Potential risk to wood storks (Mycteria americana) from mercury in Carolina Bay fish

摘要

Carolina bays are freshwater wetlands that serve as important feeding habitats for the endangered wood stork (Mycteria amer- icana). Water levels in these bays fluctuate greatly and tend to be acidic and rich in dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Factors that favor mercury (Hg) methylation and bioaccumulation in fish. To asses potential risks to wood storks consuming mercury con- taminated fish in bays, we sampled fish from 10 bays on the Savannah River Site (SRS), South Carolina, an area with documented use by wood storks. Whole body mercury concentrations in 258 fishes of three species (Erimyzon sucetta. Acantharchus pomotis and Esox americanus) commonly consumed by wood storks were determined.