Mercury and lead exposure in avian scavengers from the Pacific Northwest suggest risks to California condors: Implications for reintroduction and recovery

Environmental Pollution
Garth HerringDaniel E Varland

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) are widespread contaminants that pose risks to avian scavengers. In fact, Pb exposure is the primary factor limiting population recovery in the endangered California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) and Hg can impair avian reproduction at environmentally relevant exposures. The Pacific Northwest region of the US was historically part of the condor's native range, and efforts are underway to expand recovery into this area. To identify potential threats to reintroduced condors we assessed foraging habitats, Hg and Pb exposure, and physiological responses in two surrogate avian scavenger species (common ravens [Corvus corax] and turkey vultures [Cathartes aura] across the region between 2012 and 2016. Mercury exposure near the Pacific coast was 17-27-fold higher than in inland areas, and stable carbon and sulfur isotopes ratios indicated that coastal scavengers were highly reliant on marine prey. In contrast, Pb concentrations were uniformly elevated across the region, with 18% of the birds exposed to subclinical poisoning levels. Elevated Pb concentrations were associated with lower delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALAD) activity, and in ravens there was an interactive effect between Hg and Pb o...Continue Reading

References

Jul 1, 1991·Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology·P T RedigG E Duke
May 13, 2003·Ecotoxicology·Björn BrunströmKrister Halldin
Sep 12, 2003·Environmental Science & Technology·Myra E FinkelsteinDonald R Smith
Sep 24, 2004·Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology·E Martínez-LópezA J García-Fernández
Aug 30, 2005·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology·L Michael RomeroJohn C Wingfield
Feb 14, 2006·The American Naturalist·Oliver P LoveTony D Williams
Oct 21, 2006·Environmental Science & Technology·Molly E ChurchDonald R Smith
Apr 15, 2008·The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Exotic Animal Practice·Patrick T Redig, Lori R Arent
Jun 21, 2008·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·Christopher J WhelanRobert J Marquis
Oct 31, 2008·Environmental Health : a Global Access Science Source·Krishna DasMarie-Claire De Pauw-Gillet
Mar 27, 2010·General and Comparative Endocrinology·Aurélie GoutteOlivier Chastel
May 27, 2011·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Aurélie GoutteOlivier Chastel
Dec 20, 2011·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·Darcy L OgadaMunir Z Virani
May 15, 2012·Environmental Science & Technology·Garth HerringMark P Herzog
Jun 27, 2012·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Myra E FinkelsteinDonald R Smith
Sep 24, 2013·The Science of the Total Environment·Ashley K McGrewTodd M O'Hara
Feb 1, 1994·Environmental Monitoring and Assessment·C J HennyR A Grove
Jan 1, 1986·Environmental Monitoring and Assessment·S N WiemeyerJ F Moore
Jul 22, 2014·Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·Terra R KellyChristine K Johnson
Jun 19, 2015·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Sarah H PetersonDaniel P Costa
Jan 13, 2016·Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry·Sarah H PetersonDaniel P Costa
Apr 14, 2016·The Science of the Total Environment·J A DavisJ T Ackerman
Apr 21, 2016·The Science of the Total Environment·Joshua T AckermanColleen E Bryan
Jun 21, 2016·The Science of the Total Environment·Collin A Eagles-SmithJoshua T Ackerman
Feb 2, 2018·Ambio·Collin A Eagles-SmithJennifer F Nyland

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 29, 2018·Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine : Official Publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians·Natalie NguyenCurtis Eng
Nov 18, 2018·The Science of the Total Environment·Pablo I Plaza, Sergio A Lambertucci
Jan 12, 2020·General and Comparative Endocrinology·Rachel G FeltonChristopher W Tubbs
Aug 11, 2021·Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·Peirong CaiJianchun Bian
Sep 3, 2021·Environmental Science & Technology·Garth HerringJames J Willacker

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.