Rapid growth could significantly reduce methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in aquatic organisms by causing a greater than proportional gain in biomass relative to MeHg (somatic growth dilution). We hypothesized that rapid growth from the consumption of high-quality algae, defined by algal nutrient stoichiometry, reduces MeHg concentrations in zooplankton, a major source of MeHg for lake fish. Using a MeHg radiotracer, we measured changes in MeHg concentrations, growth and ingestion rates in juvenile Daphnia pulex fed either high (C:P â«Ű⏠139) or low-quality (C:P â«Ű⏠1317) algae (Ankistrodesmus falcatus) for 5 d. We estimated Daphnia steady-state MeHg concentrations, using a biokinetic model parameterized with experimental rates. Daphnia MeHg assimilation efficiencies (Ï·95%) and release rates (0.04 d Ű1 ) were unaffected by algal nutrient quality. However, Daphnia growth rate was 3.5 times greater when fed high-quality algae, resulting in pronounced somatic growth dilution. Steady-state MeHg concentrations in Daphnia that consumed high-quality algae were one-third those of Daphnia that consumed low-quality algae due to higher growth and slightly lower ingestion rates. Our findings show that rapid growth from high-quality food consumption can significantly reduce the accumulation and trophic transfer of MeHg in freshwater food webs.contaminants Í food quality Í heavy metals Í nutrient stoichiometry Í plankton M ethylmercury (MeHg) poses a serious human and wildlife health risk primarily through fish consumption, so understanding the key factors driving MeHg accumulation in fish has become a global priority (1). Rapid somatic growth rates are hypothesized to reduce mass-specific MeHg concentration (burden) in fish and other aquatic organisms (2, 3) by the process of somatic growth dilution (SGD). SGD occurs when rapid growth results in a disproportionate increase in the net rate of biomass gain relative to MeHg gain. The relative quality of food consumed can strongly influence growth rates in aquatic organisms. Moreover, food quality for aquatic consumers varies widely across lakes and seasons (4), thus potentially contributing to the large variation in Hg concentrations observed in lake fish in situ. Despite its potential importance, the influence of food quality on MeHg accumulation has not been well examined.At present, evidence for somatic growth dilution of MeHg, whether due food quality or other factors, is sparse and somewhat contradictory. Thus far, our understanding of SGD has been limited to inferences drawn from field correlations between somatic growth rates and Hg concentrations in fish. In most of these studies, the many possible factors driving SGD (e.g., temperature, food availability, food quality, activity level, and stress) are not controlled and are often confounded. Negative correlations between somatic growth rate and concentrations of total Hg (5-8) and other contaminants, such as Pb (9