Mercury and trace elements in crayfish from northern california.
We collected two species of crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus and Procambarus clarkii, from Cache and Putah Creeks, California, and analyzed them for mercury and trace elements. Trace elements were higher in carcasses in 40 cases, higher in tails in 5 cases, and not different in 35 cases; no concentration exceeded levels considered harmful. Mercury concentrations were similar among sites, with no overall sex or species effect in tails. Mercury and methylmercury concentrations were higher in tails at all sites. Methylmercury concentrations in crayfish tails (0.156-0.256 microg/g) exceeded concentrations reported in health advisories for consumption of fish and crayfish from these watersheds.
U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 6924 Tremont Road, Dixon, CA 95620, USA. roger_hothem@usgs.gov
Roger L
RL
Hothem
Darrin R
DR
Bergen
Marissa L
ML
Bauer
John J
JJ
Crayon
Anne M
AM
Meckstroth
D000818:Animals; D003400:Astacoidea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury