Trace elements in Antarctic fish species and the influence of foraging habitats and dietary habits on mercury levels.
This study aims at describing and interpreting concentration profiles of trace elements in seven Antarctic fish species (N=132 specimens) off Adélie Land. Ichthyofauna plays a key role in the Antarctic ecosystem, as they occupy various ecological niches, including cryopelagic (ice-associated), pelagic, and benthic habitats. Firstly, trace element levels in the studied specimens were similar to those previously observed in fish from the Southern Ocean. Apart from manganese and zinc, concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, copper, iron, mercury (Hg), nickel, selenium and silver differed among fish species. Muscle δ(13)C and δ(15)N values were determined to investigate whether the fish foraging habitats and dietary habits could explain Hg levels. Species and foraging habitat (δ(13)C) were strong predictors for variations of Hg concentrations in muscle tissues. The highest Hg contamination was found in shallow benthic fish compared to cryopelagic and pelagic fish. This pattern was likely due to the methylation of Hg in the coastal sediment and the photodemethylation by ultraviolet radiation in surface waters.
École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), SPL, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7619 METIS, F-75005, 4 place Jussieu, Paris, France. Electronic address: aurelie.goutte@ephe.sorbonne.fr.
Aurélie
A
Goutte
Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372, CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France.
Yves
Y
Cherel
Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266, CNRS-Université de la Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France.
Carine
C
Churlaud
École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), SPL, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7619 METIS, F-75005, 4 place Jussieu, Paris, France.
Jean-Pierre
JP
Ponthus
Unité Mixte Internationale Takuvik, Pavillon Alexandre-Vachon, Université Laval, QC, Québec, Canada.
Guillaume
G
Massé
Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266, CNRS-Université de la Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France.
Paco
P
Bustamante
D000818:Animals; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity
D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury
Heavy metals; Nototheniidae; Southern Ocean; Stable isotopes