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Results of Total Mercury Analysis in Salt Marsh Invertebrates
Citation:
SERBST, J. R. AND J. L. LAKE. Results of Total Mercury Analysis in Salt Marsh Invertebrates . U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-11/046, 2011.
Impact/Purpose:
Our goal in this study was to determine whether the Hg concentrations in samples of insects and spiders from the Narrow River salt marsh were elevated relative to those found at the other locations.
Description:
Analysis of blood samples obtained from saltmarsh sparrows revealed high levels (> 1.0 µg/g(wet)) of mercury (Hg) in sparrows inhabiting a salt marsh site in the Narrow River, RI (also known as Pettaquamscutt River). These analyses were conducted by Oksana Lane at the Biodiversity Research Institute, Gorham ME (Lane and Evers, 2007). We were contacted by Ms. Suzanne Paton (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) to assist in the determination of the possible causes of these elevated Hg concentrations. The prey of these birds include primarily insects, spiders and marine invertebrates (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Saltmarsh_Sparrow/lifehistory); therefore, we collected insects and spiders from the Narrow River site in addition to three other salt marshes located in southern Rhode Island (Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge in Middletown, RI; Sapowet Management Area, Tiverton, RI; and Round Marsh, Jamestown, RI). Our goal in this study was to determine whether the Hg concentrations in samples of insects and spiders from the Narrow River salt marsh were elevated relative to those found at the other locations.
URLs/Downloads:
SALT MARSH INSECTS AND SPIDERS REPORT FINAL.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 92 KB, about PDF)suzanne_paton@fws.gov
