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Bald eagle mercury exposure varies with region and site elevation in New York, USA

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Abstract

Freshwater fish in several regions of New York State (NYS) are known to contain concentrations of mercury (Hg) associated with negative health effects in wildlife and humans. We collected blood and breast feathers from bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nestlings throughout NYS, with an emphasis on the Catskill region to determine their exposure to Hg. We assessed whether habitat type (lake or river), region (Delaware–Catskill region vs. rest of NY) or sample site elevation influenced Hg concentrations in bald eagle breast feathers using ANCOVA. The model was significant and accounted for 41% of the variability in log10 breast feather Hg concentrations. Mercury concentrations in nestling breast feathers were significantly greater in the Delaware–Catskill Region (geometric mean: 14.5 µg/g dw) than in the rest of NY (7.4 µg/g, dw), and greater at nests located at higher elevations. Habitat type (river vs. lake) did not have a significant influence on breast feather Hg concentrations. Geometric mean blood Hg concentrations were significantly greater in Catskill nestlings (0.78 µg/g ww) than in those from the rest of NY (0.32 µg/g). Mercury concentrations in nestling breast feathers and especially blood samples from the Delaware–Catskill region were generally greater than those reported for most populations sampled elsewhere, including areas associated with significant Hg pollution problems. Bald eagles can serve as valuable Hg bioindicators in aquatic ecosystems of NYS, particularly given their broad statewide distribution and their tendency to nest across all major watersheds and different habitat types.

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Acknowledgements

Partial funding for this study was made by The Nature Conservancy and the generosity of their support base. We would like to thank Alan White, The Nature Conservancy, for his role in administering this project and for providing key support. John Brennan, Glenn Hewitt, Scott VanArsdale, Steve Joule and Mike Allen of NYSDEC aided in the collection of samples. We thank Robert Taylor, Trace Element Research Laboratory, Texas A & M University, for his expertize in estimating percent moisture for blood samples. Lauren Gilpatrick assisted in managing references cited in this manuscript. We are grateful to two anonymous reviewers who provided helpful comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript. Finally, we would like to thank numerous landowners and land managers that facilitated fieldwork by allowing access to bald eagle nests for this work.

Funding

Partial funding for this study was made by The Nature Conservancy. Funding for publication of this study was made possible by a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (Agreement # 124842).

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  1. P. E. Nye

    Present address: 1926 Tarrytown Rd., Feura Bush, NY, 12067, USA

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  1. Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA

    C. R. DeSorbo, M. E. H. Burton, C. P. Persico & D. C. Evers

  2. Environment & Climate Change Canada, 6 Bruce Street, Mount Pearl, NL, A1N 4T3, Canada

    N. M. Burgess

  3. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY, 12233-4753, USA

    P. E. Nye & J. J. Loukmas

  4. Savannah River National Laboratory, Aiken, SC, USA

    H. A. Brant

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DeSorbo, C.R., Burgess, N.M., Nye, P.E. et al. Bald eagle mercury exposure varies with region and site elevation in New York, USA. Ecotoxicology 29, 1862–1876 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-019-02153-8

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