Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Wetland water-management may influence mercury bioaccumulation in songbirds and ducks at a mercury hotspot

  • Published:
Ecotoxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

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
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Data used in this paper are available in the public domain from the USGS ScienceBase data repository (Winder et al. 2018).

References

  • Ackerman JT, Eagles-Smith CA (2010) Agricultural wetlands as potential hotspots for mercury bioaccumulation: experimental evidence using caged fish. Environ Sci Technol 44:1451–1457

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ackerman JT, Herzog MP, Schwarzbach SE (2013) Methylmercury is the predominant form of mercury in bird eggs: a synthesis. Environ Sci Technol 47:2052–2060

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ackerman JT, Eagles-Smith CA, Herzog MP, Hartman CA (2016c) Maternal transfer of contaminants in birds: mercury and selenium concentrations in parents and their eggs. Environ Pollut 210:145–154

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ackerman JT, Eagles-Smith CA, Herzog MP, Hartman CA, Peterson SH, Evers DC, Jackson AK, Elliott JE, Vander Pol SS, Bryan CE (2016a) Avian mercury exposure and toxicological risk across western North America: a synthesis. Sci Total Environ 568:749–769

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ackerman JT, Eagles-Smith CA, Herzog MP, Yee JL, Hartman CA (2016b) Egg laying sequence influences egg mercury concentrations and egg size in three bird species: implications for contaminant monitoring programs. Environ Toxicol Chem 35:1458–1469

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ackerman JT, Hartman CA, Herzog MP (2017) Maternal transfer of mercury to songbird eggs. Environ Pollut 230:463–468

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anteau MJ, Afton AD, Custer CM, Custer TW (2007) Relationships of cadmium, mercury, and selenium with nutrient reserves of female lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) during winter and spring migration. Environ Toxicol Chem 26:515–520

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bodaly RA,St, Louis VL, Paterson MJ, Fudge RJP, Hall BD, Rosenberg DM, Rudd JWM (1997) Bio-accumulation of mercury in the aquatic food chain in newly flooded areas. In: Sigel A, Sigel H (eds) Metal ions in biological systems—mercury and its effects on environment and biology. Marcel Decker, Inc, New York, p 259–287

    Google Scholar 

  • Brasso RL, Chiaradia A, Polito MJ, Rey AR, Emslie SD (2015) A comprehensive assessment of mercury exposure in penguin populations throughout the Southern Hemisphere: using trophic calculations to identify sources of population-level variation. Mar Pollut Bull 97:408–418

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brigham ME, Krabbenhoft DP, Olsen ML, DeWild JF (2002) Methylmercury in flood-control impoundments and natural waters of northwestern Minnesota, 1997–99. Water Air Soil Pollut 138:61–78

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks RT (2000) Annual and seasonal variation and the effects of hydroperiod on benthic macroinvertebrates of seasonal forest (‘vernal’) ponds in ventral Massachusetts, USA. Wetlands 20:707–715

    Google Scholar 

  • Chipley RM, Fenwick GH, Parr MJ, Pashley DN (2003) The American Bird Conservancy Guide to the 500 most important bird areas in the United States. Random House, New York, p 518

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarkson TW, Magos L (2006) The toxicology of mercury and its chemical compounds. Crit Rev Toxicol 36:609–662

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cowdery TK, Brigham ME (2013) Mercury in wetlands at the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge, northwestern Minnesota, 2007–9: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2013–5068, p 17. https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2013/5068/pdf/sir2013-5068.pdf

  • Cristol DA, Smith FM, Varian-Ramos CW, Watts BC (2011) Mercury levels of Nelson’s and saltmarsh sparrows at wintering grounds in Virginia, USA. Ecotoxicology 20:1773–1779

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Custer TW, Custer CM, Johnson KM, Hoffman DJ (2008) Mercury and other element exposure to tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) nesting on Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota. Environ Pollut 155:217–226

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Euliss NH, Mushet DM (1996) Water-level fluctuation in wetlands as a function of landscape condition in the prairie pothole region. Wetlands 16:587–593

    Google Scholar 

  • Euliss NHJr, Mushet DM, Wrubleski DA (1999) Wetlands of the Prairie Pothole Region: invertebrate species composition, ecology, and management. In: Batzer DP, Rader RB, Wissinger SA (eds) Invertebrates in freshwater wetlands of North America: ecology and management. Wiley, New York, p 471–514

    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 avain communities in northeastern North America. Ecotoxicology 14:193–221

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evers DC, Han Y-J, Driscoll CT, Kamman NC, Goodale MW, Lambert KF, Holsen TM, Chen CY, Clair TA, Butler T (2007) Biological mercury hotspots in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. BioScience 57:29–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Evers DC, Savoy LJ, DeSorbo CR, Yates DE, Hanson W, Taylor KM, Siegel LS, Cooley Jr. JH, Bank MS, Major A, Munney K, Mower BF, 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

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evers DC, Taylor KM, Major A, Taylor RJ, Poppenga RH, Scheuhammer AM (2003) Common loon eggs as indicators of methylmercury availability in North America. Ecotoxicology 12:69–81

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evers DC, Williams KA, Meyer MW, Scheuhammer AM, Schoch N, Gilbert AT, Siegel L, Taylor RJ, Poppenga R, Perkins CR (2011) Spatial gradients of methylmercury for breeding common loons in the Laurentian Great Lakes region. Ecotoxicology 20:1609–1625

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fair J, Paul E, Jones J (2010) Guidelines to the use of wild birds in research. The Ornithological Council, Washington, D.C

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher MR, DeWild JF (2016) Monitoring inorganic mercury and methylmercury in created and natural wetlands at Kellys Slough National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota, 2014–2105. Unpublished report submitted to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, ServCat Library No. 57339

  • Fournier F, Karasov WH, Kenow KP, Meyer MW, Hines RK (2002) The oral bioavailability and toxicokinetics of methylmercury in common loon (Gavia immer) chicks. Comp Biochem Physiol A 133:703–714

    Google Scholar 

  • Guzy MJ, Ritchison G (1999) Common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas), version 2.0. In: Rodewald PG (ed) The birds of North America. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall BD, Rosenberg DM, Wiens AP (1998) Methyl mercury in aquatic insects from an experimental reservoir. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 55:2036–2047

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinz GH, Hoffman DF, Klimstra JD, Stebbins KR, Kondrad SL, Erwin CA (2009) Species differences in the sensitivity of avian embryos to methylmercury. Arch Env Contam Toxicol 56:129–138

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herzog MP, Ackerman JT, Eagles-Smith CA, Hartman CA (2016) It’s what’s inside that counts: egg contaminant concentrations are influenced by estimates of egg density, egg volume, and fresh egg mass. Ecotoxicology 25:770–776

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoyt DF (1979) Practical methods of estimating volume and fresh weight of bird eggs. Auk 96:73–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Igl LD, Johnson DH (1997) Changes in breeding bird populations in North Dakota: 1967 to 1992–93. Auk 114:74–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson AK, Evers DC, Adams EM, Cristol DA, Eagles-Smith C, Edmonds ST, Gray CE, Hoskins B, Lane OP, Sauer A, Tear T (2015) Songbirds as sentinels of mercury in terrestrial habitats of eastern North America. Ecotoxicology 24:453–467

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson A, Evers DC, Eagles-Smith CA, Ackerman JT, Willacker JJ, Elliott JE, Lepak JM, Vander Pol SS, Bryan CE (2016) Mercury risk to avian piscivores across western United States and Canada. Sci Total Environ 568:685–696

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson AK, Evers DC, Etterson MA, Condon AM, Folsom SB, Detweiler J, Schmerfeld J, Cristol DA (2011) Mercury exposure affects the reproductive success of a free-living terrestrial songbird, the Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus). Auk 128:759–769

    Google Scholar 

  • Janke AK, Anteau MJ, Markl N, Stafford JD (2015) Is income breeding an appropriate construct for waterfowl? J Ornithol 156:755–762

    Google Scholar 

  • Klett AT, Duebbert HF, Faanes CA, Higgins KF (1986) Techniques for studying nest success of ducks in upland habitats in the Prairie Pothole Region. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Resource Publication 158, Washington, D.C., USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Knutsen CJ (2017) Explaining variation in songbird blood mercury using trophic level, foraging behavior, migratory behavior, and phylogeny. Master’s thesis. Colorado State University, Pueblo, Colorado

    Google Scholar 

  • McCauley LA, Anteau MJ (2014) Generating nested wetland catchments with readily-available digital elevation data may improve evaluations of land-use change on wetlands. Wetlands 34:1123–1132

    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 

  • Post van der Burg MKE, Jenni TY, Nieman L, Eash JD, Knutsen GA (2017) Understanding and Finding solutions to the problem of sedimentation in the National Wildlife Refuge system. J Fish Wildl Manag 8(2):648–660

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahn H, Paganelli CV (1989) The initial density of avian eggs derived from the tables of Schönwetter. J Ornithol 130:207–215

    Google Scholar 

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

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sando SK, Krabbenhoft DP, Johnson KM, Lundgren RF, Emerson DG (2007) Mercury and methylmercury in water and bottom sediments of wetlands at Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota, 2003–04: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5219, p 66. https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2007/5219/pdf/sir07-5219.pdf

