Mercury Residues in South Florida Apple Snails (Pomacea paludosa)
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Material Information

Title:
Mercury Residues in South Florida Apple Snails (Pomacea paludosa)
Series Title:
Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. (1997) 58: 739-743
Creator:
Eisemann, J.D.
Beyer, W.N.
Morton, A.
Bennetts, R.E.
Publisher:
Springer-Verlag New York Inc
Publication Date:
Language:
English

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Florida applesnail
Mercury
Genre:
Article

Notes

Abstract:
Mercury concentrations in the sediments of south Florida wetlands have increased three fold in the last century (Rood et al. 1993). Because south Florida is home to many endemic and endangered species, it is important to understand the potential impacts of mercury in this ecosystem's food web. Recent research by Malley et al. (1996) has shown mollusks to be sensitive indicators of methyl mercury which can reflect small differences in background methyl mercury concentrations. In this study, we attempted to determine if the apple snail (Pomacea paludosa) or its eggs are good indicators of bioavailable mercury. Then, using the apple snail as an indicator, we attempted to determine geographic differences in the concentrations of mercury in south Florida. The apple snail, an important component of freshwater food webs, is distributed throughout the extreme southeastern United States. Being aquatic, it leaves the water only to lay eggs on emergent vegetation. The apple snail, a primary consumer which feeds on periphyton, is the primary food source to the Snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) (Stieglitz and Thompson 1967; Sykes 1987), is a major food item for the Limpkin (Aramun guarauna) (Harper 1936, 1941; Cottam 1941), and is found in the diet of a variety of other species (Kushlan 1975). ( English )
Ownership:
Government Documents, Green Library, Florida International University

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
Rights Management:
Please contact the owning institution for licensing and permissions. It is the users responsibility to ensure use does not violate any third party rights.
Resource Identifier:
FI09051103