Scientific Publications
New York Mercury Synthesis Project
The Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation collaborated with other researchers in the New York Mercury Synthesis Project led by Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) and supported by NYSERDA to compile the results of research on the impacts of airborne mercury pollution to New York’s aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
Read the full NY Mercury Synthesis Ecotoxicology paper by Evan Adams, et. al. (2023): Distribution and trends of mercury in aquatic and terrestrial biota of New York, USA: a synthesis of 50 years of research and monitoring.
As part of this project, we partnered with Dr. Yang Yang and Dr. Ruth Yanai of SUNY ESF, Dr. Charley Driscoll of Syracuse University, Dr. David Evers of BRI, and many other scientists across NY. Together, we analyzed our loon mercury and reproductive success data collected since 1998 and published three articles in the journal Ecotoxicology, including:
Click the photo to read ACLC’s Science Summary report of the first two Ecotoxicology articles.
Spatial patterns and temporal trends in mercury concentrations in common loons (Gavia immer) from 1998 to 2016 in New York’s Adirondack Park: Has this top predator benefitted from mercury emission controls? This paper found that mercury levels in Adirondack loons increased 5.7% per year from 1998 to 2010, and then stabilized from 2010 to 2016. Based on these results, we concluded that there was a delayed recovery of mercury concentrations in Adirondack loons, despite recent declines in the deposition of atmospheric mercury. Interestingly, we found that lakes in the southwestern part of the Park had higher loon mercury concentrations than in other areas of the Park.
2. Determining optimal sampling strategies for monitoring mercury and reproductive success in common loons in the Adirondacks of New York. We used power analysis, a statistical tool, to determine the sampling intensity required (i.e, number of lakes/year, or number of years to sample) to detect a particular rate of change in loon mercury levels or fledging success. We found that increasing the effort in the number of lakes sampled/year or the number of years loons were sampled decreased the intensity required in the other parameter. Additionally, highly acidic lakes required greater sampling intensity than less acidic lakes.
Click the photo to read ACLC’s Science Summary report of the third Ecotoxicology article.
3. The influence of biotic and abiotic factors on banded common loon (Gavia immer) reproductive success in a remote, mountainous region of the northeastern United States. We found that mercury may no longer be significantly impacting Adirondack loon reproductive success as previously documented. The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and the 2011 Mercury and Air Toxic Standard Act strengthened regulations on mercury emissions, led to declines in mercury deposition in the Adirondacks, and likely decreased exposure to local wildlife. Mercury’s effect may also be obscured by other concurrent threats, such as rainfall, shoreline development, and human interactions, which have increased over the last 30 years in the Park.
Other Publications
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in blood related to lower bodymass in common loons
Paruk, J. D. E. M. Adams, H. Uher-Koch, K. A. Kovach, Darwin Long IV, C. Perkins, N. Schoch, and D. C. Evers. 2016. Science of the Total Environment. Vol. 565: 360–368.
Schoch, N., A. Jackson, M. Duron, D.C. Evers, M. Glennon, C.T. Driscoll, J. Ozard, and A. Sauer. 2014. Waterbirds. 37 (Special Publication 1): 133-146
Wildlife criterion value for the Common Loon in the Adirondack Park, New York State
Schoch, N., A. Jackson, M. Duron, D.C. Evers, M. Glennon, C.T. Driscoll, X. Yu, H. Simonin, and A. Sauer. 2014. Waterbirds. 37 (Special Publication 1): 76-84.
The effects of lakeshore development on Common Loon productivity in the Adirondack Park, New York
Spilman, C.A., N. Schoch, W. F. Porter, and M. Glennon. 2014. Waterbirds. 37 (Special Publication 1): 94-101.
Body mass in Common Loons (Gavia immer) is strongly affected by migration distance
Gray, C.O., J.D. Paruk, C.R. Desorbo, L.J. Savoy, D.E. Yates, M.D. Chickering, R.G. Gray, K.M. Taylor, D. Long IV, N. Schoch, W. Hanson, J. Cooley, and D.C. Evers. 2014. Waterbirds. 37 (Special Publication 1): 64-75.
Schoch, N., A. Jackson, M. Duron, D.C. Evers, M. Glennon, C.T. Driscoll, X.Yu, and H. Simonin. 2011. Biodiversity Research Institute, Gorham, Maine. Report BRI 2011-28 to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for NYSERDA EMEP Project #7608. 116 pages.
Spatial gradients of methylmercury for breeding Common Loons in the Laurentian Great Lakes region
Evers, D.C., K.A. Williams, M.W. Meyer, A.M. Scheuhammer, N. Schoch, A. Gilbert, L. Siegel, R.J. Taylor, R. Poppenga, and C.R. Perkins. 2011. Ecotoxicology 20: 1609–1625.
Spatial patterns of mercury in biota of Adirondack, New York lakes
Yu, X., C.T. Driscoll, D.C. Evers, M. Duron, N. Schoch, and N. Kamman. 2011. Ecotoxicology 20: 1543–1554.
Migration Patterns and Wintering Range of Common Loons Breeding in the Northeastern United States
Kenow, K.P. D. Adams, N. Schoch, D. C. Evers, W. Hanson, D. Yates, L. Savoy, T. J. Fox, A. Major, R. Kratt, J. W. Ozard. 2009. Waterbirds 32(2): 234-247
Adverse effects from environmental mercury loads on breeding common loons
Evers, D.C., L. Savoy, C. DeSorbo, D.E. Yates, W. Hanson, K.M. Taylor, L. Siegel, J.H. Cooley, Jr., M.S. Bank, A. Major, K. Munney, B. Mower, H.S. Vogel, N. Schoch, M. Pokras, M.W. Goodale, and J. Fair. 2008. Ecotoxicology. 17:69–81.