This pioneering investigation focused on the mercury bioaccumulation
relationship of bats and insects. Identifying biomarkers that can be extrapolated to
humans is necessary. Radio-transmitter-fitted bats were tracked to identify five of their
preferred feeding sites within and outside the Cornwall Area of Concern. Bats, insects
and guano were collected from the five sites.
High THg levels in bats (N= 80) were noted among species and locations but
these levels were not correlated with insects. Some individual Myotis lucifugus and
Eptesicus fuscus bats had concentrations (10 - 12 ppm and 15 - 26 ppm) that exceeded
those from previous studies (7.6 ppm and 1.5 ppm) (Hickey et al., 2001). One-way
ANOVA and t-test (two-tailed) established statistical significance among caddisflies by
location (p= 0.0013), insect taxa (p <0.001), bat species (p =0.001) and Eptesicus fuscus
by location (p= 0.004). Caddisflies were sampled for MeHg (> 50% Hg was MeHg).
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BRC.10170/143 |
| Date | 20 January 2010 |
| Creators | Milan, Idalia |
| Contributors | Hickey, Brian |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Detected Language | English |
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