Is selenium affecting body condition and reproduction in boreal breeding scaup, scoters, and ring-necked ducks?

Abstract

Elevated levels of selenium (Se) have been detected in wintering and spring-staging lesser scaup. Here, we compared spring scaup Se and mercury (Hg) levels to those of ring-necked ducks and white-winged scoters, species exhibiting increasing and decreasing boreal populations, respectively. Mercury concentrations were low in all three species. Geometric mean (95%CI) liver Se concentrations were 6.2 (5.5–7.0), 4.6 (4.0–5.4), and 32.6 (28.4–37.3) mg/kg dry weight (dw) in scaup, ringnecks and scoters, respectively. Only scoter livers (66%) were above 33 mg/kg dw Se. Scaup and ringneck Se levels were unrelated to breeding status or lipid and protein levels; breeding scoters and females with greater lipid mass had higher Se than non-breeders. Egg and follicle concentrations in scaup and scoters were normal (mean [95%CI] = 2.3 [1.9–2.6] and 2.4 [2.1–2.7] mg/kg dw, respectively). Overall, we found no support for a relationship between selenium and boreal scaup and scoter declines, and discuss current Se threshold concentrations.