Spatial trends in a biomagnifying contaminant: Application of amino acid compound–specific stable nitrogen isotope analysis to the interpretation of bird mercury levels
Abstract Levels of biomagnifying contaminants are greatest in high–trophic level biota (e.g., predatory birds such as gulls). Gull eggs have been used to assess contaminant spatial patterns and sources, but such assessments must consider how organism trophic position may influence spatial inferences...
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/etc.4113 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fetc.4113 https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/etc.4113 |
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crwiley:10.1002/etc.4113 2024-06-02T08:03:05+00:00 Spatial trends in a biomagnifying contaminant: Application of amino acid compound–specific stable nitrogen isotope analysis to the interpretation of bird mercury levels Dolgova, Svetlana Popp, Brian N. Courtoreille, Kevin Espie, Richard H.M. Maclean, Bruce McMaster, Mark Straka, Jason R. Tetreault, Gerald R. Wilkie, Steve Hebert, Craig E. Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Nature et Technologies 2018 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/etc.4113 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fetc.4113 https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/etc.4113 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry volume 37, issue 5, page 1466-1475 ISSN 0730-7268 1552-8618 journal-article 2018 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.4113 2024-05-03T11:22:57Z Abstract Levels of biomagnifying contaminants are greatest in high–trophic level biota (e.g., predatory birds such as gulls). Gull eggs have been used to assess contaminant spatial patterns and sources, but such assessments must consider how organism trophic position may influence spatial inferences. Stable nitrogen isotopes (δ 15 N) in bulk tissue are routinely used in this context. However, bulk δ 15 N values are only useful if spatial differences in baseline δ 15 N values are considered. Amino acid compound–specific stable nitrogen isotope analysis can generate estimates of baseline δ 15 N values and trophic position from the same sample. In the present study, eggs ( n = 428) of California ( Larus californicus ), herring ( Larus argentatus smithsonianus ), and ring‐billed ( Larus delawarensis ) gulls were used to assess spatial patterns in mercury (Hg) availability in 12 western Canadian lakes located over 14 degrees of latitude, with amino acid compound–specific stable isotope analysis adjustment of egg Hg levels for trophic position. Mean trophic position–adjusted egg Hg levels (micrograms per gram, dry wt) were greatest at sites in receiving waters of the Athabasca River ( = 0.70) compared to southern ( = 0.39) and northern ( = 0.50) regions. Research is required to investigate factors (e.g., local Hg released as a result of human activities, processes influencing Hg methylation) which may be responsible for greater Hg availability in the lower Athabasca River basin. However, it is clear that amino acid compound–specific stable isotope analysis is a valuable tool for assessing contaminant spatial patterns. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1466–1475. © 2018 SETAC Article in Journal/Newspaper Athabasca River Wiley Online Library Athabasca River Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 37 5 1466 1475 |
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Wiley Online Library |
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crwiley |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract Levels of biomagnifying contaminants are greatest in high–trophic level biota (e.g., predatory birds such as gulls). Gull eggs have been used to assess contaminant spatial patterns and sources, but such assessments must consider how organism trophic position may influence spatial inferences. Stable nitrogen isotopes (δ 15 N) in bulk tissue are routinely used in this context. However, bulk δ 15 N values are only useful if spatial differences in baseline δ 15 N values are considered. Amino acid compound–specific stable nitrogen isotope analysis can generate estimates of baseline δ 15 N values and trophic position from the same sample. In the present study, eggs ( n = 428) of California ( Larus californicus ), herring ( Larus argentatus smithsonianus ), and ring‐billed ( Larus delawarensis ) gulls were used to assess spatial patterns in mercury (Hg) availability in 12 western Canadian lakes located over 14 degrees of latitude, with amino acid compound–specific stable isotope analysis adjustment of egg Hg levels for trophic position. Mean trophic position–adjusted egg Hg levels (micrograms per gram, dry wt) were greatest at sites in receiving waters of the Athabasca River ( = 0.70) compared to southern ( = 0.39) and northern ( = 0.50) regions. Research is required to investigate factors (e.g., local Hg released as a result of human activities, processes influencing Hg methylation) which may be responsible for greater Hg availability in the lower Athabasca River basin. However, it is clear that amino acid compound–specific stable isotope analysis is a valuable tool for assessing contaminant spatial patterns. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1466–1475. © 2018 SETAC |
author2 |
Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Nature et Technologies |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Dolgova, Svetlana Popp, Brian N. Courtoreille, Kevin Espie, Richard H.M. Maclean, Bruce McMaster, Mark Straka, Jason R. Tetreault, Gerald R. Wilkie, Steve Hebert, Craig E. |
spellingShingle |
Dolgova, Svetlana Popp, Brian N. Courtoreille, Kevin Espie, Richard H.M. Maclean, Bruce McMaster, Mark Straka, Jason R. Tetreault, Gerald R. Wilkie, Steve Hebert, Craig E. Spatial trends in a biomagnifying contaminant: Application of amino acid compound–specific stable nitrogen isotope analysis to the interpretation of bird mercury levels |
author_facet |
Dolgova, Svetlana Popp, Brian N. Courtoreille, Kevin Espie, Richard H.M. Maclean, Bruce McMaster, Mark Straka, Jason R. Tetreault, Gerald R. Wilkie, Steve Hebert, Craig E. |
author_sort |
Dolgova, Svetlana |
title |
Spatial trends in a biomagnifying contaminant: Application of amino acid compound–specific stable nitrogen isotope analysis to the interpretation of bird mercury levels |
title_short |
Spatial trends in a biomagnifying contaminant: Application of amino acid compound–specific stable nitrogen isotope analysis to the interpretation of bird mercury levels |
title_full |
Spatial trends in a biomagnifying contaminant: Application of amino acid compound–specific stable nitrogen isotope analysis to the interpretation of bird mercury levels |
title_fullStr |
Spatial trends in a biomagnifying contaminant: Application of amino acid compound–specific stable nitrogen isotope analysis to the interpretation of bird mercury levels |
title_full_unstemmed |
Spatial trends in a biomagnifying contaminant: Application of amino acid compound–specific stable nitrogen isotope analysis to the interpretation of bird mercury levels |
title_sort |
spatial trends in a biomagnifying contaminant: application of amino acid compound–specific stable nitrogen isotope analysis to the interpretation of bird mercury levels |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/etc.4113 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fetc.4113 https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/etc.4113 |
geographic |
Athabasca River |
geographic_facet |
Athabasca River |
genre |
Athabasca River |
genre_facet |
Athabasca River |
op_source |
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry volume 37, issue 5, page 1466-1475 ISSN 0730-7268 1552-8618 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.4113 |
container_title |
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry |
container_volume |
37 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
1466 |
op_container_end_page |
1475 |
_version_ |
1800747544938020864 |