Elena Golubova
- Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique (GREA), 16 rue de Vernot, Francheville, 21440, France.,Institute of Biological Problems of the North, Russian Academy of Sciences, Portovaya Str., 18, Magadan, RU-685000, Russia
| | - Alexander Kitaysky
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2140 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, U.S.A
| | - Katelyn Luff
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Chad L Seewagen
- Great Hollow Nature Preserve and Ecological Research Center, 225 State Route 37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, U.S.A
| | - Hallvard Strøm
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, NO-9296, Norway
| | - Alexis P Will
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2140 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, U.S.A
| | - Glenn Yannic
- Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique (GREA), 16 rue de Vernot, Francheville, 21440, France.,UMR 5553 CNRS-Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, 2233 Rue de la Piscine, Saint-Martin d'Hères, Grenoble, 38000, France
| | - Mathieu Giraudeau
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle, 17000, France.,Centre de Recherches en Écologie et en Évolution de la Santé (CREES), MIVEGEC, UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université de Montpellier, Domaine La Valette, 900 rue Breton, Montpellier, 34090, France
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, La Rochelle, 17000, France
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9
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Ma Y, Hobson KA, Kardynal KJ, Guglielmo CG, Branfireun BA. Inferring spatial patterns of mercury exposure in migratory boreal songbirds: Combining feather mercury and stable isotope (δ 2H) measurements. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 762:143109. [PMID: 33162143 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Migratory songbirds breeding in the Canadian Boreal forest are exposed to mercury (Hg), a potent neurotoxin that impairs avian health, however, the degree of exposure depends on many factors. As breeding grounds are geographically remote and vast, the measurement of Hg in individual birds is impractical particularly at large spatial scales. Here, we present a Canada-wide dataset of nearly 2000 migratory songbirds that were used to assess summer Hg exposure of 15 songbird species sampled during fall migration. We measured Hg concentrations in tail feathers and related those to dietary guild, geographic capture location, age, sex and probable breeding ground locations using feather δ2H. Overall mean (±SE) feather Hg concentration was 1.49 ± 0.03 μg/g (N = 1946): however, a clear geographic gradient in feather Hg concentrations emerged being highest in East and lowest in West. Dietary guild was the next strongest predictor of feather Hg with insectivorous songbirds in Eastern Canada at particular risk due to Hg exposure on summer breeding grounds. This broad-scale assessment of Hg exposure in migratory songbirds in Canada can be used to guide future studies on finer-scale determinants of Hg exposure in birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanju Ma
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Keith A Hobson
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Kevin J Kardynal
- Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Christopher G Guglielmo
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian A Branfireun
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Centre for Environment and Sustainability, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
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10
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Lemaire J, Marquis O, Bustamante P, Mangione R, Brischoux F. I got it from my mother: Inter-nest variation of mercury concentration in neonate Smooth-fronted Caiman (Paleosuchus trigonatus) suggests maternal transfer and possible phenotypical effects. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 194:110494. [PMID: 33220243 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The deleterious effects of mercury (Hg) contamination are well documented in humans and wildlife. Chronic exposure via diet and maternal transfer are two pathways which increase the toxicological risk for wild populations. However, few studies examined the physiological impact of Hg in crocodilians. We investigated the Hg contamination in neonate Smooth-fronted Caimans, Paleosuchus trigonatus, and the use of keratinized tissues and blood to evaluate maternal transfer. Between November 2017 and February 2020, we sampled 38 neonates from 4 distinct nests. Mercury concentration was measured in claws, scutes and total blood. Highest Hg concentrations were found in claws. Strong inter-nest variations (Hg ranging from 0.17 ± 0.02 to 0.66 ± 0.07 μg.g-1 dw) presumably reflect maternal transfer. Reduced body size in neonates characterized by elevated Hg concentrations suggests an influence of Hg during embryonic development. We emphasize the use of claws as an alternative to egg collection to investigate maternal transfer in crocodilians. Our results demonstrated the need of further investigation of the impact of Hg contamination in the first life stages of crocodilians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémy Lemaire
- Centre D'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, (CEBC) UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers en Bois, France; Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France.
