Feathers s a means of monitoring mercury in seabirds: insights from stable isotope analysis

摘要

Mercury concentrations, together with nitrogen and carbon stable siotope signatures, were determined in body feather samples from northern fulmarus Fulmarus glacialis and great skuas. There were no significant relationships between trophic status, as defined using isotope analysis, and mercury concentration in the same feather type, in either species. Mercury concentrations in body feather samples were markedly different between fulmars and skuas, reflecting differences in diet, but there was no corresponding difference in trophic status as measured through nitrogen stabl iso- tope signatures.