The Mercury and Toxins Information Center

BioDiversity Research Institute is dedicated to progressive environmental research to further local, regional and global sustainability and conservation policies related to environmental mercury loads. Current projects across Central and North American include: characterizing the exposure and effects of mercury on fish and wildlife populations; relating influences of biogeochemical and hydrological factors on methylmercury availability, developing wildlife criterion values; and networking via the creation of an extensive mercury database.

BRI has four research divisions, each of which investigates specific species with the goal of identifying geographic locations with elevated levels of contaminants. Click on a division to find out about the programs contained within it, as well as specific projects within each program.

Upcoming and Recent Presentations

Evers, D.C. Mercury effects on wildlife: linking science with policy. Duke Lectureship Series, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota. April 23, 2008. Pdf of Lecture Announcement
Evers, D.C. Using wildlife to monitor mercury across the Nation. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency national workshop, Annapolis, Maryland. May 4, 2008.
Evers, D.C. New scientific findings causing paradigm shifts in assessing exposure, risk and injury. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Environmental Contaminants Meeting, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. May 12, 2008.

Recent Media

New crop of chemicals is found in birds' eggs 03/11/2008 Boston Globe
Study finds Harmful Contaminants in Maine Birds 03/11/2008 Channel 2 News
Check out Interview with BRI Scientist Wing Goodale
Environmental Mercury means Fewer Loons for New England 03/07/2008 Biodiversity Research Institute and Wildlife Conservation Society

New Publications

Goodale, M.W. 2008. Preliminary findings of contaminant screening of Maine bird eggs: 2007 Field Season. BioDiversity Research Institute, Gorham, Maine. pdf
Evers, D.C., Savoy, L.J., DeSorbo, C.R., Yates, D.E., Hanson, W., Taylor, K.M., Siegel, L.S., Cooley Jr, J.H., Bank, M.S., Major, A., Munney, K., Mower, B.F., Vogel, H.S., Schoch, N., Pokras, M., Goodale, M.W., Fair, J. 2008. Adverse effects from environmental mercury loads on breeding common loons. Ecotoxicology 17(2):69-81 pdf
Evers, D.C., Han, Y.J., Driscoll, C.T., Kamman, N.C., Goodale, M.W., et al. 2007. Biological Mercury Hotspots in the Northeastern United States and Southeastern Canada. BioScience: Vol. 57, No. 1 pp. 29-43 pdf
Lane, O.P. and D.C. Evers. 2007. Methylmercury availability in New England estuaries as indicated by saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrow, 2004-2006. Report BRI 2007-14 submitted to USFWS. BioDiversity Research Institute, Gorham, Maine. pdf

Archived Publications

Back to Science and Conservation