title: Mercury concentrations in the prey of apex piscivores from a large subtropical estuary.
abstract: Estuaries are important ecosystems for mercury methylation and accumulation, yet few studies have quantified mercury levels in prey species that expose large estuarine piscivores to contamination. We measured mercury concentrations in key prey species from the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, USA, to characterize variability and assess the spatial distribution of mercury levels throughout the estuary. Mean mercury concentrations ranged from 0.015mg/kg in Mugil cephalus to 0.222mg/kg in Bairdiella chrysoura and varied considerably in some species. Spatial variation was observed within species, but a universal geographic pattern among species was not apparent, likely reflecting the broad habitat-use patterns associated with the estuarine-transient life histories of many of these common prey species. In contrast, estuarine-resident species, such as B. chrysoura, may be useful indicators of regional mercury methylation potential and bioaccumulation in biota. These results can advance future studies that relate dietary mercury uptake and mercury level variations in estuarine piscivores.
authors.affiliation: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Indian River Field Lab, 1220 Prospect Avenue, Suite 285, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA. Electronic address: derek.tremain@myfwc.com.
authors.forename: Derek M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Tremain
authors.affiliation: Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution at Florida Atlantic University, 5600 U.S. 1 North, Fort Pierce, FL 34946, USA.
authors.forename: Adam M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Schaefer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D005431:Florida; D020387:Food Chain; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010473:Perciformes / Q000378:metabolism*; D045483:Rivers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Estuarine fish; Indian River Lagoon; Muscle tissue; Spatial variability; Total mercury