Effects of Elevated Mercury on Reproductive Success of Long-legged Wading Birds in the Everglades: Annual Report
Atkeson T, Sepulveda MS, Spalding MG, Frederick PC, Williams GE, Lorazel SM, Samuelson DA. 1995. Effects of Elevated Mercury on Reproductive Success of Long-legged Wading Birds in the Everglades: Annual Report
This report summarizes work performed on this project between August 1994 and July 1995, post-fledging survival monitored and samples analyzed for blood mercury concentrations, concentrations of growing feathers and chick size. In recent years, high concentrations of mercury have been found in several taxa of Everglades animals, including fish, Florida Panthers (Felis concolor coryi), and wading birds (Spalding and Forrester 1991). Concentrations are high enough in fish to have prompted warnings against human consumption, and could have been the causative agent in the death of one Florida panther. The finding of mercury in Everglades animals has led to studies of the location of mercury hotspots within the Everglades, contributors to mercury deposition, and research into how mercury becomes concentrated in Everglades food webs. However, an understanding of the actual effect of mercury contamination on wild populations of vertebrate species effected is almost completely lacking. As a vital link in this chain of research, we therefore have proposed work which describes the sublethal effects of mercury contamination on a vertebrate group that may be particularly susceptible, the long-legged wading birds.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Atkeson, Tom; Sepulveda, Maria; Spalding, Marilyn; Frederick, Peter; Williams, Gary; Lorazel, Susan; Samuelson, Don
- Date of Issue
- 1995-09
- Units
- EVER
- Keywords
- Blood sampling, chick, feather growth, Monitoring, Radio transmitter, sickness, Survival