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Effects of environmental methylmercury on the health of wild birds, mammals, and fish.

Scholary Output:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
Chapter

Open access

Abstract

Wild piscivorous fish, mammals, and birds may be at risk for elevated dietary methylmercury intake and toxicity. In controlled feeding studies, the consumption of diets that contained Hg (as methylmercury) at environmentally realistic concentrations resulted in a range of toxic effects in fish, birds, and mammals, including behavioral, neurochemical, hormonal, and reproductive changes. Limited field-based studies, especially with certain wild piscivorous bird species, e.g., the common loon, corroborated laboratory-based results, demonstrating significant relations between methylmercury exposure and various indicators of methylmercury toxicity, including reproductive impairment. Potential population effects in fish and wildlife resulting from dietary methylmercury exposure are expected to vary as a function of species life history, as well as regional differences in fish-Hg concentrations, which, in turn, are influenced by differences in Hg deposition and environmental methylation rates. However, population modeling suggests that reductions in Hg emissions could have substantial benefits for some common loon populations that are currently experiencing elevated methylmercury exposure. Predicted benefits would be mediated primarily through improved hatching success and development of hatchlings to maturity as Hg concentrations in prey fish decline. Other piscivorous species may also benefit from decreased Hg exposure but have not been as extensively studied as the common loon.

Publication Information

Output type

Scholary Output:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
Chapter

Original language

English (US)

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 12-18 (7 pages)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 2007

Publication status

Published - 2007

Publication series

  • Publication series name: Ambio
    Volume: 36

ISBN (Print)

00447447

Publication IDs

  • PubMed: 17408187
  • Scopus: 34247138465

Host publication title

Ambio

Access to documents

Publication metrics

Metrics

Scopus
citations
890, opens in new tab
SciVal
citations
674
SciVal
FWCI
52.53
SciVal
Author count
4
SciVal
Paper percentile
99
SciVal
Top percentile
1
Fractional count
1
Fractional count
0.25
Fractional count
3
Fractional count
0.75
Fractional count
1
Fractional count
1

PlumX, opens in new tab

Citation count
1011
Mentions
2
Captures
589