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Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow (Ammospiza maritima mirabilis) breast feather total mercury concentrations from the Florida Everglades, Florida, USA: breeding seasons 2016 - 2018


At a Glance


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Authors: Alan Mock, Thomas Virzi
Time period: 2016-01-01 to 2018-12-31
Package id: knb-lter-fce.1271.1

How to cite:
Mock, A., T. Virzi. 2025. Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow (Ammospiza maritima mirabilis) breast feather total mercury concentrations from the Florida Everglades, Florida, USA: breeding seasons 2016 - 2018. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/02b67b374c052132c0f80a3934d7b1a6. Dataset accessed 2025-01-18.

Geographic Coverage


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Detailed Metadata


  • Dataset Abstract
    This dataset was used to determine hydrologic parameters influencing Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow (CSSS) mercury exposure and potential mercury effects on their reproductive success in the Florida Everglades. We collected breast feathers for total mercury determination from juvenile and adult CSSS during (or shortly after) three breeding seasons (March 1 to July 31) and monitored the same individuals' breeding performance (mate status, number of nest attempts, number of successful nest attempts, total productivity of nests, clutch size, total count of eggs, and hatch success). Hydrologic parameters (average water depths, drought length, water recession rate, and hydroperiod) were estimated using the Everglades Depth Estimation Network and in situ depth measurements. Data collection is complete.
  • Geographic Coverage
    Bounding Coordinates
    SV
    N: 25.67822, S: 25.67822, E: -80.82905, W: -80.82905

    AH
    N: 25.32986, S: 25.32986, E: -80.81619, W: -80.81619

    DL
    N: 25.33913, S: 25.33913, E: -80.80609, W: -80.80609

    NM
    N: 25.35704, S: 25.35704, E: -80.81657, W: -80.81657

    CS
    N: 25.42796, S: 25.42796, E: -80.62836, W: -80.62836

    DS
    N: 25.33916, S: 25.33916, E: -80.5591, W: -80.5591

    BH
    N: 25.51697, S: 25.51697, E: -80.70755, W: -80.70755

    EC
    N: 25.49997, S: 25.49997, E: -80.6875, W: -80.6875

    TP
    N: 25.48218, S: 25.48218, E: -80.66743, W: -80.66743

  • Attributes
    • Data Table:   CSV of Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow breast feather total mercury concentrations, reproductive endpoints, and hydrologic covariates.
      Attribute Name:
      Lab_ID
      Attribute Label:
      Lab_ID
      Attribute Definition:
      Laboratory that performed total mercury determination in the breast feathers.
      Storage Type:
      string
      Measurement Scale:
      1= University of Florida
      2= Oregon State University
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Subpopulation
      Attribute Label:
      Subpopulation
      Attribute Definition:
      Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow subpopulation of sample
      Storage Type:
      string
      Measurement Scale:
      A= Subpopulation A
      B= Subpopulation B
      C= Subpopulation C
      D= Subpopulation D
      E= Subpopulation E
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      StudyPlot
      Attribute Label:
      StudyPlot
      Attribute Definition:
      Sample location within subpopulation
      Storage Type:
      string
      Measurement Scale:
      AH= Site AH
      BH= Site BH
      CS= Site CS
      DL= Site DL
      DS= Site DS
      EC= Site EC
      NM= Site NM
      SV= Site SV
      TP= Site TP
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Band_ID
      Attribute Label:
      Band_ID
      Attribute Definition:
      Unique band identification of individual
      Storage Type:
      string
      Measurement Scale:
      text
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Date
      Attribute Label:
      Date
      Attribute Definition:
      Date feather sample was collected
      Storage Type:
      dateTime
      Measurement Scale:
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Year
      Attribute Label:
      Year
      Attribute Definition:
      Calendar year feather sample was collected
      Storage Type:
      dateTime
      Measurement Scale:
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Month
      Attribute Label:
      Month
      Attribute Definition:
      Calendar month feather sample was collected
      Storage Type:
      string
      Measurement Scale:
      text
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Day
      Attribute Label:
      Day
      Attribute Definition:
      Day of month feather sample was collected
      Storage Type:
      string
      Measurement Scale:
      text
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Julian_Day
      Attribute Label:
      Julian_Day
      Attribute Definition:
      Day of calendar year feather sample was collected
      Storage Type:
      integer
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: day
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Sex
      Attribute Label:
      Sex
      Attribute Definition:
      Biological sex of individual
      Storage Type:
      string
      Measurement Scale:
      F= Female
      M= Male
      U= Undetermined
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Age_Class
      Attribute Label:
      Age_Class
      Attribute Definition:
      Age class of individual
      Storage Type:
      string
      Measurement Scale:
      AHY= After-hatch-year
      HY= hatch-year
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      THg
      Attribute Label:
      THg
      Attribute Definition:
      Total mercury concentration per unit dry mass of feather sample
      Storage Type:
      float
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: microgramPerGram
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      MS
      Attribute Label:
      MS
      Attribute Definition:
      Mate status of individual during the breeding season
      Storage Type:
      string
      Measurement Scale:
      P= Paired
      S= Single
      U= Unknown
      Missing Value Code:
      NA (No data available for hatch-year individuals)

