Summary: | Report Submitted to the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union on 12/30/2016 Our primary objective is to increase our understanding of factors that influence colony productivity and survival of Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) breeding in the Western Great Lakes region. Our goal of identifying factors that influence productivity and survival includes assessing methylmercury concentrations attained during both breeding and non-breeding seasons for adult and hatch-year (HY) birds. Collecting biological samples necessary to determine methylmercury concentrations was the primary objective supported by the MOU Savaloja Grant. Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota-Duluth, 5013 Miller Trunk Hwy, Duluth, MN 55811; University of Minnesota, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, 324 Hodson Hall, 1980 Folwell Ave, St. Paul, MN 55108
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