Publications by authors named "Megan E Little"
Environ Pollut
December 2015
Article Synopsis
- Total mercury concentrations in the fur of adult female little brown bats were measured across various maternity roosts in Atlantic Canada, revealing significant regional differences.
- Bats from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland exhibited the highest median mercury levels, with the highest concentration recorded in Kejimkujik National Park.
- Over one-third of the bats sampled had mercury levels that exceeded those linked to neurochemical issues, and the data did not support a direct link between diet and mercury levels, suggesting the need for further research on prey items.
Environ Sci Technol
February 2015
Article Synopsis
- Little brown bats in Nova Scotia accumulate mercury (Hg) in their fur due to their diet of aquatic prey, with concentrations varying significantly among different maternity colonies.
- In a study of 149 adult female bats, nearly half had Hg levels exceeding the threshold linked to neurological effects.
- The research found a strong negative correlation between the acidity of nearby freshwater and the levels of Hg in bat fur, indicating that water quality plays a key role in Hg bioaccumulation in these bats.
