Article
Environmental Sciences
J. H. Erasmus, N. J. Smit, R. Gerber, B. C. Schaeffner, N. Nkabi, V. Wepener
Summary: This study evaluated the total mercury concentrations in 22 species of elasmobranchs along the South African coastline. The results showed that the concentrations on the east coast were in the same range or higher compared to previous years, raising conservation concerns.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
F. Thibon, L. Weppe, N. Vigier, C. Churlaud, T. Lacoue-Labarthe, M. Metian, Y. Cherel, P. Bustamante
Summary: This study investigated the Li concentrations in marine organisms across different biogeographic areas and found significant variations among tissues, as well as a temperature dependency in the bioaccumulation process.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Leonomir Cordoba-Tovar, Jose Marrugo-Negrete, Pablo Ramos Baron, Sergi Diez
Summary: Biomagnification of trace elements is increasingly evident in aquatic ecosystems, with mercury, arsenic, and selenium exhibiting different potential for biomagnification. The process is influenced by environmental and ecological factors, and involves key organisms.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ray W. Drenner, Matthew M. Chumchal, Simon P. Gaul, Michael T. Hembrough, Amal M. Khan, Ian M. Rolfe, Garrett R. Wallace, Madeline P. Hannappel
Summary: Mercury contamination is a widespread and toxic environmental issue. Monitoring mercury levels in food chains and fish is challenging in the vast number of water bodies in the United States. This study proposes the use of riparian spiders, specifically long-jawed orb weavers, as sentinel species to identify aquatic systems with high mercury concentrations. The findings demonstrate the potential of using long-jawed orb weavers to monitor chemical contaminants in aquatic ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joseph J. Bizzarro, John C. Field, Jarrod A. Santora, K. Alexandra Curtis, Brian K. Wells
Summary: This study defines trophic guilds within biogeographic regions of the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME) and compares the results among these regions. The researchers found that each region had distinctive trophic guild structures, driven by species composition and ecological characteristics. They also emphasize the importance of considering spatial and temporal scales of coherence in predator and prey dynamics for ecosystem modeling and management strategies.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nicolas A. Lois, Ulises Balza, Rebecka Brasso, Samanta Dodino, Klemens Puetz, Michael J. Polito, Luciana Riccialdelli, Javier Ciancio, Petra Quillfeldt, Bettina Mahler, Andrea Raya Rey
Summary: This study reveals unusually high mercury concentrations in southern rockhopper penguins in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. The variation in mercury concentrations among colonies is primarily determined by location rather than trophic position. The findings highlight the presence of a mercury hotspot in the Patagonian Shelf, located at the southern tip of South America. Regional and colony-based seabird conservation management is necessary in the presence of high local variability and plasticity in foraging habits.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chuanyu Chang, Runsheng Yin, Fang Huang, Guangyi Sun, Kang Mao, Da Lei, Hua Zhang
Summary: This study investigates the accumulation of mercury in rice at the Wanshan Mercury Mine, revealing complex interactions between historical mining activities and artisanal smelting. The roots and leaves of rice mainly obtain mercury from soil and atmosphere, respectively, with roots showing a preference for lighter mercury isotopes from the soil. Mercury isotopes prove to be a useful tool in understanding the sources and bioaccumulation of mercury in rice paddies.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pavlina Pelcova, Jan Grmela, Andrea Ridoskova, Radovan Kopp, Marie Hruzova, Ondrej Maly
Summary: The distribution of mercury species was studied in the Zaskalska water reservoir near an abandoned cinnabar mine in Czech Republic. The results showed that the mercury from the mine is the major source of mercury in the reservoir. The legal maximum limit for mercury concentration was exceeded during rainy periods, and the dominant form of mercury in sediments was mercury sulphide. The mercury content in fish muscle exceeded the legal limit, posing a health risk. The study highlights the need for legal restrictions on the consumption of piscivorous fish caught downstream of abandoned cinnabar mines.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lucien Besnard, Gael Le Croizier, Felipe Galvan-Magana, David Point, Edouard Kraffe, James Ketchum, Raul Octavio Martinez Rincon, Gauthier Schaal
Summary: The decline of shark populations in the world ocean has unpredictable effects on ecosystem structure and function, necessitating new ecological information for a better understanding of the role of sharks in their habitats. Research has found that many shark species primarily forage in the mesopelagic area, but the extent to which different pelagic sharks rely on this habitat has been overlooked. By using mercury stable isotopes in the muscle of pelagic sharks, it is possible to reveal their food partitioning and the relationship between foraging depth and resource competition.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Molly A. Bradford, Mark L. Mallory, Nelson J. O'Driscoll
