Mercury and selenium contamination in waterbird eggs and risk to avian reproduction at Great Salt Lake, Utah

Joshua T. Ackerman; Mark P. Herzog; Christopher A. Hartman; John P. Isanhart; Garth Herring; Sharon Vaughn; John F. Cavitt; Collin A. Eagles-Smith; Howard Browers; Chris Cline; Josh Vest

doi:10.3133/ofr20151020

Mercury and selenium contamination in waterbird eggs and risk to avian reproduction at Great Salt Lake, Utah

Open-File Report 2015-1020

Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

By: Joshua T. Ackerman, Mark P. Herzog, Christopher A. Hartman, John P. Isanhart, Garth Herring, Sharon Vaughn, John F. Cavitt, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Howard Browers, Chris Cline, and Josh Vest

https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20151020

Links

More information: USGS Index Page
Document: Report (15.5 MB pdf)
Data Release: USGS data release - Mercury and selenium concentrations in bird eggs at Great Salt Lake, Utah
Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core

Abstract

The wetlands of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem are recognized regionally, nationally, and hemispherically for their importance as breeding, wintering, and migratory habitat for diverse groups of waterbirds. Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is the largest freshwater component of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem and provides critical breeding habitat for more than 60 bird species. However, the Great Salt Lake ecosystem also has a history of both mercury and selenium contamination, and this pollution could reduce the health and reproductive success of waterbirds. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of mercury and selenium contamination to birds breeding within Great Salt Lake, especially at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, and to identify the waterbird species and areas at greatest risk to contamination. We sampled eggs from 33 species of birds breeding within wetlands of Great Salt Lake during 2010 ̶ 2012 and focused on American avocets (Recurvirostra americana), black-necked stilts (Himantopus mexicanus), Forster’s terns (Sterna forsteri), white-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi), and marsh wrens (Cistothorus palustris) for additional studies of the effects of contaminants on reproduction.

Study Area

Additional publication details
Publication type	Report
Publication Subtype	USGS Numbered Series
Title	Mercury and selenium contamination in waterbird eggs and risk to avian reproduction at Great Salt Lake, Utah
Series title	Open-File Report
Series number	2015-1020
DOI	10.3133/ofr20151020
Year Published	2015
Language	English
Publisher	U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location	Reston, VA
Contributing office(s)	Western Ecological Research Center
Description	Report: x, 164 p.; Data Release
Country	United States
State	Utah
Other Geospatial	Great Salt Lake
Online Only (Y/N)	Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N)	N
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page