Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of mercury exposure and potential effects on common loons (Gavia immer) in Québec

  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Results from recent studies report increases in mercury in the environment and increased bioaccumulation in aquatic food webs. The Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) and the Canadian National Park Service initiated this study to determine whether common loons (Gavia immer) are exposed to sufficiently high mercury concentrations in prey fish to impair their reproduction and survival. Monitoring of loon reproduction, measurement of lake physicochemistry, and fish sampling for mercury analysis were conducted in various regions in Québec, Canada, during summers from 1997 to 2002. Reproductive success was assessed and loons were captured at night and banded. Blood and feathers were collected to measure mercury. Mean blood and feather Hg concentrations in males (2.6 μg/g w.w and 17.6 μg/g d.w.) and females (1.8 μg/g w.w and 8.9 μg/g d.w.) were within the normal range of samples from north-eastern North America. However, one third (33%) of the loons sampled had mercury levels in blood or feathers exceeding the high risk levels for health and reproduction. Loons from western Québec showed significantly lower Hg levels than those from eastern Québec, both in blood and feathers. This study will help to determine the potential effects of mercury on the Québec and North-American loon population and provide information to assist in decisions on pollution abatement policies.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barr, J. F., 1986. Population dynamics of the common loon (Gavia immer) associated with mercury-contaminated waters in north-western Ontario. Occasional paper 56. Canadian Wildlife Service. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

  • J. F. Barr (1996) ArticleTitleAspects of Common Loon (Gavia immer) feeding biology on its breeding ground Hydrobiologia 321 119–144 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00023169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J. Burger (1993) ArticleTitleMetals in avian feather: Bioindicators of environmental pollution Review Environmental Toxicology 5 203–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgess, N., D. C. Evers & J. D. Kaplan, 1998a. Mercury levels in the blood of Common Loons in the Maritimes and their prey. In Mercury in Atlantic Canada. A Progress Report. Environment Canada, Sackville, New-Brunswick, Canada.

  • Burgess, N., D. C. Evers, J. D. Kaplan, M. Duggan & J. Kerekes, 1998b. Mercury and reproductive success of Common Loons breeding in the Maritimes. In Mercury in Atlantic Canada. A Progress Report. Environment Canada, Sackville, New-Brunswick, Canada.

  • Burgess, N. & K. A. Hobson, 2004. Bioaccumulation of mercury in yellow perch and common loons in relation to lake chemistry in Atlantic Canada. Hydrobiologia (this volume).

  • L. Champoux J. Rodrigue J. -L. DesGranges S. Trudeau A. Hontela M. Boily P. Spear (2002) ArticleTitleAssessment of contamination and biomarker responses in two species of Herons on the St. Lawrence River Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 79 193–215 Occurrence Handle12413303 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XntVKru7Y%3D Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1020289425542

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J. -L. DesGranges J. Rodrigue B. Tardif M. Laperle (1998) ArticleTitleMercury accumulation and biomagnification in Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) in the James Bay and Hudson Bay regions of Quebec Archives of Environmental Contamination & Toxicology 35 330–341 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXltVWrur0%3D Occurrence Handle10.1007/s002449900384

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M. P. Dieter (1974) ArticleTitlePlasma enzyme activities in Coturnix quail␣fed graded dose of DDE, polychlorinated biphenyl, malathion and mercury chloride Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 27 86–98 Occurrence Handle4212244 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE2cXptFyisg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/0041-008X(74)90175-6

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eisler, R., 1987. Mercury hazards to fish, wildlife, and invertebrates: A synoptic review. U.S. Fish Wildlife Service Biology Report 85 (1.10).

  • Evers, D. C., 2001. Common Loon population studies: Continental mercury patterns and breeding territory philopatry. Ph.D. Dissertation, Univ. Minn., St. Paul, MN, USA.

  • D. C. Evers J. D. Kaplan M. W. Meyer P. S. Reaman W. E. Braselton A. Major N. Burgess A. M. Scheuhammer (1998) ArticleTitleA geographic trend in mercury measured in Common Loon feathers and blood Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 17 173–183 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXmsFamug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1897/1551-5028(1998)017<0173:GTIMMI>2.3.CO;2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evers, D. C., O. P. Lane, C. DeSorbo & L. Savoy, 2002. Assessing the impacts of methylmercury on piscivorous wildlife using a wildlife criterion value based on the Common Loon, 1998–2001. Report BRI 2002–08 submitted to the Maine Dept. Environ. Protection. BioDiversity Research Institute, Falmouth, Maine, USA.

  • D. C. Evers K. M. Taylor A. Major R. J. Taylor R. Poppenga A. M. Scheuhammer (2003) ArticleTitleCommon loon eggs as indicators of methylmercury availability in North America Ecotoxicology 12 69–81 Occurrence Handle12739858 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXhsVGjtrw%3D Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1022593030009

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • W. F. Fitzgerald (1995) ArticleTitleIs mercury increasing in the atmosphere? The need for an Atmospheric Mercury Network (AMNET) Water Air and Soil Pollution 80 245–254 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXnsVChsbs%3D Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF01189674

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • W. F. Fitzgerald D. R. Engstrom R. P. Mason E. A. Nater (1998) ArticleTitleThe case for atmospheric mercury contamination in␣remote areas Environmental Science and Technology 32 1–7 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXnsFOmu74%3D Occurrence Handle10.1021/es970284w

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A. S. Friedmann M. C. Watzin T. Brinck-Johnsen J. C. Leiter (1996) ArticleTitleLow levels of dietary methylmercury inhibit growth and gonadal development in juvenile walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) Aquatic Toxicology 35 265–278 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK28XmvFamsb4%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/0166-445X(96)00796-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • G. H. Heinz (1979) ArticleTitleMethylmercury: Reproductive and behavioral effects on three generations of mallard ducks Journal of Wildlife Management 43 394–401 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE1MXktFCrsLo%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • D. S. Jeffries T. A. Clair S. Couture P. J. Dillon J. Dupont W. Keller D. K. McNicol M. A. Turner R. Vet R. Weeber (2003) ArticleTitleAssessing the recovery of lakes in southeastern Canada from the effects of acidic deposition Ambio 32 176–182 Occurrence Handle12839192

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • N. C. Kamman D. R. Engstrom (2002) ArticleTitleHistorical and present fluxes of mercury to Vermont and New Hampshire lakes inferred from 210Pb dated sediment cores Atmospheric Environment 36 1599–1609 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xis1yitrc%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1352-2310(02)00091-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K. P. Kenow S. Gutreuter R. K. Hines M. W. Meyer F. Fournier W. H. Karasov (2003) ArticleTitleEffects of Methyl Mercury Exposure on the Growth of Juvenile Common Loons Ecotoxicology 12 171–181 Occurrence Handle12739866 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXhsVGjtLo%3D Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1022598525891

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kerekes, J. J. & D. Masse, 2000. Comparison of Common Loon populations, based on long term monitoring, in Kejimkujiik National Park, Nova Scotia and La Mauricie National Park, Québec, Canada. In McIntyre, J. W. & D. C. Evers (eds), Loons: old history and new findings. Proceedings of a Symposium from the 1997 Meeting, American Ornitologists’ Union, North American Loon Fund, Holderness, NH.

  • M. Lucotte A. Mucci C. Hillaire-Marcel P. Pichet A. Grondin (1995) ArticleTitleAnthropogenic mercury enrichment in remote lakes of northern Quebec (Canada) Water Air and Soil Pollution 80 467–476 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXnsVCht7k%3D Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF01189696

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J. W. McIntyre J. F. Barr (1997) Common Loon Gavia immer A. Poole F. Gill (Eds) The Birds of North American, No. 313 The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and the American Ornitholgists’ Union Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • D. K. McNicol M. L. Mallory H. S. Vogel (1995) ArticleTitleUsing volunteers to monitor the effects of acid precipitation on Common Loon (Gavia immer) reproduction in Canada: The Canadian Lakes Loon Survey Water Air and Soil Pollution 85 463–468 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00476872

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D. K. McNicol (2002) ArticleTitleRelation of lake acidification and recovery to fish, Common Loon and Common Merganser occurrence in Algoma lakes Water Air and Soil Pollution: Focus 2 151–168 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXhslehs7g%3D Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1015842525763

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M. W. Meyer D. C. Evers T. Daulton W. E. Braselton (1995) ArticleTitleCommon loons nesting on low pH lakes in northern Wisconsin have elevated blood mercury content Water Air and Soil Pollution 80 871–880 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXnsVChu7Y%3D Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF01189737

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M. W. Meyer D. C. Evers J. J. Hartigan P. S. Rasmussen (1998) ArticleTitlePatterns of Common Loon (Gavia immer) mercury exposure, reproduction, and survival in Wisconsin, USA Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 17 184–190 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXmsFamuw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1897/1551-5028(1998)017<0184:POCLGI>2.3.CO;2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neugebauer, E. A., G. L. SansCartier & B. J. Wakeford, 2000. Methods for the determination of metals in wildlife tissues using various atomic absorption spectrophotometry techniques. Canadian Wildlife Service Technical Report 337.

  • J. W. M. Rudd (1995) ArticleTitleSources of methyl mercury to freshwater␣ecosystems: a review Water Air and Soil Pollution 80 697–713 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXnsVChur0%3D Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF01189722

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute (1999) JMP Statistical Discovery Software SAS Institute Cary, NC, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • A. M. Scheuhammer (1988) ArticleTitleChronic dietary toxicity of methylmercury in the Zebra Finch, Poephila guttata Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 40 123–130 Occurrence Handle3345357 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL1cXhtVOls74%3D Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF01689398

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A. M. Scheuhammer (1991) ArticleTitleEffects of acidification on the availability of toxic metals and calcium to wild birds and mammals Environmental Pollution 71 329–375 Occurrence Handle15092123 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3MXksFKnu7w%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/0269-7491(91)90036-V

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A. M. Scheuhammer P. J. Blancher (1994) ArticleTitlePotential risk to Common Loons (Gavia immer) from methylmercury exposure in acidified lakes Hydrobiology 279–280 445–455 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00027876

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A. M. Scheuhammer C. M. Atchison A. H. K. Wong D. C. Evers (1998) ArticleTitleMercury exposure in breeding Common Loons (Gavia immer) in central Ontario, Canada Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 17 191–196 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXmsFalsg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1897/1551-5028(1998)017<0191:MEIBCL>2.3.CO;2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A. M. Scheuhammer J. E. Graham (1999) ArticleTitleThe bioaccumulation of mercury in aquatic organisms from two similar lakes with differing pH Ecotoxicology 8 49–56 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXlsFGrsb4%3D Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1008936910823

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A. M. Scheuhammer J. A. Perrault D. E. Bond (2001) ArticleTitleMercury, methylmercury, and selenium concentrations in eggs of common loons (Gavia immer) from Canada Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 72 79–94 Occurrence Handle11693555 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXotF2ltbs%3D Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1011911805216

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • D. R. Thompson (1996) Mercury in birds and terrestrial mammals W. N. Beyer G. H. Heinz A. W. Redmon-Norwood (Eds) Environmental Contaminants in Wildlife: Interpreting Tissue ConcentrationsSociety of Environmental Toxicology Special Publication Series Lewis Publ NY 341–356

    Google Scholar 

  • J. G. Wiener D. J. Spry (1996) Toxicological Significance of Mercury in Freshwater Fish W. N. Beyer G. H. Heinz A. W. Redmon-Norwood (Eds) Special edition of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Lewis Publishers Boca Raton, FL 297–339

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Wolfe D. Norman (1998) ArticleTitleEffects of waterborne mercury on terrestrial wildlife at Clear Lake: Evaluation and testing of a predictive model Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 17 214–227 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXmsFaltw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1897/1551-5028(1998)017<0214:EOWMOT>2.3.CO;2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A. H. K. Wong D. J. McQueen D. D. Williams E. Demers (1997) ArticleTitleTransfer of mercury from benthic invertebrates to fishes in lakes with contrasting fish community structures Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 54 1320–1330 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXlvFaru7o%3D Occurrence Handle10.1139/cjfas-54-6-1320

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada

    L. Champoux

  2. La Mauricie National Park, Parks Canada, Québec, Canada

    D. C. Masse & M. Plante

  3. Biodiversity Research Institute, Gorham, ME, USA

    D. Evers & O. P. Lane

  4. Bird Studies Canada, Port Rowan, Ontario, Canada

    S. T. A. Timmermans

Authors
  1. L. Champoux
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. C. Masse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. Evers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. O. P. Lane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. Plante
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. S. T. A. Timmermans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Champoux.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Champoux, L., Masse, D.C., Evers, D. et al. Assessment of mercury exposure and potential effects on common loons (Gavia immer) in Québec. Hydrobiologia 567, 263–274 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-006-0066-7

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-006-0066-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation