Contrasting Magnitude and Timing of Pulsed Aqueous Methylmercury Bioaccumulation across a Reservoir Food Web.

ABSTRACT: Water column hypoxia is a key process influencing methylmercury (MeHg) production and availability in waterbodies worldwide. During seasonal destratification, large, short-lived pulses of aqueous MeHg may be released into the subsequently mixed water column, but little is known about the fate of these pulses, particularly whether there are concomitant increases in MeHg uptake into aquatic food webs. We examined the magnitude and timing of MeHg uptake across several trophic guilds relative to the reservoir stratification status using biweekly mercury data from water, zooplankton, and fish (Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus and Smallmouth Bass, Micropterus dolomieu). Zooplankton MeHg concentrations increased by up to 250% during destratification, concurrent with increases in aqueou

SUBMITTER: Willacker JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11883814 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature