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Trace elements in canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) wintering in Louisiana, USA, 1987-1988

Custer, T. W., and Hohman, W. L., 1994, Trace elements in canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) wintering in Louisiana, USA, 1987-1988: Environmental Pollution, v. 84, no. 3, p. 253-259.

Abstract

We determined trace element concentrations in livers of canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) collected at Catahoula Lake and the Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana during, the winter of 1987-88. Forty percent of canvasbacks wintering at Lake Catahoula had elevated concentrations of lead in the liver; 33% had concentrations consistent with lead intoxication. Based on the number of canvasbacks that winter at Lake Catahoula and the frequency of lead exposure there, more than 5% of the continental population of canvasbacks may be exposed to lead at Lake Catahoula alone. Lead concentrations in livers differed among months and were higher in males than females, but were not different in adults and immatures. Except for the elevated concentrations of lead at Catahoula Lake, all trace elements were at background concentrations.

Keywords

trace-elements, lead-, liver-, Aythya-valisineria, USA,-Louisiana,-Catahoula-L., ASW,-USA,-Louisiana,- Mississippi-Delta, bioaccumulation-, aquatic-birds, freshwater-organisms, water-birds, ecological-effects