Details and Metadata

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Methods

The methods followed in the creation of the dataset, including description of field, laboratory and processing steps, and quality control procedures

Current Methods

  • Capturing study specimens
    Started: 2000-05-01

    Individuals of the focal avian species, Bicknell's thrush, were captured using standard arrays of 6-m and 12-m, 36-mm nylon mist nets throughout the study site. All captured birds were banded with USFWS aluminum leg bands, aged, and sexed according to standard criteria and weighed prior to release. A series of morphometric measurements was also taken.

  • Collecting blood samples

    From each individual, 30-50 microliters of blood were collected from the cutaneous ulnar vein. Subsequent blood samples were selectively collected from individuals captured one week or more after collection of their previous sample.

  • Sample processing

    Sampled were analyzed at the Texas A&M University Trace Element Research Laboratory. Total mercury was measured in each compartment.

Dataset Fields

Detailed documentation of the fields comprising the dataset, including the type of measurement, units where applicable, and any controlled vocabularies or code lists present in the data


Field Name Caption Description Additional Information
bandnumBand Number

Band number for individual bird

Measurement type: Nominal
dateDate

Date of data collection

Measurement type: DateTime
Date/Time Format: YYYY-MM-DD
locLocation

Collection site location

Measurement type: Nominal
Location Code
+ show
Appears in data asMeaning of code
MANSMount Mansfield
OCTAOctagon
WASHINGTONWashington
CARTERNOTCHCarter Notch
FOREforest
STRBStratton north peak plot
STRAStratton south peak plot
STRCStratton sub plot
RABRRanch Brook watershed
SPRUCESpruce Mountain
WHITEFACE Whiteface Mountain
AVERYMEAvery Peak
PeakPeak Name

Peak name for data collection

Measurement type: Nominal
Peak Code
+ show
Appears in data asMeaning of code
MANSFIELDMount Mansfield
WASHINGTONMount Washington
CARTERNOTCHCarter Notch
STRATTONStratton Mountain
SPRUCESpruce Mountain
WHITEFACE Whiteface Mountain
AVERYAvery Peak
StateState

State of data collection

Measurement type: Nominal
State Code
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Appears in data asMeaning of code
VTVermont
NHNew Hampshire
NYNew York
MEMaine
sexSex

Sex of bird

Measurement type: Nominal
ageAge

Age of bird

Measurement type: Nominal
Unit: unavailable
RealAgeReal Age

Real age of bird

Measurement type: Ratio
Units:
RealAgeCodeReal Age Code

Real age code for bird

Measurement type: Nominal
Unit: unavailable
Real Age Code
+ show
Appears in data asMeaning of code
+unknown
wtWeight

Weight of bird

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.1
HgS5_LevelFifth Secondary Feather Mercury Level

Mercury level from fifth secondary wing clipping

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.001
HgBlood_LevelMercury Blood Levels

Mercury level in blood

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.001
MeHgBlood_LevelMethylmercury Blood Levels

Methylercury level in blood

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.0001

Sampling Equipment

Equipment and software used to collect data, including how that equipment was used.

Current Equipment

  • Heparinized capillay tube

    Heparinized capillay tube

  • Mist nets

    6-m and 12-m, 36-mm mesh nylon mist nets

Site Characteristics

The spatial extent of the dataset site coverage, and descriptions of the spatial extent and context for the data collection

  • Site Description