Summary: Studies on mercury bioaccumulation and biomagnification in coastal invertebrates in eastern Canada are limited, but necessary for assessing the risk of mercury exposure in upper trophic level organisms. Our study in the Minas Basin found that the concentration of methylmercury in invertebrates was below the Canadian guideline for wildlife consumers. Invertebrates at higher trophic positions had higher levels of mercury, indicating biomagnification.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Garth A. Covernton, Kieran D. Cox, Wendy L. Fleming, Brittany M. Buirs, Hailey L. Davies, Francis Juanes, Sarah E. Dudas, John F. Dower
Summary: This study examines the uptake and transfer of microplastics (MPs) in marine food webs. The results suggest that there is no biomagnification of MPs in coastal marine food webs, and the accumulation of MPs is influenced by species-specific ecological traits rather than trophic position. The statistical methods used in this study are applicable to the study of MPs. These findings contribute to our understanding of the movement of MPs through aquatic food webs and the risk of MP ingestion in lower trophic level animals.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiangchen Tang, Xianliang Wu, Pinhua Xia, Tao Lin, Xianfei Huang, Zhenming Zhang, Jiachun Zhang
Summary: The Wanshan mercury mine in Guizhou, China, has caused serious mercury pollution in the local ecosystem due to past mining activities. The study found that most heavy metal contents in soil samples exceeded the standards of Soil Environment Quality Risk Control in China. While some plants in the area had lower heavy metal concentrations, the overall risk to urban children remained high compared to the standard of hyperaccumulator plants. Despite a decrease in soil heavy metal contents, there is still a need for long-term treatment of heavy metal pollution in similar environments.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Limnology
Ariana M. Chiapella, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Angela L. Strecker
Summary: The study found that mercury concentrations in fish in mountain lakes are influenced by various factors such as catchment tree cover, lake benthic primary production, and fish diet. Tree cover and fish diet are the main factors contributing to variations in mercury concentrations in fish, with benthic feeding fish tending to have higher mercury concentrations.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Georg Albert, Benoit Gauzens, Remo Ryser, Elisa Thebault, Shaopeng Wang, Ulrich Brose
Summary: Plant community productivity generally increases with biodiversity, but the strength of this relationship exhibits strong empirical variation. Spatial overlap of plant resource access and animal space-use can greatly alter the strength and sign of such relationships. The scaling of animal space-use effects opens new perspectives for linking landscape processes without effects on biodiversity to productivity patterns.
Article
Ecology
M. W. Swinton, P. K. Myer, M. F. Schaller, E. A. Pettitt, J. L. Farrell, S. A. Nierzwicki-Bauer
Summary: This study investigated mercury bioavailability in streams entering Lake George. Biomagnification rates explained a high percentage of variation in MeHg concentrations within the stream food web. Stream order was negatively related to basin slope and explained most of the variation in predatory macroinvertebrate MeHg concentrations. Methylmercury concentrations were negatively related to delta C-13 in basal resources. Shallow slopes elevated MeHg in basal resources and had minimal influence on variation in predator MeHg concentrations.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Alain Manceau, Jean-Paul Bourdineaud, Ricardo B. Oliveira, Sandra L. F. Sarrazin, David P. Krabbenhoft, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Joshua T. Ackerman, A. Robin Stewart, Christian Ward-Deitrich, M. Estela del Castillo Busto, Heidi Goenaga-Infante, Aude Wack, Marius Retegan, Blanka Detlefs, Pieter Glatzel, Paco Bustamante, Kathryn L. Nagy, Brett A. Poulin
Summary: The research findings demonstrate that in various animals, methylmercury cysteinate complexes can be transformed into selenocysteinate complexes, potentially involving the binding to selenoprotein P and formation of mercury selenide, providing new insights into mercury detoxification mechanisms.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Limnology
Ariana M. Chiapella, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Angela L. Strecker
Summary: The study found that mercury concentrations in fish in mountain lakes are influenced by various factors such as catchment tree cover, lake benthic primary production, and fish diet. Tree cover and fish diet are the main factors contributing to variations in mercury concentrations in fish, with benthic feeding fish tending to have higher mercury concentrations.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mark E. Brigham, David D. VanderMeulen, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, David P. Krabbenhoft, Ryan P. Maki, John F. DeWild