| | - Olivier Marquis
- Muséum National D'Histoire Naturelle, Parc Zoologique de Paris, 53 Avenue de Saint Maurice, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 Rue Descartes, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Rosanna Mangione
- Haus des Meeres Aqua Terra Zoo GmbH, Fritz-Grünbaum Platz 1, 1060, Vienna, Austria
| | - François Brischoux
- Centre D'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, (CEBC) UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers en Bois, France
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11
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Winder VL, Anteau MJ, Fisher MR, Wilcox MK, Igl LD, Ackerman JT. Wetland water-management may influence mercury bioaccumulation in songbirds and ducks at a mercury hotspot. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2020; 29:1229-1239. [PMID: 31902053 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-019-02143-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a persistent, biomagnifying contaminant that can cause negative behavioral, immunological, and reproductive effects in wildlife and human populations. We examined the role of wetland water-management on mercury bioaccumulation in songbirds and ducks at Kellys Slough National Wildlife Refuge Complex, near Grand Forks, North Dakota USA. We assessed mercury concentrations in blood of wetland-foraging songbirds (80 common yellowthroats [Geothlypis trichas] and 14 Nelson's sparrows [Ammospiza nelsoni]) and eggs of upland-nesting ducks (28 gadwall [Mareca strepera], 19 blue-winged teal [Spatula discors], and 13 northern shoveler [S. clypeta]) across four wetland water-management classifications. Nelson's sparrow blood mercury concentrations were elevated (mean: 1.00 µg/g ww; 95% CL: 0.76-1.31) and similar to those reported 6 years previously. Mercury in songbird blood and duck eggs varied among wetland water-management classifications. Songbirds and ducks had 67% and 49% lower mercury concentrations, respectively, when occupying wetlands that were drawn down with water flow compared to individuals occupying isolated-depressional wetlands with no outflow. Additionally, songbirds within impounded and partially drawn-down wetland units with water flow had mercury concentrations that were 26-28% lower, respectively, than individuals within isolated-depressional wetlands with no outflow. Our results confirm that mercury concentrations in songbirds at Kellys Slough continue to be elevated and suggest that water-management could be an important tool for wetland managers to reduce bioaccumulation of mercury in birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia L Winder
- Department of Biology, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS, 66002, USA.
| | - Michael J Anteau
- Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 8711 37th St SE, Jamestown, ND, 58401, USA
| | - Mark R Fisher
- Devils Lake Wetland Management District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Devils Lake, ND, 58301, USA
| | - Mary Kate Wilcox
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66502, USA
| | - Lawrence D Igl
- Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 8711 37th St SE, Jamestown, ND, 58401, USA
| | - Joshua T Ackerman
- Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, U.S. Geological Survey, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA, 95620, USA
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12
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Chételat J, Ackerman JT, Eagles-Smith CA, Hebert CE. Methylmercury exposure in wildlife: A review of the ecological and physiological processes affecting contaminant concentrations and their interpretation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 711:135117. [PMID: 31831233 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) can result in detrimental health effects in wildlife. With advances in ecological indicators and analytical techniques for measurement of MeHg in a variety of tissues, numerous processes have been identified that can influence MeHg concentrations in wildlife. This review presents a synthesis of theoretical principals and applied information for measuring MeHg exposure and interpreting MeHg concentrations in wildlife. Mercury concentrations in wildlife are the net result of ecological processes influencing dietary exposure combined with physiological processes that regulate assimilation, transformation, and elimination. Therefore, consideration of both physiological and ecological processes should be integrated when formulating biomonitoring strategies. Ecological indicators, particularly stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur, compound-specific stable isotopes, and fatty acids, can be effective tools to evaluate dietary MeHg exposure. Animal species differ in their physiological capacity for MeHg elimination, and animal tissues can be inert or physiologically active, act as sites of storage, transformation, or excretion of MeHg, and vary in the timing of MeHg exposure they represent. Biological influences such as age, sex, maternal transfer, and growth or fasting are also relevant for interpretation of tissue MeHg concentrations. Wildlife tissues that represent current or near-term bioaccumulation and in which MeHg is the predominant mercury species (such as blood and eggs) are most effective for biomonitoring ecosystems and understanding landscape drivers of MeHg exposure. Further research is suggested to critically evaluate the use of keratinized external tissues to measure MeHg bioaccumulation, particularly for less-well studied wildlife such as reptiles and terrestrial mammals. Suggested methods are provided to effectively use wildlife for quantifying patterns and drivers of MeHg bioaccumulation over time and space, as well as for assessing the potential risk and toxicological effects of MeHg on wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Chételat
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada.
| | - Joshua T Ackerman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA 95620, United States
| | - Collin A Eagles-Smith
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, United States
| | - Craig E Hebert
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada
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13
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Ackerman JT, Herzog MP, Evers DC, Cristol DA, Kenow KP, Heinz GH, Lavoie RA, Brasso RL, Mallory ML, Provencher JF, Braune BM, Matz A, Schmutz JA, Eagles-Smith CA, Savoy LJ, Meyer MW, Hartman CA. Synthesis of Maternal Transfer of Mercury in Birds: Implications for Altered Toxicity Risk. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:2878-2891. [PMID: 31870145 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b06119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Maternal transfer is a predominant route of methylmercury (MeHg) exposure to offspring. We reviewed and synthesized published and unpublished data on maternal transfer of MeHg in birds. Using paired samples of females' blood (n = 564) and their eggs (n = 1814) from 26 bird species in 6 taxonomic orders, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate whether maternal transfer of MeHg to eggs differed among species and caused differential toxicity risk to embryos. Total mercury (THg) concentrations in eggs increased with maternal blood THg concentrations; however, the proportion of THg transferred from females to their eggs differed among bird taxa and with maternal THg exposure. Specifically, a smaller proportion of maternal THg was transferred to eggs with increasing female THg concentrations. Additionally, the proportion of THg that was transferred to eggs at the same maternal blood THg concentration differed among taxonomic orders, with waterfowl (Anseriformes) transferring up to 382% more THg into their eggs than songbirds (Passeriformes). We provide equations to predict THg concentrations in eggs using female blood THg concentrations, and vice versa, which may help translate toxicity benchmarks across tissues and life stages. Our results indicate that toxicity risk of MeHg can vary among bird taxa due to differences in maternal transfer of MeHg to offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua T Ackerman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, California 95620, United States
| | - Mark P Herzog
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, California 95620, United States
| | - David C Evers
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, Maine 04103, United States
| | - Daniel A Cristol
- College of William and Mary, CBiology Department, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, Virginia 23187, United States
| | - Kevin P Kenow
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, 2630 Fanta Reed Road, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54603, United States
| | - Gary H Heinz
- U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, BARC-East, Building 308, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, United States
| | - Raphael A Lavoie
- Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie et environnement aquatique (GRIL), Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Marie-Victorin, CP6128, Succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Rebecka L Brasso
- Weber State University, Department of Zoology, 1415 Edvalson Drive, Ogden, Utah 84408, United States
| | - Mark L Mallory
- Acadia University, Biology Department, 15 University Drive, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Jennifer F Provencher
- Acadia University, Biology Department, 15 University Drive, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Birgit M Braune
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Raven Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Angela Matz
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99503, United States
| | - Joel A Schmutz
- U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99508, United States
| | - Collin A Eagles-Smith
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Lucas J Savoy
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, Maine 04103, United States
| | - Michael W Meyer
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 107 Sutliff Avenue, Rhinelander, Wisconsin 54501, United States
| | - C Alex Hartman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, California 95620, United States
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14
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Peterson SH, Ackerman JT, Toney M, Herzog MP. Mercury Concentrations Vary Within and Among Individual Bird Feathers: A Critical Evaluation and Guidelines for Feather Use in Mercury Monitoring Programs. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2019; 38:1164-1187. [PMID: 30924957 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Feathers are widely used to represent mercury contamination in birds. Yet, few recommendations exist that provide guidance for using bird feathers in mercury monitoring programs. We conducted a literature review and 5 experiments to show that mercury concentrations vary substantially within (vane >100% higher than calamus) and among (>1000%) individual feathers from the same bird. We developed a research tool and guidelines for using bird feathers for mercury studies based on 3 components: 1) variability of feather mercury concentrations within an individual bird (coefficient of variation), 2) desired accuracy of the measured mercury concentration, and 3) feather and bird mass. Our results suggest a general rule that if the goal is to limit analytical and processing costs by using whole feathers in only one sample boat, then to achieve an accuracy within 10% of a bird's overall average feather mercury concentration a bird with a coefficient of variation ≤10% must be <190 g (size of a large shorebird). To achieve an accuracy within 20%, a bird with a coefficient of variation ≤10% must be <920 g (a large duck). When more than one sample boat is needed to fit the required number of feathers to achieve the desired accuracy, the results suggest homogenizing feathers and analyzing an aliquot of ≥20 mg for mercury. The present study suggests increasing the number of feathers typically used per bird to assess mercury concentrations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:1164-1187. Published 2019 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah H Peterson
