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NORTHEAST LOON STUDY WORKING GROUP PARTNERSHIP TO ASSESS ENVIRONMENTAL RISK
Citation:
Haebler, R, A. Major, AND L. Morse. NORTHEAST LOON STUDY WORKING GROUP PARTNERSHIP TO ASSESS ENVIRONMENTAL RISK. Presented at 4th Annual Meeting of the Waterbird Society, Plymouth, MA, November 1-5, 2000.
Description:
The Northeast Loon Study Working Group (NELSWG) was formed in 1994 to proactively identify threats to one of the Northeast's most popular waterbirds, the common loon, Gavia immer. Seventeen institutions have come together to identify strategy, coordinate the work load, and share data. Members include federal and state agencies, universities, non-governmental organizations and a power plant. The study area includes Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New York, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The NELSWG has identified five major environmental risks to the common loon: mercury, lead, human disturbance, habitat alteration and catastrophic events. Mercury, considered to be the greatest risk, is the primary focus of current research. Investigations are ongoing in three major areas: source, pathway and effects. Recent findings have shown that exposure to mercury can cause a significant decline in reproductive success. The cooperation and collaboration among this large group of scientists is crucial to the continued active and productive research efforts underway to protect our wildlife.