期刊
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
卷 214, 期 -, 页码 169-176出版社
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.04.007
关键词
Methylmercury; Trophic ecology; Longnose gar; Lepisosteus osseus
资金
- US Dept. of Energy through the Nuclear Workforce Initiative of the SRS Community Reuse Organization
- University of South Carolina Aiken Dept. of Biology and Geology
- Joanna Deep Water Fund Fellowship
Estuarine wetlands are major contributors to mercury (Hg) transformation into its more toxic form, methylmercury (MeHg). Although these complex habitats are important, estuarine Hg bioaccumulation is not well understood. The longnose gar Lepisosteus osseus (L. 1758), an estuarine predator in the eastern United States, was selected to examine Hg processes due to its abundance, estuarine residence, and top predator status. This study examined variability in Hg concentrations within longnose gar muscle tissue spatially and temporally, the influence of biological factors, potential maternal transfer, and potential negative health effects on these fish. Smaller, immature fish had the highest Hg concentrations and were predominantly located in low salinity waters. Sex and diet were also important factors and Hg levels peaked in the spring. Although maternal transfer occurred in small amounts, the potential negative health effects to young gar remain unknown. Fish health as measured by fecundity and growth rate appeared to be relatively unaffected by Hg at concentrations in the present study (less than 1.3 ppm wet weight). The analysis of biotic and abiotic factors relative to tissue Hg concentrations in a single estuarine fish species provided valuable insight in Hg bioaccumulation, biomagnification, and elimination. Insights such as these can improve public health policy and environmental management decisions related to Hg pollution. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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