Effects of mercury on behavior and performance of northern two-lined salamanders (Eurycea bislineata)

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• 作者：John N. Burke ; Christine M. Bergeron ; Brian D. Todd ; William A. Hopkins
• 关键词：Mercury ; Sublethal effect ; Amphibian ; Neurotoxicant ; Bioaccumulation
• 刊名：Environmental Pollution
• 出版年：2010
• 出版时间：December 2010
• 年：2010
• 卷：158
• 期：12
• 页码：3546-3551
• 全文大小：247 K

文摘

Mercury (Hg) causes a range of deleterious effects in wildlife, but little is known about its effects on amphibians. Our objective was to determine whether Hg affects performance and behavior in two-lined salamanders (Eurycea bislineata). We collected salamanders from Hg-contaminated and reference sites and assessed speed, responsiveness, and prey capture ability. Mercury concentrations were >17× higher in salamanders from the contaminated sites and were among the highest documented in amphibians. In the first, but not in the second, locomotion trial, we found a significant effect of Hg on speed and responsiveness. In the prey capture experiment, reference salamanders ate approximately twice as many prey items as the contaminated salamanders. Together, our results suggest that sublethal Hg concentrations may negatively affect salamanders by reducing their ability to successfully execute tasks critical to survival. Future work is warranted to determine whether Hg has other sublethal effects on salamanders and whether other amphibians are similarly affected.