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Mercury exposure in songbird communities along an elevational gradient on Whiteface Mountain, Adirondack Park (New York, USA)

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Abstract

Mercury (Hg) is a potent neurotoxin that biomagnifies within food webs. Adverse effects have been documented for avian species related to exposure of elevated Hg levels. High elevation, boreal forests generally receive higher atmospheric Hg deposition and regional studies have subsequently identified elevated blood Hg concentrations in songbird species inhabiting these montane habitats. The overall goal of this study was to investigate spatial and seasonal Hg exposure patterns in songbird species along an elevational gradient on Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondack Park of New York State. Songbird blood samples were collected from June–July in 2009 and 2010 along an elevational gradient at 13 study plots (450–1400 m) with a focus on Catharus thrushes, including the hermit thrush, Swainson’s thrush, and Bicknell’s thrush. The main results of this study documented: (1) an overall linear pattern of increasing blood Hg concentrations with increasing elevation, with additional analysis suggesting a nonlinear elevational pattern of increasing blood Hg concentrations to 1075 m, followed by decreasing concentrations thereafter, for all Catharus thrush species across the elevational gradient; and (2) an overall nonlinear seasonal pattern of increasing, followed by decreasing blood Hg concentrations across target species. Avian exposure patterns appear driven by elevated atmospheric Hg deposition and increased methylmercury bioavailability within high elevation habitats as compared with low elevation forests. Seasonal patterns are likely influenced by a combination of complex and dynamic variables related to dietary selection and annual molting cycles. Considering that few high elevation analyses have been conducted within the context of regional songbird research, this project complements the results from similar studies and highlights the need for further monitoring efforts to investigate environmental Hg contamination within avian communities.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to the financial support provided by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to conduct this research, including the administrative coordination and project support provided by Gregory Lampman and Mark Watson. We also thank the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) and SUNY-Albany Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC) for providing access to study sites at Whiteface Mountain. We would like to acknowledge Jason Townsend for his assistance with project design and Mario Montesdeoca for laboratory assistance. And finally, we greatly appreciate the tireless efforts of several project interns, fellow graduate students, colleagues and family members that provided invaluable field assistance during the course of this research: Chelsea Baldino, Grace Conklin, Sara Nason, Brad Blackwell, Sam Werner, Melissa Duron, Lyneé Sauer, Mary Sauer and Bob Sauer.

Funding

This study was funded by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority contract #1292.

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  1. Yang Yang

    Present address: Sierra Nevada Research Institute, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95340, USA

Authors and Affiliations

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

    Amy K. Sauer, David C. Evers & Evan M. Adams

  2. Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA

    Amy K. Sauer

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA

    Charles T. Driscoll

  4. Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA

    Yang Yang

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Sauer, A.K., Driscoll, C.T., Evers, D.C. et al. Mercury exposure in songbird communities along an elevational gradient on Whiteface Mountain, Adirondack Park (New York, USA). Ecotoxicology 29, 1830–1842 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-020-02175-7

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