Inorganic Contaminant Concentrations and Body Condition in Wintering Waterfowl from Great Salt Lake, Utah

Details Inorganic Contaminant Concentrations and Body Condition in Wintering Waterfowl from Great Salt Lake, Utah Inorganic Contaminant Concentrations and Body Condition in Wintering Waterfowl from Great Salt Lake, Utah

Dec 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006agufm.h52a..02v&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2006, abstract #H52A-02

Other

0478 Pollution: Urban, Regional And Global (0345, 4251), 1803 Anthropogenic Effects (4802, 4902), 1845 Limnology (0458, 4239, 4942), 1871 Surface Water Quality

Scientific paper

The Great Salt Lake (GSL) is the fourth largest terminal lake in the world and is an important region for migratory and breeding waterbirds. Because the GSL is a closed basin, contaminants associated with industrial and urban development may accumulate in this system. Recently, water and sediment samples from the GSL revealed high concentrations of Hg and Se and methylmercury concentrations in GSL water samples were among the highest ever recorded in surface water by the USGS Mercury Laboratory. Thus, GSL waterbirds are likely exposed to these contaminants and elevated contaminant concentrations may adversely affect survival and reproduction in waterfowl. Our objectives were to 1) estimate mercury (Hg), selenium (Se), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) concentrations in wintering waterfowl from GSL and, 2) evaluate relationships between measures of waterfowl body condition and internal organ masses (hereafter body condition) with trace metal concentrations. We collected common goldeneye (COGO), northern shoveler (NSHO), and American green-winged teal (AGWT) from the GSL during early winter. We used ICP-MS to analyze liver and muscle tissue samples for contaminant concentrations. We developed species specific regression models for each of 5 condition indices, including ingesta-free plucked body mass (IFPBM), abdominal fat mass, spleen, liver, and pancreas masses. Independent variables were comprised of Hg, Se, Cd, Cu, and Zn and we included sex and age as covariates in each regression. We used Akaike's Information Criterion adjusted for small sample size to select best and competing models. Subsequently, we used partial correlations to depict inverse relationships identified in competing models. Hg concentrations in COGO and NSHO muscle tissue generally exceeded or approached the 1 ppm wet weight (ww) threshold considered unsafe for human consumption in fish and game. Hg concentrations in liver tissue exceeded or were among the highest reported in published literature for COGO, NSHO, and AGWT. Se concentrations in liver tissue for all 3 species were below the 10 ppm, ww threshold suggested for potential harmful effects in non-breeding ducks. Cd, Cu, and Zn concentrations in liver tissues were generally within normal background levels for all 3 species. IFPBM was inversely correlated with Se (r = -0.29) in COGO, Cu (r = -0.30) and Zn (r = -0.32) in NSHO, and with Zn (r = -0.62) in AGWT. Abdominal fat mass was inversely correlated with Se (r = -0.32) in COGO, Cu (r = -0.23) and Zn (r = -0.21) in NSHO, and with Zn (r = -0.81) in AGWT. Spleen mass was inversely correlated with Hg (r = -0.42) in COGO, and Se (r = -0.36) in AGWT. Liver mass was inversely correlated with Hg (r = -0.56) and Zn (r = -0.71) in AGWT, and with Se (r = -0.47) in NSHO. Pancreas mass was inversely correlated with Zn in (r = -0.70) AGWT. Our results indicate GSL waterfowl may experience reduced body condition due to environmental contaminants. However, these relationships should be evaluated in other annual cycle periods and GSL waterbirds. Contaminant pathways to waterfowl need to be elucidated and water quality standards for GSL should be developed. Finally, human consumption of COGO and NSHO from GSL should be limited.

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