Mercury in fur of Daubenton’s bat (Myotis daubentonii) in Southern Sweden and Comparison to Ecotoxicological Thresholds

To characterise mercury (Hg) exposure in Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii, Kuhl 1817) in southern Sweden, 17 specimens were captured in 2013 and back fur samples were taken for analysis to determine Hg concentrations. The fur Hg levels determined [1.15 ± 0.27 (mean ± standard deviation, n = 17) µg Hg g-1 fresh weight (fw)] represent a baseline for comparison in future assessments of Hg exposure in bat populations in northern Europe. Mercury concentrations were close to those reported in fur from other bat species, but were lower than proposed toxicological thresholds in bats (> 30 µg Hg g-1 fw) and mice (5 µg Hg g-1 fw). This is the first study to examine Hg exposure in bats in Scandinavia.