Abstract:

In this project, specific trace metals including mercury, cadmium, copper, arsenic and selenium were measured in feathers obtained from adult brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis carolinensis) and chicks in several breeding colonies (Shamrock Island, Chester Island, Marker 52 Island, North Deer Island, Raccoon Island, Felicity Island, Gaillard Island, Audubon Island, and Ten Palms Island) in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2013-05-26 to 2016-06-19. This dataset supports the publication of Ndu U, Lamb J, Janssen S, Rossi R, Satgé Y, Jodice P. 2020. Mercury, cadmium, copper, arsenic, and selenium measurements in the feathers of adult eastern brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis carolinensis) and chicks in multiple breeding grounds in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Environ Monit Assess. 192(5):286. doi: 10.1007/s10661-020-8237-y. PMID: 32297009.

Suggested Citation:

Ndu, Udonna, Juliet Lamb, Sarah Janssen, Rosalie Rossi, Yvan Satgé, and Patrick Jodice. 2022. Measurements of trace metals in feathers obtained from adult and juvenile brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis carolinensis) in breeding colonies in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2013-05-26 to 2016-06-19. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/785TJW88

Publications:

Ndu, U., Lamb, J., Janssen, S., Rossi, R., Satgé, Y., & Jodice, P. (2020). Mercury, cadmium, copper, arsenic, and selenium measurements in the feathers of adult eastern brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis carolinensis) and chicks in multiple breeding grounds in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 192(5). doi:10.1007/s10661-020-8237-y

Purpose:

Substantial quantities of trace metals and metalloids have been added to aquatic settings as a result of industrial activities. Some of these elements such as mercury tend to bioaccumulate in marine organisms and lead to toxic deposits in animals near or at the top of the food chain like brown pelicans. Therefore, periodic monitoring is required to better understand the bioaccumulation of these elements.

Data Parameters and Units:

Sampling Date, Field Marker, Hg (ppm), Cu (ppm), As (ppm), Se (ppm), Cd (ppm), Colony, Abbreviation, Latitude, Longitude, Number of Replicates, %Recovery, and Standard Error

Methods:

Feathers were obtained chicks and adult brown pelicans from several island colonies as described in the publication Lamb et al. 2017. These feathers were digested in acidic solution, and specific elements including mercury, cadmium, selenium and arsenic were measured as described in publication Ndu et al 2020.

Provenance and Historical References:

Lamb, J. S., Satgé, Y. G., & Jodice, P. G. R. 2017. Influence of density-dependent competition on foraging and migratory behavior of a subtropical colonial seabird. Ecology and Evolution, 7(16), 6469-6481. doi:10.1002/ece3.3216. Ndu U, Lamb J, Janssen S, Rossi R, Satgé Y, Jodice P. 2020. Mercury, cadmium, copper, arsenic, and selenium measurements in the feathers of adult eastern brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis carolinensis) and chicks in multiple breeding grounds in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Environ Monit Assess. 192(5):286. doi: 10.1007/s10661-020-8237-y. PMID: 32297009

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