Influence of age, sex and breeding status on mercury accumulation patterns in the wandering albatross Diomedea exulans

Although mercury bio-amplifies through the food chain and accumulates in top predators, mercury concentrations in tissues of the wandering albatross are greater than in any other vertebrate, including closely related species. In order to explore the alternative explanations for this pattern, we measured total mercury concentrations in feathers, plasma and blood cells of wandering albatrosses of known age, sex and breeding status sampled at South Georgia. Mercury concentrations were low in feathers and blood components of chicks, and higher in the feathers of young pre-breeders than in feathers or blood of older pre-breeders and breeding adults. There was no effect of sex on mercury concentrations in the feathers of pre-breeders or breeding adults, whereas levels were significantly higher in blood cells of breeding females than males. The high feather mercury concentrations of young pre-breeders compared with older birds suggest an increase in moult frequency as birds approach maturity. -- Highlights: •An integrated approach on mercury accumulation in wandering albatrosses is made. •The factors contributing to the high mercury values reported for this species are discussed. •Mercury concentration in young pre-breeders feathers is higher than in older birds. •Mercury levels were significantly higher in blood cells of breeding females than males. •Possible adverse effects of mercury in wandering albatrosses make its monitoring advisable. -- We address the influence of age, sex and breeding status on the accumulation of very high mercury levels in the wandering albatross