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Mercury Concentrations in Birds from Two Atmospherically Contaminated Sites in North Texas, USA

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Abstract

Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous and highly toxic contaminant that can have negative effects on wildlife. Only a few studies have measured Hg concentrations in birds from the south central United States, and the potential threat of Hg contamination to birds in this region is largely unknown. In the present study, we assess Hg concentrations in blood and feathers from five bird species [eastern bluebird (Sialis sialis), Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), wood duck (Aix sponsa), great egret (Ardea alba), and great blue heron (Ardea herodias)] that occupy different trophic levels at Caddo Lake and Lewisville Lake, located in northeast and north central Texas, respectively. Both sites are contaminated with Hg from the atmosphere. Adult passerines had higher Hg concentrations in their blood than conspecific nestlings. Mercury concentrations in feathers differed between species by more than an order of magnitude with large piscivorous species having higher concentrations than smaller insectivorous species. Mercury concentrations in eastern bluebirds were higher at Caddo Lake than Lewisville Lake. The present study represents one of the first studies of Hg concentrations in multiple bird species in north Texas and suggests that Hg concentrations in birds from atmospherically polluted sites in this region may be high enough to compromise fitness in those species.

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Acknowledgments

This project was funded with a University of North Texas Research Initiative Grant. Ryan Williams provided invaluable assistance in sample collection. The authors thank Vanessa Adams and Jason Roesner (Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area, Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge) and Dr. Kenneth Steigman (Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area) for sampling permits, assisting with sample collection, and generously providing field housing. A special thank you to many private property owners of Karnack and Uncertain, TX, for permission to sample birds and/or providing information central to the project, namely Tom Walker, John and Diane Winn, Jeff Thompson, and Sam and Randy Canup.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Applied Sciences, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #310559, Denton, TX, 76201, USA

    Sarah E. Schulwitz & Jeff A. Johnson

  2. Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, 2800 South University Drive, Fort Worth, TX, 76129, USA

    Matthew M. Chumchal

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  1. Sarah E. Schulwitz
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  2. Matthew M. Chumchal
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Correspondence to Sarah E. Schulwitz.

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Schulwitz, S.E., Chumchal, M.M. & Johnson, J.A. Mercury Concentrations in Birds from Two Atmospherically Contaminated Sites in North Texas, USA. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 69, 390–398 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-015-0189-9

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