Analysis of museum
specimens shows high mercury levels in the endangered ivory gull. It could have
implications for the bird's ability to reproduce and raise chicks, says a
Canadian team. Mercury levels are going up in other Arctic birds, fish and
mammals, due to atmospheric pollution, they report. Biologists at the
University of Saskatchewan, Canada, say the ivory gull (Pagophila eburnea) acts
like a "mercury barometer", sounding alarm bells for contamination of
Arctic animals with mercury pollution.