Reconstructing avian mercury concentrations through time using museum specimens from New York State.

摘要: We examined how variation in MeHg concentrations through time is reflected birds, a taxon commonly used as biological indicator of ecosystem health. Using museum specimens collected from 1880 to 2016, we measured feather six species birds that breed New York State and have distinct dietary habitat preferences. predicted feathers would mirror Hg emission patterns increase until 1980 then decrease thereafter response increased regulation anthropogenic emissions. found with δ15N, for some individuals four the exceeded known cause negative sublethal effects birds. In contrast our prediction, did not parallel global or local emissions varied by species, even after controlling possible changes diet habitat. substantially within individual specimens, suggesting high within-individual caused spatiotemporal molt, environmental exposure, mobility decoupling uptake breeding sites, may obscure trends time. Our study provides unique assessment typically analyzed using this retrospective approach.