| Abstract: | Three generations of mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) were fed either a control diet or a diet containing 0.5 ppm mercury in the form of methylmercury. The levels of mercury in adult tissues and eggs remained about the same over 3 generations. The methylmercury diet had no effect on adult weights or weight changes during the reproductive season. Females fed a diet containing 0.5 ppm mercury laid a greater percentage of their eggs outside their nestboxes than did controls, and also laid fewer eggs and produced fewer ducklings. Methylmercury in the diet appeared to result in a small amount of eggshell thinning. Ducklings from parents fed methylmercury were less responsive than, controls to tape-recorded maternal calls, but were hyper-responsive to a frightening stimulus in avoidance tests; there were no significant differences in locomotor activity in an open-field test. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 5221473 |
| Citation Author: | Heinz, G.H. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
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| Citation End Page: | 401 |
| Citation Issue: | 2 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Journal of Wildlife Management |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 8 |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | 394-401 |
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| Citation Public Comments: | 2219_Heinz.pdf |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Methylmercury: Reproductive and behavioral effects on three generations of mallard ducks; 1979; Article; Journal; Journal of Wildlife Management; Heinz, G.H. |
| Citation Start Page: | 394 |
| Citation Volume: | 43 |
| Citation Year: | 1979 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Methylmercury: Reproductive and behavioral effects on three generations of mallard ducks; 1979; Article; Journal; Journal of Wildlife Management; Heinz, G.H. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DOCUMENT): | http://www.jstor.org/stable/3800348 |
| Date Other: | Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:19 -0500 |
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