Butyltins, trace metals and morphological variables in surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) wintering on the south coast of British Columbia, Canada

From 1998 to 2001 we examined spatial and temporal variation in uptake of contaminants by surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) in the Georgia Basin region of the Pacific coast of Canada. Samples were collected during late fall and early spring at industrialized and reference locations, carcasses examined, and tissues collected for histology, biomarkers, and contaminant analyses. Scoters from both Vancouver and Victoria harbours had significantly higher hepatic concentrations of ∑butyltins than birds from a reference site. In adult male surf scoters, hepatic ∑butyltins increased over the winter at two sites (p = 0.02, n = 26), while mercury increased (p = 0.03, n = 15) and selenium decreased at one site (p = 0.001, n = 15). Body condition decreased over the winter at both the treatment site, Howe Sound (p < 0.0001, n = 12), and the reference site, Baynes Sound (p = 0.02, n = 15). Multiple regression analysis using Akaike's Information Criteria (AICC) showed an association between hepatic butyltin concentrations and overall body condition (p = 0.06, r = − 0.237).