The role of benthic macrofauna in the trophic transfer of mercury in a low-diversity temperate coastal ecosystem (Puck Lagoon, southern Baltic Sea).

ABSTRACT: Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant that affects human and ecosystem health. Hg is a serious threat especially for the marine environment, in which it undergoes bioaccumulation and biomagnification, reaching elevated concentrations in fish and other seafood. The research aimed at investigating the trophodynamics of Hg in the basal links of the marine food chain: benthic macrofauna and its main food sources (i.e. suspended and sediment organic matter, micro- and macrophytobenthos). The results showed that both the amount and the origin of organic matter affected the Hg level in particular trophic groups of macrozoobenthos. The intensive inflow of terrestrial material influenced the enrichment of suspended particles and microphytobenthos in Hg, leading to increased Hg concentrations in filter

SUBMITTER: Jedruch A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6373316 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature