In a new study, scientists have detected high levels of mercury contamination in alligators from the Okefenokee Swamp in southeastern Georgia. The contamination in the alligators could be an indicator of more widespread heavy metal contamination in the region, which could be harmful to other wildlife, and ultimately humans.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlligators are very ancient creatures, and we can look at them in these areas as an indicator of what else might be happening in the ecosystem,\u201d Kristen Zemaitis, lead author of the study and a graduate of the Odum School of Ecology at University of Georgia, said in a statement. \u201cStudying them can relate to many different things in the food web.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scientists analyzed blood samples and dietary habits of 133 alligators from three different sites: Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia; Jekyll Island, Georgia; and Yawkey Wildlife Center, South Carolina. While the team found mercury in alligators from all three sites, the amount of mercury in alligators from the Okefenokee Swamp was up to eight times higher compared to the alligators along the coast. They published their findings in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.<\/p>\n