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Mercury contamination of eight taxa of shoreline spiders and possible risk to arachnivorous songbirds
Ortega-Rodriguez, Celeste Letisia,author.
Ortega-Rodriguez, Celeste Letisia,author.
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2017
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Abstract
Mercury (Hg), a hazardous contaminant, can be transferred from aquatic to terrestrial environments by emerging aquatic insects. Spiders living along water shorelines may consume emerging aquatic insects and become contaminated with Hg. Mercury-contaminated spiders may pose a risk to arachnivorous songbirds. The objectives of this study were to determine 1) Hg concentrations in seven families of shoreline spiders, 2) if each family was connected to the aquatic food web via the consumption of emergent insects and 3) determine the risk contaminated spiders pose to arachnivorous songbirds. Methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations and stable isotopes of nitrogen (δ15N) revealed all spider taxa in the present study were contaminated with Hg and connected to the aquatic food chain. Calculated songbird wildlife values revealed six of the seven families of shoreline spiders contained MeHg concentrations high enough to pose a serious risk to arachnivorous songbirds that forage for spiders along water shorelines.
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1 online resource (iv, 22 pages) :
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Biology