SREL Reprint #3426
Mercury bioaccumulation in Florida green watersnakes (Nerodia floridana) inhabiting former nuclear cooling reservoirs on the Savannah River Site
Amelia L. Russell1,2, M. Kyle Brown1,2, Michaela Lambert2,3, Tracey D. Tuberville2, and Melissa A. Pilgrim1,2
1Division of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of South Carolina Upstate,
800 University Way, Spartanburg, SC 29303
2Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29802
3University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506
Abstract: Anthropogenic activities have significantly increased the amount of mercury (Hg) cycling globally. Mercury can become bioavailable, accumulate in organisms, biomagnify in food webs, and can negatively impact wildlife health. Mercury contamination on the Savannah River Site (SRS) is a result of atmospheric deposition, coal combustion, and use of contaminated water from the Savannah River in nuclear reactor cooling reservoirs. Florida green watersnakes, Nerodia floridana, are top predators that inhabit the reservoirs and can serve as bioindicators of Hg contamination. We captured 76 snakes from three reservoirs: Pond B, Pond 2, and PAR Pond. We took tail clip samples from captured snakes and quantified total mercury (THg) concentrations. Snake THg concentrations were not significantly different among sites. We determined there was a significant relationship between snout-vent length and THg in N. floridana. Our work demonstrated that N. floridana can serve as bioindicators of Hg contamination in aquatic systems.
Keywords: Mercury, Ecotoxicology, Watersnake, Savannah River Site, Bioindicator
SREL Reprint #3426
Russell, A. L., M. K. Brown, M. M. Lambert, T. D. Tuberville, and M. A. Pilgrim. 2016. Mercury bioaccumulation in Florida green watersnakes (Nerodia floridana) inhabiting former nuclear cooling reservoirs on the Savannah River Site. USC Upstate Student Research Journal 9(Fall): 43-52.
This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).