Peterson, S.H. Ackerman, J.T. 2019 Digital Attribute Table (CSV) Denver, CO U.S. Geological Survey data release https://doi.org/10.5066/P9GBDP8C Sarah H. Peterson Joshua T. Ackerman Matthew Toney Mark P. Herzog 2019 Journal Article Hoboken, NJ Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry TBD These data are the raw total mercury (THg) concentrations in whole feathers, feather homogenates, and feather components (i.e., rachis, vane, calamus) that are presented in the Journal Article "Mercury concentrations vary within and among individual bird feathers: A critical evaluation and guidelines for feather use in mercury monitoring programs" in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry by Peterson et al. These data were obtained in order to assess the variability among whole bird feathers from the same individual bird and develop a tool and guidelines for using bird feathers for mercury studies. 20171129 20180120 ground condition Complete None planned -124.3900 -114.1200 42.0000 32.5300 California, USA ISO 19115 Topic Category biota none biomonitoring contaminants ecotoxicology heavy metals wildlife toxicology feather variability method development down feathers USGS Metadata Identifier USGS:5ca6764ee4b0c3b0064c2824 none NA none The authors of these data require that users direct any questions pertaining to appropriate use or assistance with understanding limitations and interpretation of the data to the individuals/organization listed in the Point of Contact section. Joshua T. Ackerman U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center Research Wildlife Biologist mailing and physical

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Dixon California 95620 USA 530-669-5087 jackerman@usgs.gov USGS Biocomplexity Thesaurus Birds Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Bucephala clangula Turdus migratorius Hydroprogne caspia Aechmophorus occidentalis Rallus obsoletus Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) 2019 ONLINE_REFERENCE Washington, D.C. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) http://itis.gov Joshua T. Ackerman U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center Research Wildlife Biologist mailing and physical

