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Total and Methyl Mercury Concentrations in Seabird Feathers and Eggs

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Abstract

Seabirds are used frequently as indicators of mercury contamination in marine ecosystems, but few studies have examined the forms of mercury found in seabird tissues. Here we compare concentrations of total and organic mercury in feathers (n = 5) of six sympatric nesting seabirds and in egg components of Leach’s storm-petrels from Machias Seal Island, New Brunswick, Canada, during the 2006 breeding season. Essentially all (82–133%) mercury found in seabird feathers and egg components was methyl mercury, with no interspecific differences in percentage methyl mercury. This pattern is consistent with the hypothesis that feather-molt and egg production eliminate toxic methyl mercury, while inorganic forms from demethylation in the liver remain in internal tissues. Additional studies across more species, and comparisons with percentage methyl mercury in internal tissues, are required to validate this theory.

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Acknowledgments

We thank G. Bouchard, T. Clarke, and M.-P. Godin for assistance in the field, A. Patterson (Bold Coast Charter Co., Cutler, Maine) for providing safe transportation to the island, E. Yumvihoze for performing lab analyses, and T. Jardine and D. Lean for many stimulating conversations on this topic and assistance throughout the process. Comments from J. Lavers, R. Lavoie, D. Lean, and two anonymous reviewers improved the manuscript. This is ACWERN publication number UNB-71.

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  1. Alexander L. Bond

    Present address: Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada, A1B 3X9

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Atlantic Cooperative Wildlife Ecology Research Network & Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, PO Box 45111, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, E3B 6E1

    Alexander L. Bond & Antony W. Diamond

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  1. Alexander L. Bond
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  2. Antony W. Diamond
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Correspondence to Alexander L. Bond.

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Bond, A.L., Diamond, A.W. Total and Methyl Mercury Concentrations in Seabird Feathers and Eggs. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 56, 286–291 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-008-9185-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-008-9185-7

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