Summary: Long-term monitoring has shown that despite reductions in mercury emissions in the United States and Canada since 1990, contamination in fish from remote lakes and rivers still exists. However, the study suggests that regional to continental-scale decreases in mercury and sulfate emissions have benefitted aquatic resources.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Allyson K. Jackson, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, W. Douglas Robinson
Summary: Cross-ecosystem subsidies play a crucial role in transferring nutrients between ecosystems. This study focuses on the reliance of riparian predators on aquatic prey sources and the correlation between aquatic prey sources and mercury concentrations in arachnids and songbirds. Results show that arachnid families and songbird species vary in their dependency on aquatic prey sources, with a positive correlation between the amount of aquatic prey in their diet and their mercury concentrations. The higher reliance on aquatic prey sources early in the season for songbirds may lead to elevated mercury exposure, potentially impacting their breeding and development.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Brett A. Poulin, Sarah E. Janssen, Tylor J. Rosera, David P. Krabbenhoft, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Joshua T. Ackerman, A. Robin Stewart, Eunhee Kim, Zofia Baumann, Jeong-Hoon Kim, Alain Manceau
Summary: The study indicates that in waterbirds, a portion of methylmercury is demethylated to inorganic mercury, primarily in the form of mercury tetraselenolate. The isotopic ratios of mercury in tissues correlate linearly with the abundance of mercury tetraselenolate, suggesting a kinetic isotope effect during in vivo methylmercury demethylation. The findings demonstrate a selenium-dependent demethylation reaction in birds and provide new insights into the internal transformations and cycling of methylmercury and mercury tetraselenolate.
ACS EARTH AND SPACE CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Garth Herring, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, John Goodell, Jeremy A. Buck, James J. Willacker
Summary: Research has shown that avian scavenger populations increase significantly at shooting fields compared to fields without recent shooting events, and these birds spend more time feeding after shooting events. Some avian scavengers were found to have isotopically labeled shot ground squirrels in their blood, indicating the importance of shooting fields as a food source for birds nesting nearby. High levels of Pb concentrations in avian scavengers were observed, exceeding subclinical poisoning benchmarks and resulting in reduced enzyme activity, emphasizing the negative impact of Pb exposure on wildlife.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ryan F. Lepak, Jacob M. Ogorek, Krista K. Bartz, Sarah E. Janssen, Michael T. Tate, Yin Runsheng, James P. Hurley, Daniel B. Young, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, David P. Krabbenhoft
Summary: This study assessed the importance of migrating oceanic salmon, volcanic activity, and atmospheric deposition to fish mercury burden by analyzing lake trout in 13 remote lakes in southwestern Alaska. The results showed that volcanic activity is a significant additional source of mercury in proximate lakes, while migratory salmon contribute little methylmercury directly to lake trout. The study also found niche partitioning and a complex suite of ecological interactions in lake trout populations.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Austin K. Baldwin, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, James J. Willacker, Brett A. Poulin, David P. Krabbenhoft, Jesse Naymik, Michael T. Tate, Dain Bates, Nick Gastelecutto, Charles Hoovestol, Chris Larsen, Alysa M. Yoder, James Chandler, Ralph Myers
Summary: Anoxic conditions within reservoirs lead to the production of methylmercury (MeHg), which plays a key role in the uptake of mercury in aquatic food webs. However, the timing, magnitude, and relative importance of MeHg uptake and export in water versus biological compartments within reservoirs remain poorly understood. This study examined the relationships between reservoir stratification, anoxia, and MeHg concentrations and export loads in aqueous and biological compartments in two reservoirs of the Hells Canyon Complex. The results suggest that destratification of the reservoirs leads to an increase in MeHg concentrations in filter-passing water, zooplankton, suspended particles, and detritus. The export of MeHg appears to be strongly influenced by reservoir anoxia, and only a small percentage of MeHg is exported through biological compartments.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Freya E. Rowland, Erin Muths, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Craig A. Stricker, Johanna M. Kraus, Rachel A. Harrington, David M. Walters
