Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mercury in swamp sparrows (Melospiza georgiana) from wetland habitats in Wisconsin

  • Published:
Ecotoxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Wetlands play a major role in the export of methylmercury (MeHg) to a watershed. The large contribution of wetlands to watersheds in northern Wisconsin, coupled with the acidic environment of this area, makes these habitats especially vulnerable to mercury (Hg) accumulation by biota. The purpose of this study was to compare Hg accumulation between northern Wisconsin wetlands and southern Wisconsin wetlands using the swamp sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) as a representative species. The swamp sparrow was selected as a representative passerine species in which to examine Hg in these habitats, because during their breeding season, they feed at a higher trophic level than many of their counterparts. During the breeding seasons of 2007 and 2008, blood samples were collected from swamp sparrows inhabiting wetlands in both northern and southern Wisconsin and analyzed for total Hg. The mean concentration of total Hg in swamp sparrows from northern wetlands was 0.135 ± 0.064 μg/ml while the mean concentration of total Hg in swamp sparrows from southern wetlands was 0.187 ± 0.106 μg/ml. Results revealed no significant difference (P = 0.17) between Hg accumulation in swamp sparrows from less-acidic wetlands in southern Wisconsin and Hg in swamp sparrows from acidic wetlands in northern Wisconsin. The results are contrary to those observed in other species such as common loon, tree swallow and river otter where higher accumulation has been observed in individuals from acidic habitats. Reasons for the lack of this accumulation pattern in swamp sparrows are unclear and warrant further study.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bearhop S, Ruxton GD, Furness RW (2000) Dynamics of mercury in blood and feathers of Great Skuas. Environ Toxicol Chem 19:1638–1643

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brasso RL, Cristol DA (2008) Effects of mercury exposure on the reproductive success of tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). Ecotoxicology 17(2):133–141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • eBird (2011) eBird: an online database of bird distribution and abundance [web application], version 2. eBird, Ithaca. http://www.ebird.org

  • Evers DC, Kaplan JD, Meyer MW, Reaman PS, Braselton WE, Major A, Burgess N, Scheuhammer AM (1998) A geographic trend in mercury measured in common loon feather and blood. Environ Toxicol Chem 17:173–183

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evers DC, Burgess NM, Champoux L, Hoskins B, Major A, Goodale WM, Taylor RJ, Poppenga R, Daigle T (2005) Patterns and interpretation of mercury exposure in freshwater avian communities in northeastern North America. Ecotoxicology 14:193–221

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evers DC, Savoy LJ, DeSorbo CR, Yates DE, Hanson W, Taylor KM, Siegel LS, Cooley JH Jr, Bank MS, Major A, Munney K, Mower B, Vogel HS, Schoch N, Pokras M, Goodale MW, Fair J (2008) Adverse effects from environmental mercury loads on breeding common loons. Ecotoxicology 17:69–81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evers DC, Duron M, Yates D, Schoch N (2009) An exploratory study of methyl mercury availability in terrestrial wildlife of New York and Pennsylvania, 2005–2006. Report submitted to the New York State Energy Resource and Development Authority

  • Fevold BM, Meyer MW, Rasmussen PW, Temple SA (2003) Bioaccumulation patterns and temporal trends of mercury exposure in Wisconsin common loons. Ecotoxicology 12:83–93

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fitzgerald WF, Mason RP, Vandal GM (1991) Atmospheric cycling and air-water exchange of mercury over mid-continental lacustrine regions. Water Air Soil Pollut 56:745–767

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gelman A, Hill J (2007) Data analysis using regression and multilevel/hierarchical models. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Grigal DF (2002) Inputs and outputs of mercury from terrestrial watersheds: a review. Environ Rev 10:1–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hallinger KK, Cornell KL, Brasso RL, Cristol DA (2011) Mercury exposure and survival in free-living tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). Ecotoxicology 20(1):39–46

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krabbenhoft DP, Wiener JG, Brumbaugh WG, Olson ML, DeWild JF, Sabin TJ (1999) A national pilot study of mercury contamination of aquatic ecosystems along multiple gradients. U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia

  • Lane OP, Evers DC (2007) Methylmercury availability in New England estuaries as indicated by saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrow, 2004–2006. Report BRI 2007-14. BioDiversity Research Institute, Gorham

  • Littell RC, Milliken GA, Stroup WW, Wolfinger RD (1996) SAS system for mixed models. SAS Institute Inc., Cary

    Google Scholar 

  • McShane WJ, Pappas RS, Wilson-McElprang V, Paschal D (2008) A rugged and transferable method for determining blood cadmium, mercury and lead with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Spectrochim Acta B At Spectrosc 63(6):638–644

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer MW, Evers DC, Hartigan JJ, Rasmussen PS (1998) Patterns of common loon (Gavia immer) mercury exposure, reproduction, and survival in Wisconsin, USA. Environ Toxicol Chem 17:184–190

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mitro MG, Evers DC, Meyer MW, Piper WH (2008) Common loon survival rates and mercury in New England and Wisconsin. J Wildl Manag 72(3):665–673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mowbray TB (1997) Swamp sparrow (Melospiza georgiana). In: Poole A (ed) The birds of North America online. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca. Retrieved from the birds of North America online, http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/279

  • Pyle P (1997) Identification guide to North American birds. Slate Creek Press, Bolinas

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen PW, Schrank CS, Campfield PA (2007) Temporal trends of mercury concentrations in Wisconsin walleye (Sander vitreus), 1982–2005. Ecotoxicology 16:541–550

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rimmer CC, McFarland KP, Evers DC, Miller EK, Aubry A, Busby D, Taylor RJ (2005) Mercury levels in Bicknell’s thrush and other passerines in montane forests of northeastern North America. Ecotoxicology 14:223–240

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rimmer CC, Miller EK, McFarland KP, Taylor RJ, Faccio SD (2010) Mercury bioaccumulation and trophic transfer in the terrestrial food web of a montane forest. Ecotoxicology 19:697–709

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robbins SD (1991) Wisconsin birdlife: population and distribution: past and present. The University of Wisconsin Press, Madison

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheuhammer AM, Atchison CM, Wong AHK, Evers DC (1998) Mercury exposure in breeding common loons (Gavia immer) in central Ontario, Canada. Environ Toxicol Chem 17:191–196

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shriver WG, Evers DC, Hodgman TP, MacCulloch BJ, Taylor RJ (2006) Mercury in sharp-tailed sparrows breeding in coastal wetlands. Environ Bioindic 1:129–135

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spry DJ, Wiener JG (1991) Metal bioavailability and toxicity to fish in low alkalinity lakes: a critical review. Environ Pollut 71:243–304

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (1997) Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy. http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/bns/

  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2008) Birds of conservation concern 2008. United States Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory Bird Management, Arlington

  • Wada H, Cristol DA, McNabb FMA, Hopkins WA (2009) Suppressed adrenocortical responses and thyroid hormone levels in birds near a mercury contaminated river. Environ Sci Technol 43:6031–6038

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Waldron MC, Colman JA, Breault RF (2000) Distribution, hydrologic transport, and cycling of total mercury and methyl mercury in a contaminated river-reservoir-wetland system (Sudbury River; eastern Massachusetts). Can J Fish Aquat Sci 57:1080–1091

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Warner SE, Shriver WG, Pepper MA, Taylor RJ (2010) Mercury concentrations in tidal marsh sparrows and their use as bioindicators in Delaware Bay, USA. Environ Monit Assess 171:671–679

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watras CJ, Morrison KA, Host JS, Bloom NS (1995) Concentration of mercury species in relationship to other site-specific factors in the surface waters of northern Wisconsin lakes. Limnol Oceanogr 40:556–565

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Winder VL, Emslie SD (2011) Mercury in breeding and wintering Nelson’s sparrows (Ammodramus nelsoni). Ecotoxicology 20:218–225

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Winfrey MR, Rudd JWM (1990) Environmental factors affecting the formation of methylmercury in low pH lakes. Environ Toxicol Chem 9:853–870

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe MF, Schwarzbach SS, Sulaiman RA (1998) Effects of mercury on wildlife: a comprehensive review. Environ Toxicol Chem 17:146–160

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Noel Stanton, DeWayne Kennedy-Parker, and Greg Berkseth of the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene for their work on the chemical analysis of the blood samples. We would also like to thank Linda Winn, Bruce Bacon, Brenda Kelly, Bill Volkert, and Jim Holzwart for their assistance in securing sampling locations. Finally we would like to thank Paul Rasmussen for his advice and assistance with the statistical analysis of the data. Special thanks to Erin Larson and Bill Ceelen for assistance in preparing graphics for this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Wildlife Management, 101 S. Webster St., Madison, WI, 53707, USA

    Sean M. Strom

  2. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Wildlife Management, 2501 Golf Course Rd., Ashland, WI, 54806, USA

    Ryan S. Brady

Authors
  1. Sean M. Strom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ryan S. Brady
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sean M. Strom.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Strom, S.M., Brady, R.S. Mercury in swamp sparrows (Melospiza georgiana) from wetland habitats in Wisconsin. Ecotoxicology 20, 1694–1700 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-011-0734-x

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-011-0734-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation