Complete the notes below. Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
The effects of environmental change on birds
Mercury (Hg)
- Highly toxic
- Released into the atmosphere from coal
- In water it may be consumed by fish
- It has also recently been found to affect birds which feed on 1
Research on effects of mercury on birds
- Claire Varian-Ramos is investigating
– the effects on birds’ 2 or mental processes, e.g. memory
– the effects on bird song (usually learned from a bird’s 3)
- Findings:
– songs learned by birds exposed to mercury are less 4
– this may have a negative effect on birds’ 5
- Lab-based studies
– allow more 6 for the experimenter
Implications for humans
- Migrating birds such as 7 containing mercury may be eaten by humans
- Mercury also causes problems in learning 8
- Mercury in a mother’s body from 9 may affect the unborn child
- New regulations for mercury emissions will affect everyone’s energy 10