학술논문
Trace Elements in the Fur of Bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Ontario and Quebec, Canada.
Document Type
Article
Source
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination & Toxicology; Jun2001, Vol. 66 Issue 6, p699-706, 8p
Subject
Language
ISSN
00074861
Abstract
The article assesses variation in the concentrations 24 elements including mercury and several other metal contaminants in the fur of bats captured at sites in eastern Ontario and adjacent Quebec, Canada. Some of the fur samples from the four species of bats researchers captured had detectable concentrations of mercury, zinc, selenium, lead, aluminum and iron. The other elements were not detected. Concentrations of mercury researchers report are among the highest concentrations reported for bats, and are within the range typical for top predators consuming mercury-contaminated prey. Researchers results suggest that bats consuming large quantities of prey that spend their larval stages in sediments may be exposed to levels of mercury sufficient to cause sub-lethal biological effects.