Irrigated agriculture influences selenium levels in an endangered marsh bird.

ABSTRACT: Selenium bioaccumulation in aquatic food webs poses risks to wildlife, particularly in wetlands receiving irrigation runoff. The Salton Sea, California's largest lake, is primarily sustained by agricultural drainage. This drainage creates wetland habitat along the lakeshore that many bird species depend on, including the federally endangered Yuma Ridgway's rail (Rallus obsoletus yumanensis). However, these marshes may pose an ecological trap - attracting rails despite high selenium exposure. We captured rails during the 2020-2023 breeding seasons and compared rail selenium levels within three types of marshes (fed with irrigation runoff, Colorado River water, or groundwater). We collected blood, breast feathers, and head feathers of rails in all three water sources for selenium comparisons

SUBMITTER: Yost CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12460551 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature