The Movement of Aquatic Mercury Through Terrestrial Food Webs
Daniel A. Cristol,*
Rebecka L. Brasso,
Anne M. Condon,
Rachel E. Fovargue,
Scott L. Friedman,
Kelly K. Hallinger,
Adrian P. Monroe,
Ariel E. White
Mercury has contaminated rivers worldwide, with health consequences
for aquatic organisms and humans who consume them. Researchers
have focused on aquatic birds as sentinels for mercury. However,
trophic transfer between adjacent ecosystems could lead to the
export of aquatic mercury to terrestrial habitats. Along a mercury-contaminated
river in Virginia, United States, terrestrial birds had significantly
elevated levels of mercury in their blood, similar to their
aquatic-feeding counterparts. Diet analysis revealed that spiders
delivered much of the dietary mercury. We conclude that aquatic
mercury pollution can move into terrestrial habitats, where
it biomagnifies to levels in songbirds that may cause adverse
effects. Rivers contaminated with mercury may pose a threat
to the many bird species that feed on predatory invertebrates
in adjacent riparian habitats.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dacris{at}wm.edu
