Influence of in ovo mercury exposure, lake acidity, and other factors on common loon egg and chick quality in Wisconsin. (26th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kenow, Kevin P.; Meyer, Michael W.; Rossmann, Ronald; Gray, Brian R.; Arts, Michael T.
• Is Part Of: Environmental toxicology and chemistry. Volume 34:Number 8(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: 1870
• Page End: 1880
• Publication Date: 2015-06-26
• Subjects: Common loon -- Gavia immer -- In ovo exposure -- Methylmercury -- Mercury; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental chemistry -- Periodicals; 615.902
• DOI: 10.1002/etc.3001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0730-7268

Abstract

Abstract: A field study was conducted in Wisconsin (USA) to characterize in ovo mercury (Hg) exposure in common loons ( Gavia immer ). Total Hg mass fractions ranged from 0.17 µg/g to 1.23 µg/g wet weight in eggs collected from nests on lakes representing a wide range of pH (5.0–8.1) and were modeled as a function of maternal loon Hg exposure and egg laying order. Blood total Hg mass fractions in a sample of loon chicks ranged from 0.84 µg/g to 3.86 µg/g wet weight at hatch. Factors other than mercury exposure that may have persistent consequences on development of chicks from eggs collected on low‐pH lakes (i.e., egg selenium, calcium, and fatty acid mass fractions) do not seem to be contributing to reported differences in loon chick quality as a function of lake pH. However, it was observed that adult male loons holding territories on neutral‐pH lakes were larger on average than those occupying territories on low‐pH lakes. Differences in adult body size of common loons holding territories on neutral‐versus low‐pH lakes may have genetic implications for differences in lake‐source‐related quality (i.e., size) in chicks. The tendency for high in ovo Hg exposure and smaller adult male size to co‐occur in low‐pH lakes complicates the interpretation of the relative contributions of each to resulting chick quality. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:1870–1880. © 2015 SETAC