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Total Mercury Concentrations in Tricolored Bats (Pipistrellus subflavus) from East Central Texas

Peebles, David
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2025-05-19
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Mercury (Hg) is a trace element metal with toxic effects on wildlife, including bats. Texas is the largest producer of mercury pollution in the United States, yet only two other studies have measured mercury concentration in bats in the state. We measured total mercury (THg) concentrations in fur (n=57) in endangered Tricolored bats (Pipistrellus subflavus) collected from two culverts in Leon County in East Central Texas. Fur THg concentrations were compared between sex, culvert collection site, and to concentrations observed in previous studies. There was no significant difference in THg between sex or culvert. There was a difference in the mean THg concentration with Tricolored bats collected in this study compared to those collected from the Northeastern U.S, but not from previous studies in Texas. Additionally, the THg concentrations were compared with the 10 ug/g toxicity threshold levels commonly used to assess ris,k and 5.2% of Tricolored bats in this study exceeded the toxicity threshold. This suggests that THg may pose a risk to the health of bats in East Central Texas, and protective measures need to be implemented to protect this species.
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