A geographical comparison of mercury in seabirds in the eastern Canadian Arctic |
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| Institution: | 1. Environment Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Raven Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada;2. Biology Department, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada;3. Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada;1. Population Cancer Research Program and Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada;2. Department of Chemistry, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6, Canada;1. Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia;2. School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia;1. Department of Environmental Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada;2. Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada;3. Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada;4. Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada;1. Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada;2. Environment Canada, Science and Technology Branch, Raven Road, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5 B6, Canada;3. Biology Department, Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada |
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| Abstract: | Mercury (Hg) is a potentially toxic metal ubiquitous in arctic biota. Livers of adult thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia) and northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) sampled from several locations in the eastern Canadian Arctic during 2007–2008 were analyzed for total Hg in order to assess geographical patterns. Thick-billed murres were collected from five colonies (Coats Island, Digges Island, Akpatok Island, Prince Leopold Island, Minarets) and northern fulmars from two colonies (Prince Leopold Island, Minarets). Murres at the two high Arctic colonies of Prince Leopold Island and the Minarets had significantly higher (two-fold) Hg concentrations (4.13 ± 019 μg g? 1 dw and 4.41 ± 0.33 μg g? 1 dw, respectively) than at the three low Arctic colonies (colony means of 1.62, 1.99 and 2.15 μg g? 1 dw). The differences in Hg concentrations observed between high and low Arctic murre colonies may reflect a combination of different source regions for Hg, as well as a recent dietary shift among low Arctic murres. Fulmars from Prince Leopold Island had significantly higher Hg levels (6.99 ± 1.13 μg g? 1 dw) than those from the Minarets (3.42 ± 0.53 μg g? 1 dw) which may reflect different Hg deposition and methylation patterns on both summer and winter feeding areas. Although there is no evidence linking Hg to adverse population effects in either murres or fulmars at the colonies sampled, levels in some Canadian Arctic marine birds have increased over recent decades and, therefore, continued monitoring, particularly of the high Arctic colonies, is warranted. |
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