  • Shriver WG, Evers DC, Hodgman TP, MacCulloch BJ, Taylor RJ (2006) Mercury in sharp-tailed sparrows breeding in coastal wetlands. Environ Bioindic 1:120–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Shriver WG, Hodgman TP, Hanson AR (2011) Nelson’s sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni), version 2.0. In: Rodewald PG (Ed.) The birds of North America. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Snodgrass JW, Jagoe CH, Bryan AL, Brant HA, Burger J (2000) Effects of trophic status and wetland morphology, hydroperiod, and water chemistry on mercury concentration in fish. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 57:171–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Tangen BA, Laubhan MK, Gleason RA (2014) Assessment of sediments in the riverine impoundments of national wildlife refuges in the Souris River Basin, North Dakota: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5018. https://doi.org/10.3996/012016-JFWM-004.S18

  • Ullrich SM, Tanton TW, Abdrashitova SA (2001) Mercury in the aquatic environment: a review of factors affecting methylation. Crit Rev Environ Sci Tech 31:241–293

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2000) Method 7473, Mercury in solids and solutions by thermal decomposition, amalgamation, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In Test methods for evaluating solid waste, physical/chemical methods; SW 846, Update IVA. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2008) Comprehensive Conservation Plan, North Dakota National Wildlife Refuges. p 172. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lakewood, Colorado, USA

  • Weller MW (1956) A simple field candler for waterfowl eggs. J Wildl Manag 20:111–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Willacker JJ, Eagles-Smith CA, Lutz MA, Tate MT, Lepak JM, Ackerman JT (2016) Reservoirs and water management influence fish mercury concentrations in the western United States and Canada. Sci Total Environ 568:739–748

    CAS  Google Scholar 

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

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Winder VL, Emslie SE (2012a) Mercury in Nelson’s sparrow subspecies at breeding sites. PLoS ONE 2:e32257

    Google Scholar 

  • Winder VL, Emslie SE (2012b) Mercury in non-breeding sparrows of North Carolina salt marshes. Ecotoxicology 21:325–335

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Winder VL, Anteau MJ, Fisher MR, Wilcox MK, Igl LD, Ackerman JT (2018) Wetland water-management may influence mercury bioaccumulation in songbirds and ducks at a mercury hotspot data release. U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia. https://doi.org/10.5066/P9VYLN0N

  • Windham-Myers L, Fleck JA, Ackerman JT, Marvin-DiPasquale M, Stricker CA, Heim WA, Bachand PA, Eagles-Smith CA, Gill G, Stephenson M, Alpers CN (2014) Mercury cycling in agricultural and managed wetlands: a synthesis of methylmercury production, hydrologic export, and bioaccumulation from an integrated field study. Sci Total Environ 484:221–231

    CAS  Google Scholar 

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

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Matt Sprenger, Brian Vose, Matt VanThuyne, Brandon Hanson, Taylor Uphoff, Richard Rosenlof, and Eric Weber for help with egg collection. We also thank Mason Ryckman and Jonathan Metz for assistance in processing duck eggs in preparation for lab analyses. We thank Matt Toney, Mark Herzog, and Sarah Peterson for mercury laboratory analysis and coordination. We thank Kristen Rundquist at the Grand Forks Air Force Base for assistance with housing. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Funding

For funding and support of laboratory and field work, we thank the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Health Office and Devils Lake Wetland Management District, and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center and Western Ecological Research Center. Samantha E. J. Gibbs, DVM, Ph.D. and Lee C. Jones provided help in securing funding. JTA was partially funded by the U.S. Geological Survey Environmental Health Mission Area’s Contaminant Biology Program. MJA and LDI were funded by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS, 66002, USA

    Virginia L. Winder

  2. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 8711 37th St SE, Jamestown, ND, 58401, USA

    Michael J. Anteau & Lawrence D. Igl

  3. Devils Lake Wetland Management District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Devils Lake, ND, 58301, USA

    Mark R. Fisher

  4. Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66502, USA

    Mary Kate Wilcox

  5. Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, U.S. Geological Survey, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA, 95620, USA

    Joshua T. Ackerman

Authors
  1. Virginia L. Winder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael J. Anteau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mark R. Fisher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mary Kate Wilcox
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Lawrence D. Igl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Joshua T. Ackerman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Virginia L. Winder.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Winder, V.L., Anteau, M.J., Fisher, M.R. et al. Wetland water-management may influence mercury bioaccumulation in songbirds and ducks at a mercury hotspot. Ecotoxicology 29, 1229–1239 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-019-02143-w

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-019-02143-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation