Avian mercury exposure and toxicological risk across western North America: A synthesis Joshua T. Ackerman,a,* Collin A. Eagles-Smith,b Mark P. Herzog,a C. Alex Hartman,a Sarah H. Peterson,a David C. Evers,c Allyson K. Jackson,d John E. Elliott,e Stacy S. Vander Pol,f and Colleen E. Bryanf aU.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, California 95620, United States bU.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, United States cBiodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, Maine, 04103, United States dOregon State University, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, 104 Nash Hall, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, United States eEnvironment Canada, Science and Technology Branch, Pacific Wildlife Research Centre, Delta, British Columbia V4K 3N2, Canada fNational Institute of Standards and Technology, Chemical Sciences Division, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, South Carolina, 29412, United States Word Count: 14,327; with 2 tables and 9 figures; and 73 pages of Supporting Material *Corresponding Author e-mail:
[email protected] March 10, 2016 1 ABSTRACT Methylmercury contamination of the environment is an important issue globally and birds are useful bioindicators for mercury monitoring programs. The available data on mercury contamination of birds in western North America were synthesized. Original data from multiple databases were obtained and a literature review was conducted to obtain additional mercury concentrations. In total, 29219 original bird mercury concentrations from 225 species were compiled, and an additional 1712 mean mercury concentrations, representing 19998 individuals and 176 species, from 200 publications were obtained.