Mercury in fur of Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii) in Southern Sweden and Comparison to Ecotoxicological Thresholds

Abstract

To characterise mercury (Hg) exposure in Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii, Kuhl 1817) in southern Sweden, 17 specimens were captured in 2013 and back fur samples were taken for analysis to determine Hg concentrations. The fur Hg levels determined [1.15 +/- 0.27 (mean +/- standard deviation, n = 17) A mu g Hg g(-1) fresh weight (fw)] represent a baseline for comparison in future assessments of Hg exposure in bat populations in northern Europe. Mercury concentrations were close to those reported in fur from other bat species, but were lower than proposed toxicological thresholds in bats (> 30 A mu g Hg g(-1) fw) and mice (5 A mu g Hg g(-1) fw). This is the first study to examine Hg exposure in bats in Scandinavia.

Keywords

Daubenton's bat; Mercury; Ecotoxicological thresholds; Sweden

Published in

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
2017, volume: 99, number: 5, pages: 561-566
Publisher: SPRINGER

SLU Authors

• Åkerblom, Staffan

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• de Jong, Johnny

  • Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

Non-toxic environment
SLU Swedish Biodiversity Centre

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-017-2206-3

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/92637