Publications by authors named "Todd Loomis"

Several wildlife species exhibit marked spatial variation in toxicologically relevant tissue concentrations of mercury across the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, most notably the endangered Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus). To unravel potential environmental and trophic pathways driving mercury variation in this species of concern, we investigated spatiotemporal and ecological patterns in total mercury concentrations and stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen from muscle tissues of twelve mid-trophic level prey species of the region (n = 1461). Dividing samples into island groups explained biogeochemical variation better than larger spatial resolutions, with Amchitka Pass and Buldir Pass acting as strong geographic break points.

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Several species found in the Bering Sea show significant spatial variation in total mercury concentrations ([THg]) longitudinally along the Aleutian Island chain. We assessed [THg] in other members of the Bering Sea food web to better understand the factors shaping regional differences. [THg] and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (δN and δC values) were measured in muscle tissue from 1052 fishes and cephalopods from parts of the Bering Sea and North Pacific Ocean adjacent to the Aleutian Islands.

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