Mercury and Radiocesium Accumulation and Associations With Sublethal Endpoints in the Florida Green Watersnake (Nerodia floridana).

Mercury (Hg) and radiocesium ( Cs) are well-known environmental contaminants with the potential to impact the health of humans and wildlife. Snakes have several characteristics conducive to studying environmental contamination but have rarely been included in the monitoring of polluted sites. We investigated the bioaccumulation of Hg and Cs and associations with sublethal effects (standard metabolic rate [SMR] and hemoparasite infections) in Florida green watersnakes (Nerodia floridana).