Mercury concentrations vary within and among individual bird feathers: A critical evaluation and guidelines for feather use in mercury monitoring programs
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
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- Data Release: USGS data release - Variability of mercury concentrations among whole bird feathers, feather homogenates, and feather components quantified in California in 2017-2018
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Abstract
Feathers are widely used to represent mercury contamination in birds. Yet, few recommendations exist that provide guidance for using bird feathers in mercury monitoring programs. We conducted a literature review and 5 experiments to show that mercury concentrations vary substantially within (vane >100% higher than calamus) and among (>1000%) individual feathers from the same bird. We developed a research tool and guidelines for using bird feathers for mercury studies based on three components: 1) variability of feather mercury concentrations within an individual bird (coefficient of variation [CV]), 2) desired accuracy of the measured mercury concentration, and 3) feather and bird mass. Our results suggest a general rule that if the goal is to limit analytical and processing costs by using whole feathers in only one sample boat, then to achieve an accuracy within 10% of a bird’s overall average feather mercury concentration a bird with a CV≤10% must be <190 g (size of large shorebird). To achieve an accuracy within 20%, a bird with a CV≤10% must be <920 g (size of large duck). When >1 sample boat is needed to fit the required number of feathers to achieve the desired accuracy, results suggest homogenizing feathers and analyzing an aliquot of ≥20 mg for mercury. This study indicates increasing the number of feathers typically used per bird to assess mercury concentrations.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Mercury concentrations vary within and among individual bird feathers: A critical evaluation and guidelines for feather use in mercury monitoring programs |
| Series title | Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry |
| DOI | 10.1002/etc.4430 |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Year Published | 2019 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry |
| Contributing office(s) | Western Ecological Research Center |
| Description | Article: 24 p.; Data release |
| First page | 1164 |
| Last page | 1187 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |