Temporal changes in the distribution, methylation, and bioaccumulation of newly deposited mercury in an aquatic ecosystem.
Our objective was to examine how the behavior of atmospheric mercury (Hg) deposited to boreal lake mesocosms changed over time. We added inorganic Hg enriched in a different stable isotope in each of two years, which allowed us to differentiate between Hg added in the first and second year. Although inorganic Hg and methylmercury (MeHg) continued to accumulate in sediments throughout the experiment, the availability of MeHg to the food web declined within one year. This decrease was detected in periphyton, zooplankton, and water mites, but not in gomphid larvae, amphipods, or fish. We suggest that reductions in atmospheric Hg deposition should lead to decreases in MeHg concentrations in biota, but that changes will be more easily detected in short-lived pelagic species than long-lived species associated with benthic food webs.
Orihel
Diane M
DM
Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada. orihel@ualberta.ca
Paterson
Michael J
MJ
Blanchfield
Paul J
PJ
Bodaly
R A Drew
RA
Gilmour
Cynthia C
CC
Hintelmann
Holger
H
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005399:Fishes; D020387:Food Chain; D005618:Fresh Water; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D008629:Mercury Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D008925:Mites; D013995:Time; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis; D015048:Zooplankton
D000393:Air Pollutants; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008629:Mercury Isotopes; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury