Organic carbon content drives methylmercury levels in the water column and in estuarine food webs across latitudes in the Northeast United States.

ABSTRACT: Estuaries are dynamic ecosystems which vary widely in loading of the contaminant methylmercury (MeHg), and in environmental factors which control MeHg exposure to the estuarine foodweb. Inputs of organic carbon and rates of primary production are important influences on MeHg loading and bioaccumulation, and are predicted to increase with changes in climate and land use pressures. To further understand these influences on MeHg levels in estuarine biota, we used a field study approach in sites across different temperature regions, and with varying organic carbon levels. In paired comparisons of sites with high vs. low organic carbon, fish had lower MeHg bioaccumulation factors (normalized to water concentrations) in high carbon sites, particularly subsites with large coastal wetlands and lar

SUBMITTER: Taylor VF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6363875 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature