A Protocol for Evaluating Historical Contamination of Mercury in the Florida Panther and other Florida Wildlife: Final Report
KBN Engineering and Applied Sciences, Inc. and Florida Power & Light Company. 1993. A Protocol for Evaluating Historical Contamination of Mercury in the Florida Panther and other Florida Wildlife: Final Report
High levels of mercury have been found in the Florida panther, a top carnivore of the Everglades. Similarly high levels have been found in other mammals, birds, and fish from the Everglades and other parts of South Florida. The principal source of mercury contamination in the panther is from the aquatic food web. The time period and the source or sources of this contamination are not known. The purpose of this study is to investigate the historical contamination of mercury in the Florida panther and other wildlife species by correlating the historical record of mercury content in wildlife tissues (i.e., hair and feathers) with anthropogenic activities involving mercury in Florida. Fourteen bioindicator species have been identified for tissue sampling and analysis. Six historical periods will be sampled, each reflecting a period of generally different anthropogenic activities potentially contributing to mercury contamination in South Florida. For mammals, hair samples will be obtained by combing museum specimens. Protocol studies indicate that there is no significant difference in the mercury content in hair from different body locations. For birds, body feathers and primary feathers will be analyzed. The report that follows presents the protocol development and specific details of the sampling protocol.
- Type
- Unpublished Report
- Authors
- KBN Engineering and Applied Sciences, Inc.; Florida Power & Light Company
- Date of Issue
- 1993-11
- Units
- EVER
- Keywords
- Anthropogenic, aquatic food web, bioindicator species, mercury concentration, tissue sampling