Contaminants in arctic sea ducks

Updated 2000-06-14

To examine concentrations and biological effects of selected trace elements in king and common eiders from various locations in the Canadian arctic.

This is not a National Implementation Plan (NIP) project
Comments and additional information:

In addition to determining concentrations of cadmium, mercury, selenium, copper and zinc in tissues of wild ducks, the study is examining body condition, parasite loads, hormonal status and immune function.

Time frame

Status
Ongoing
Project time span
1997 - 2002
Data collection
1997 - 2001
Data processing
1998 - 2002
Data reporting
1999 - 2002

Contact information

Contact person
Mark Wayland
Address
Prairie and Northern Wildlife Research Centre Environment Canada 115 Perimeter Rd. Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0X4 Canada
Phone
+1 306-975-6340
Fax
+1 306-975-4089
Email
ac.cg.ce@dnalyaw.kram

Parameters and Media

Parameter groups measured/observed/modelled
Biological effects
Heavy metals
Media sampled/studied/modelled
Seabirds
Additional information or further specification of types of data / information collected, species / tissues / organs sampled, etc.

common eider, king eider, kidneys, livers, blood, immune function, stress response, helminth parasites, body condition indices

Geography

Regions studied
Heavy metals
Stations or areas where observations are made

East Bay Migratory Bird Sanctuary (64 04N 81 00W), Holman on Victoria Island (@ 71 N 118W) Belcher Islands (@ 57N 79W)

Data availability

Are data archived or planned to be archived at an AMAP Thematic Data Centre?
no
If no (or only part of data are reported to a TDC), where and how are (other) data stored?
Data stored in spreadsheet files in Excel by Mark Wayland (see contact address and e-mail above).
References to key publications (or planned publications) and data reports
Wayland, M. 1999. Contaminants in arctic sea ducks. Pp. 211-215 in Jensen, J. (ed.),Environmental studies No. 75, Synopsis of research condi=ucted under the 1997/98 Northern Contaminants Program, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development,Ottawa Wayland, M., Gilchrist, H.G., Dickson, L., Braune, B.M., Bollinger, T., Marchant, T., James, C. 1999. Contaminants in arctic sea ducks. Pp. 213-222 in Kalhok, S. (ed.), Synopsis of research conducted under the 1998/99 Northern Contaminants Program, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Ottawa. Wayland, M., Gilchrist, H.G., Dickson, L., Braune, B.M., Bollinger, T., Marchant, T., Smits, J.E.G. in press. Levels and effects of contaminants in arctic sea ducks. In: Synposis of research conducted under the 1999/2000 Northern Contaminants Program, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Ottawa. Wayland, M., Garcia-Fernandez, A.-J., Neuegebauer, E., and Gilchrist, H.G. in press. Concentrations of mercury, selenium and cadmium in liver, kidney and blood of common eider ducks. Environ. Monitor. Assess.
Samples/specimens archived in specimen banks?
Yes
Specimen banking information

Liver, kidney, blood of king and common eiders frozen at -20C at the National wildlife Research Centre, in Hull, Quebec. Stored indefinitely.

Methods & Procedures

Procedures and methodology used for, e.g., sampling and sample storage, sample pretreatment, extraction and analysis, including which laboratories are involved, references to methods employed, etc.

Samples collected and frozen immediately in field prior to transport to -20C freezer. Samples analyzed by a combination of flame and GF-AAS. Also, some analyses done by ICP. Analyses done at NWRC (ENvironment Canada).

Additional Information

Is this a bi- AND multi-lateral project (i.e. a project involving cooperation between different countries)?
No
Other institutes involved in the project

National Wildlife Research Centre (Environment Canada) University of Saskatchewan

Is this project reporting to other organizations/programmes?

Northern Contaminants Program Toxic Substances Research Initiative

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