Assessment of Mercury, Mercury Stable Isotopes, and Trace Metals in Waters, Sediments, and Biota from Great Salt Lake, Utah

Great Salt Lake (GSL) is a designated Site of Hemispheric Importance for migratory birds by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. Elevated mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) levels related to current inputs and past industrial contamination pose a potential threat to GSL biota, in addition to waterfowl hunters that utilize GSL and surrounding wetland areas. Sediments, invertebrates (brine shrimp, brine flies, and spiders), and waterfowl (northern shoveler and cinnamon teal) were targeted within these studies to determine relative source contributions of Hg and trace elements to the GSL system, determine which sources of mercury are actively bioaccumulating in GSL food webs, assess controls on mercury cycling within the GSL system, and assess MeHg toxicity risk to waterfowl. Hg stable isotopes were heavily employed as tracers of Hg sources and processing. These data are a part of larger studies and associated with upcoming journal articles.