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Dixon California 95620 USA 530-660-5087 jackerman@usgs.gov expert advice;; The identifications were robust and there were no challenges. All birds were identified to the level of Species in the data. Kingdom Animalia animals Subkingdom Bilateria Infrakingdom Deuterostomia Phylum Chordata chordates Subphylum Vertebrata vertebrates Infraphylum Gnathostomata Superclass Tetrapoda Class Aves Birds Order Anseriformes Ducks Geese Screamers Swans Waterfowl Family Anatidae Ducks Geese Swans Subfamily Anatinae Genus Bucephala Goldeneyes Species Bucephala clangula Common Goldeneye TSN: 175141 Order Passeriformes Perching Birds Family Turdidae Genus Turdus Robins Species Turdus migratorius American Robin TSN: 179759 Order Charadriiformes Shore Birds Gulls Alcids Plovers Oystercatchers Auks Family Laridae Gulls Terns Skimmers Genus Hydroprogne Species Hydroprogne caspia Caspian Tern TSN: 176935 Order Podicipediformes Grebes Family Podicipedidae Grebes Genus Aechmophorus Species Aechmophorus occidentalis Western Grebe TSN: 174503 Order Gruiformes Family Rallidae Genus Rallus Species Rallus obsoletus Ridgway's rail QAQC was conducted along with sample analysis for mercury and used to confirm the observed mercury concentrations. QAQC results are reported in the Journal Article. The data were checked for data duplication or omission. The ranges fall within the expected ranges. Data set is considered complete for the information presented, as described in the abstract. Users are advised to read the rest of the metadata record carefully for additional details. A formal accuracy assessment of the horizontal positional information in the data set has not been conducted. A formal accuracy assessment of the vertical positional information in the data set has either not been conducted, or is not applicable. Birds were from a combination of live sampled and salvaged or hunter-collected birds. Refer to the published paper for more detailed methodology. 2018 Lab Individual whole feathers, aliquots from multiple feathers homogenized together, or sections of feathers were analyzed for total mercury. Sarah H. Peterson Joshua T. Ackerman Matthew Toney Mark P. Herzog 2019 Journal Article Peterson_et_al_Feather_Total_Mercury_Concentrations_in_Bird_Feathers These data are the raw total mercury (THg) concentrations in whole feathers, feather homogenates, and feather components (i.e., rachis, vane, calamus) that are presented in the Journal Article "Mercury concentrations vary within and among individual bird feathers: A critical evaluation and guidelines for feather use in mercury monitoring programs" in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry by Peterson et al. Producer defined Species The species of the bird (American robin,Caspian tern, common goldeneye, Ridgway's rail, western grebe) American Ornithological Union American robin American robin species (Turdus migratorius) American Ornithological Union Caspian tern Caspian tern species (Hydroprogne caspia) American Ornithological Union Common goldeneye Common goldeneye species (Bucephala clangula) American Ornithological Union Ridgway's rail Ridgway's rail species (Rallus obsoletus obsoletus) American Ornithological Union Western grebe Western grebe species (Aechmophorus occidentalis) American Ornithological Union FeatherNumber A unique identifier of each individual feather analyzed for mercury. Feather homogenates were comprised of multiple feathers and there is no feather number provided. There are five feather components (calamus, proximal rachis, distal rachis, proximal vane, and distal vane) from each scapular feather so the feather number is what links the feather components. Producer defined 1 75 FeatherType The type of feather analyzed for mercury (breast, back, head, and scapular). Producer defined Breast Breast feather Producer defined Back Back feather Producer defined Head Head feather Producer defined Scapular Scapular feather Producer defined WholeFeather_Homogenate_FeatherSection If the mercury concentration corresponds to a whole feather, an aliquot from multiple feathers that were homogenized together, or a part of a feather. Producer defined Whole feather The entire feather was analyzed for mercury. Producer defined Homogenate An aliquot of homogenized feathers was analyzed for mercury. Producer defined Proximal feather half Some breast feathers were cut in half and this value corresponds to the proximal half of the feather that was analyzed individually for mercury. Producer defined Distal feather half Some breast feathers were cut in half and this value corresponds to the distal half of the feather that was analyzed individually for mercury. Producer defined Calamus Some scapular feathers were separated into five sections and this value corresponds to the calamus section of the feather that was analyzed individually for mercury. Producer defined Proximal rachis Some scapular feathers were separated into five sections and this value corresponds to the proximal rachis section of the feather that was analyzed individually for mercury. Producer defined Distal rachis Some scapular feathers were separated into five sections and this value corresponds to the distal rachis section of the feather that was analyzed individually for mercury. Producer defined Proximal vane Some scapular feathers were separated into five sections and this value corresponds to the proximal vane section of the feather that was analyzed individually for mercury. Producer defined Distal vane Some scapular feathers were separated into five sections and this value corresponds to the distal vane section of the feather that was analyzed individually for mercury. Producer defined MethodUsedForHomogenization The type of method used to homogenize feathers. NA is put when a whole feather or section of a feather was analyzed. Producer defined Scissors When scissors were used to cut up feathers into a feather homogenate. Producer defined Scissors and liquid nitrogen When scissors were used to cut up feathers into a feather homogenate and then liquid nitrogen was used to cool the feathers down while a mortar and pestle was used to make a finer homogenate.. Producer defined NA The sample was not homogenized. Producer defined FeatherLength_mm When a whole feather was individually analyzed for mercury, this attribute is for the length of the feather (mm). Producer defined 13.5 67.5 millimeters NA Feather length was not recorded when a homogenate or a feather section was analyzed for mercury. Producer defined SampleMass_g The mass of the sample analyzed for mercury (g). Producer defined 0.00035 0.02251 grams THg_ug_per_g_dw The concentration of mercury in the analyzed sample (µg/g dry weight). Producer defined 0.648 45.296 microgram per gram dry weight U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase mailing and physical

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Denver CO 80225 USA 1-888-275-8747 sciencebase@usgs.gov Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Digital Data https://doi.org/10.5066/P9GBDP8C None 20200827 Sarah H. Peterson U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center Wildlife Biologist mailing and physical

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Dixon California 95620 USA 530-669-5088 sepeterson@usgs.gov FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001.1-1999