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, California
| | - Joshua T Ackerman
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, California
| | - Matthew Toney
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, California
| | - Mark P Herzog
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, California
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15
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Hartman CA, Ackerman JT, Herzog MP. Mercury Exposure and Altered Parental Nesting Behavior in a Wild Songbird. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:5396-5405. [PMID: 30924331 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b07227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Methylmercury is a neurotoxin and endocrine disruptor and may impair avian reproduction directly through embryotoxicity or by altering parental care behaviors. We studied mercury exposure and incubation behavior of free-living tree swallows ( Tachycineta bicolor) nesting in artificial nest boxes. Using small temperature dataloggers, we measured incubation constancy (the proportion of each day the female spent incubating eggs), the number of incubation recesses taken per day, and the duration of incubation recesses. We also assessed maternal mercury exposure by measuring mercury concentrations in both blood and eggs. Females with higher mercury concentrations exhibited lower incubation constancy, took more frequent and shorter incubation recesses, and were more likely to take incubation recesses that caused nest temperature decreases that were likely to slow embryonic development. Overall, females that laid eggs with the highest observed mercury concentration (0.53 μg/g fww) spent an average of 12% less time incubating their eggs over the 14-day incubation period than females that laid eggs with the lowest mercury concentration (0.07 μg/g fww). Because less time spent incubating can lower egg temperatures, slow embryonic development, and potentially lengthen the incubation period, these results suggest that environmentally relevant mercury concentrations may negatively influence reproduction by altering parental nesting behaviors of wild songbirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Alex Hartman
- U.S. Geological Survey , Western Ecological Research Center , Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D , Dixon , California 95620 , United States
| | - Joshua T Ackerman
- U.S. Geological Survey , Western Ecological Research Center , Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D , Dixon , California 95620 , United States
| | - Mark P Herzog
- U.S. Geological Survey , Western Ecological Research Center , Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D , Dixon , California 95620 , United States
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16
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Ma Y, Perez CR, Branfireun BA, Guglielmo CG. Dietary exposure to methylmercury affects flight endurance in a migratory songbird. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 234:894-901. [PMID: 29253830 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Although there has been much speculation in the literature that methylmercury (MeHg) exposure can reduce songbird fitness, little is known about its effects on migration. Migrating songbirds typically make multiple flights, stopping to refuel for short periods between flights. How refueling at MeHg-contaminated stopover sites would contribute to MeHg bioaccumulation, and how such exposure could affect subsequent flight performance during migration has not been determined. In a dosing experiment we show that migratory yellow-rumped warblers (Setophaga coronata) rapidly accumulate dietary MeHg in blood, brain and muscle, liver and kidneys in just 1-2 weeks. We found that exposure to a 0.5 ppm diet did not affect vertical takeoff performance, but in 2-h wind tunnel flights, MeHg-treated warblers had a greater median number of strikes (landing or losing control) in the first 30 min, longer strike duration, and shorter flight duration. The number of strikes in the first 30 min of 0.5 ppm MeHg-exposed warblers was related to mercury concentration in blood in a sigmoid, dose-dependent fashion. Hyperphagic migratory songbirds may potentially bioaccumulate MeHg rapidly, which can lead to decreased migratory endurance flight performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanju Ma
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Cristina R Perez
- Department of Agriculture, Nutrition and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Brian A Branfireun
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Centre for Environment and Sustainability, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher G Guglielmo
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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