      Attribute Name:
      NeA
      Attribute Label:
      NeA
      Attribute Definition:
      Nest attempts by individual during the breeding season
      Storage Type:
      integer
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: number
      Number Type: integer
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (No data available for hatch-year individuals)

      Attribute Name:
      NS
      Attribute Label:
      NS
      Attribute Definition:
      Number of nests that were successful (yielded at least one fledged hatch-year bird)
      Storage Type:
      float
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: number
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (No data available for hatch-year individuals)

      Attribute Name:
      TP
      Attribute Label:
      TP
      Attribute Definition:
      Total productivity of all nests an individual attempted
      Storage Type:
      integer
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: number
      Number Type: integer
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (No data available for hatch-year individuals; No data available for after-hatch-year individuals where no nest attempts were observed)

      Attribute Name:
      CL
      Attribute Label:
      CL
      Attribute Definition:
      Average clutch size of nest attempt(s)
      Storage Type:
      float
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: number
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (No data available for hatch-year individuals; No data available for after-hatch-year individuals where no nest attempts were observed)

      Attribute Name:
      TE
      Attribute Label:
      TE
      Attribute Definition:
      Total count of eggs from all nest attempts
      Storage Type:
      float
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: number
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (No data available for hatch-year individuals; No data available for after-hatch-year individuals where no nest attempts were observed)

      Attribute Name:
      HS
      Attribute Label:
      HS
      Attribute Definition:
      Hatch Success
      Storage Type:
      float
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: dimensionless
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (No data available for hatch-year individuals; No data available for after-hatch-year individuals where no nest attempts were observed)

      Attribute Name:
      WaterYear
      Attribute Label:
      WATERYEAR
      Attribute Definition:
      Annual year from May 1 through April 31
      Storage Type:
      dateTime
      Measurement Scale:
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Molt_Depth
      Attribute Label:
      Molt_Depth
      Attribute Definition:
      Average water depth from August 1 to October 31
      Storage Type:
      float
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: centimeter
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (No depth data available)

      Attribute Name:
      Post_Molt_Depth
      Attribute Label:
      Post_Molt_Depth
      Attribute Definition:
      Average water depth from November 1 to December 31
      Storage Type:
      float
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: centimeter
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (No depth data available)

      Attribute Name:
      Dry_Len_0_PrevYear
      Attribute Label:
      Dry_Len_0_PrevYear
      Attribute Definition:
      Days water depth was less than or equal to 0 cm the previous breeding season (March 1 to July 31)
      Storage Type:
      integer
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: nominalDay
      Number Type: integer
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (No depth data available)

      Attribute Name:
      Pre_Molt_Depth
      Attribute Label:
      Pre_Molt_Depth
      Attribute Definition:
      Average water depth from May 1 to July 31
      Storage Type:
      float
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: centimeter
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (No depth data available)

      Attribute Name:
      PreBreeding_RecessionRate
      Attribute Label:
      PreBreeding_RecessionRate
      Attribute Definition:
      Average daily change in water depth from January 1 to February 28
      Storage Type:
      float
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: centimeterPerDay
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (No depth data available)

      Attribute Name:
      WaterYear_Hydroperiod
      Attribute Label:
      WaterYear_Hydroperiod
      Attribute Definition:
      Count of days that water depth exceeded 0 cm during the water year (May 1 to April 31)
      Storage Type:
      integer
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: nominalDay
      Number Type: integer
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (No depth data available)

      Attribute Name:
      PreBreeding_Depth
      Attribute Label:
      PreBreeding_Depth
      Attribute Definition:
      Average daily water depth from January 1 to March 31
      Storage Type:
      float
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: centimeter
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (No depth data available)


