Published By US Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
Issued over 9 years ago
Summary
Description
The Ouachita River and adjacent Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge NWR, located in northcentral Louisiana, are subject to several types and sources of contamination. During 1993, raccoons, water birds, and fishes were collected for mercury analyses. Muscle, liver, and hair or feathers were analyzed from the raccoons and birds. Fishes were analyzed as wholebody samples, except in the case of nine largemouth bass from which both filet and carcass samples were analyzed. The analytical results indicate the presence of mercury at levels warranting concern in all biota analyzed. Mercury bioaccumulation in water birds was the most significant; the maximum level observed was 109.6 ugg in the liver of a great blue heron. A great blue heron egg was also analyzed for mercury. Mercury contamination is discussed in terms of the published literature on known hazards to reproduction in piscivorous water birds. Mercury data from the raccoon samples are presented by Facemire et al. In Press.