Mercury Concentrations in Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) Tissues from Isle Royale National Park
Vucetich LM and Vucetich JA. 2000. Mercury Concentrations in Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) Tissues from Isle Royale National Park. Leah M. Vucetich and John A. Vucetich. Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI
We used the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), an omnivore with small home range, to investigate variation in fine scale mercury exposure across the terrestrial ecosystem of Isle Royale National Park. This study was prompted by the discovery of elevated mercury concentrations in northern pike (Esox lucius), moose (Alces alces), and common loons (Gavia immer) from Isle Royale. Previous work suggested that mercury levels may be higher inside than outside the watershed of Sargent Lake, near the east end of Isle Royale. We collected deer mice from five locations inside and outside the Sargent Lake watershed. Mercury levels were significantly higher in kidneys than in livers. Mercury levels in livers were significantly higher outside (100.13 ng Hg/g dry tissue) than inside (35.50 ng Hg/g dry tissue) the Sargent Lake watershed. Mercury levels in kidneys did not differ significantly outside (443.23 ng Hg/g dry tissue) and inside (360.62 ng Hg/g dry tissue) the Sargent Lake watershed. Although these levels are not alarmingly high, concern is warranted because any exposure in the deer mouse, a mid-trophic level species, represents a path for biomagnification of mercury in the terrestrial ecosystem.
- Type
- Unpublished Report
- Authors
- Vucetich, Leah; Vucetich, John
- Date of Issue
- 2000
- Publisher
- Leah M. Vucetich and John A. Vucetich
- Units
- ISRO
- Keywords
- Biomagnification, Common Loon (Gavia immer), Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), Isle Royale National Park, Mercury (Hg), Moose (Alces alces), Northern Pike (Esox lucius), terrestial ecosystem