Summary: Measuring total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg), and isotopic compositions (delta C- 13, delta N-15) in boreal chorus frogs (Pseudacris maculata) across five life stages, significant differences were found in concentrations and percent MeHg among the stages. Frog MeHg concentrations peaked during metamorphosis and hibernation, which are energetically demanding stages. The endogenous processes of metamorphosis and hibernation resulted in MeHg bioamplification, decoupling it from dietary and trophic position indicators.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Garth Herring, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Jeremy A. Buck
Summary: Anticoagulant rodenticides (AR) have been widely used for rodent control globally for decades, but they have also caused poisoning in wildlife. This study evaluated AR exposure and physiological responses in common ravens and turkey vultures in Oregon between 2013 and 2019. The results showed widespread AR exposure in these avian scavengers, with potential implications for the newly established California condor population in northern California.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vicki S. Blazer, Heather L. Walsh, Adam J. Sperry, Brenna Raines, James J. Willacker, Collin A. Eagles-Smith
Summary: Total mercury (THg) levels in smallmouth bass were correlated with visible abnormalities, macrophage aggregates, and tissue parasite burdens. In males, THg was positively associated with plasma vitellogenin, estrogen receptor 81, and androgen receptor alpha, while there was a negative association with estrogen receptors alpha and 82 and androgen receptors 8. In females, THg showed a negative correlation with plasma vitellogenin, vitellogenin, choriogenin, estrogen receptor 82, and 178 hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. These associations suggest that mercury may be an important environmental stressor contributing to adverse effects in smallmouth bass populations.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Krista K. Bartz, Michael P. Hannam, Tammy L. Wilson, Ryan F. Lepak, Jacob M. Ogorek, Daniel B. Young, Collin A. Eagles -Smith, David P. Krabbenhoft
Summary: Mercury is a harmful pollutant in its organic form that poses risks to fish, wildlife, and humans. This study assessed mercury concentrations in lake trout collected from 14 lakes in southwest Alaska and identified factors associated with the variation in fish mercury concentrations. The results showed that mercury concentrations in water were consistently low, while mercury concentrations in lake trout varied greatly and were influenced by fish age and body condition.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Brian J. Tornabene, Blake R. Hossack, Brian J. Halstead, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Michael J. Adams, Adam R. Backlin, Adrianne B. Brand, Colleen S. Emery, Robert N. Fisher, Jill Fleming, Brad M. Glorioso, Daniel A. Grear, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Patrick M. Kleeman, David A. W. Miller, Erin Muths, Christopher A. Pearl, Jennifer C. Rowe, Caitlin T. Rumrill, J. Hardin Waddle, Megan E. Winzeler, Kelly L. Smalling
Summary: This study conducted a sampling survey on 26 amphibian populations across multiple states in the United States and found that methylmercury contamination is widespread, with significant variation in concentrations among different sites. The accumulation of methylmercury in amphibians is strongly associated with life history traits such as size, sex, and species type. The study also revealed that the concentration of total mercury in dragonflies can serve as a reliable indicator of methylmercury bioaccumulation in amphibians, while the concentration in sediment is not a good predictor.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sarah E. Janssen, Christopher J. Kotalik, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Gale B. Beaubien, Joel C. Hoffman, Greg Peterson, Marc A. Mills, David M. Walters
Summary: The transfer of aquatic contaminants, specifically mercury, to terrestrial animals through shoreline spiders has been studied, but there are still uncertainties regarding the estimation of mercury sources. This study collected spiders and aquatic insect larvae from different habitats to examine the transfer of mercury. The results showed a connection between benthic mercury sources and the aquatic food web, and highlighted the importance of selecting appropriate spider taxa for mercury monitoring efforts.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
James J. Willacker, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, James A. Chandler, Jesse Naymik, Ralph Myers, David P. Krabbenhoft
Summary: Impoundment is a common hydrologic alteration that affects aquatic ecosystems, including mercury (Hg) cycling. Our study found that reservoirs and tailraces in the Snake River had higher total Hg concentrations in Smallmouth Bass compared to free-flowing segments. The presence of inconsistent stratification patterns in reservoirs and tailraces also resulted in higher Hg concentrations and increased fish and human health risk.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)