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Bioaccumulation of Mercury and the effects on Wildlife

Bioaccumulation of Mercury and the effects on Wildlife. By: Adam Ware. Levels i n prey and piscivorous fish Bioaccumulation in birds What does this mean for the top of the food chain?. Levels in prey fish. Canadian study, eh?

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Bioaccumulation of Mercury and the effects on Wildlife

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  1. Bioaccumulation of Mercury and the effects on Wildlife By: Adam Ware

  2. Levels in prey and piscivorous fish • Bioaccumulation in birds • What does this mean for the top of the food chain?

  3. Levels in prey fish • Canadian study, eh? • Country-wide undertaking focusing on Hg levels in the Yellow Perch

  4. Why Yellow Perch? • Common prey for piscivores • Very tolerant of pH, temperature, and dissolved O2 • Specimens around 12cm in length were selected for study

  5. The Pinnacle of the Gilled Piscivores

  6. Findings

  7. How do you measure Mercury levels? • Two common ways: • Old, expensive method – Gas Spectrometer • New, efficient, and cheaper way – Nano-velcro!

  8. Obligate Piscivore

  9. Loons and other birds at risk, not just water-dwelling birds! • Blood levels (Loons) • Concentrations of Hg in adults ranged from 0.12 to 7.80 μg/g (parts per million) • Levels in offspring <6 weeks of age ranged from 0.03 to 0.78 μg/g

  10. Mercury accumulated in Feathers • Relatively large amount built up in feathers. • Even with yearly molting, levels are rising. Say what?!

  11. Song birds are sensitive too! • Blood levels above only 0.7 ppm – 10% reduction in hatchability • > 1.7 ppm – over 30% decrease

  12. Hg’s Effects at the higher trophic levels • Reproductive impairment • Birds have trouble hitting certain notes • Reduced hatchability in water and land-based birds. • Deformation of fetus during early development period.

  13. Questions?

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