  • Methods
    Method Step

    Description
    We visited sites 2-3 days per week and monitored adult Cape Sable Seaside Sparrows' locations in breeding territories and active nests. We captured adult and juvenile Cape Sable Seaside Sparrows in mist nets, color-banded newly captured individuals, and collected 6-8 breast feathers. Feathers collected in 2016 and 2017 were oven-dried, weighed for dry mass (Mettler Toledo AG204), and analyzed for total mercury (Milestone DMA 80). Feathers collected in 2018 were air-dried, weighed for dry mass (Sartorius ME5), and analyzed for total mercury (Model RA-915+/PYRO-915+). Intra-individual feather THg concentrations were more variable in 2018 (average relative standard deviation = 32%) so we took the mean value of 2–4 feathers per individual CSSS to estimate individual Hg burden (Peterson et al. 2019). All animal handling and sampling methods were approved by a United States Geological Survey federal bird banding permit (#23166) and a United States Fish and Wildlife Service native endangered species recovery permit (#TE075916). Field work was conducted under the United States National Park Service permits: EVER-2016-SCI-0025, EVER-2017-SCI-0028, and EVER-2018-SCI-0024. Please note that permits authorizing collection of these data are unrelated to the FCE LTER program; the data package contact can provide more information.

    References:
    Peterson SH, Ackerman JT, Toney M, Herzog MP (2019) Mercury concentrations vary within and among individual bird feathers: a critical evaluation and guidelines for feather use in mercury monitoring programs. Environ Toxicol Chem 38(6):1164–1187. https://doi.org/10.1002/ETC.4430


  • Distribution and Intellectual Rights
    Online distribution
    https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/data/eml/knb-lter-fce/1271/1/5eb6c13ad17c2e8332a9e8ef0bb405ea
    Intellectual Rights
    This information is released under the Creative Commons license - Attribution - CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The consumer of these data ("Data User" herein) is required to cite it appropriately in any publication that results from its use. The Data User should realize that these data may be actively used by others for ongoing research and that coordination may be necessary to prevent duplicate publication. The Data User is urged to contact the authors of these data if any questions about methodology or results occur. Where appropriate, the Data User is encouraged to consider collaboration or co-authorship with the authors. The Data User should realize that misinterpretation of data may occur if used out of context of the original study. While substantial efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of data and associated documentation, complete accuracy of data sets cannot be guaranteed. All data are made available "as is." The Data User should be aware, however, that data are updated periodically and it is the responsibility of the Data User to check for new versions of the data. The data authors and the repository where these data were obtained shall not be liable for damages resulting from any use or misinterpretation of the data. Thank you.

  • Keywords
    Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow, mercury, pollutant, FCE LTER, Everglades National Park, Florida Coastal Everglades LTER, birds, disturbance
  • Dataset Contact
    • Name: Alan Mock 
    • Position: Graduate Student
    • Organization: Florida International University
    • Address: Miami, FL  USA
    • Email: ajmock.ecology@gmail.com

    • Name: Thomas Virzi 
    • Position: Principal Investigator
    • Organization: Conservation InSight
    • Address: Happy Valley, OR  USA
    • Email: tvirzi@conservationinsight.org

    • Position: Information Manager
    • Organization: Florida Coastal Everglades LTER
    • Address: Florida International University
      11200 SW 8th Street, OE 148
      Miami, FL 33199 USA
    • Email: fcelter@fiu.edu
    • URL: https://fcelter.fiu.edu

  • Data Table and Format
    Data Table:  CSV of Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow breast feather total mercury concentrations, reproductive endpoints, and hydrologic covariates.

    Entity Name:
    FCE1271_CSSS_THg_Breeding.csv
    Entity Description:
    CSV of Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow breast feather total mercury concentrations, reproductive endpoints, and hydrologic covariates.
    Object Name:
    FCE1271_CSSS_THg_Breeding.csv
    Number of Header Lines:
    1
    Attribute Orientation:
    column
    Field Delimiter:
    ,
    Number of Records:
    217

  • Project permits
    Please note that permits authorizing collection of these data are unrelated to the FCE LTER program; the data package contact can provide more information.
    National Park Service scientific research and collecting permit EVER-2016-SCI-0025
    National Park Service scientific research and collecting permit EVER-2017-SCI-0028
    National Park Service scientific research and collecting permit EVER-2018-SCI-0024
    United States Geological Survey federal bird banding permit #23166
    United States Fish and Wildlife Service native endangered species recovery permit #TE075916