The influence of depth on mercury levels in pelagic fishes and their prey

Choy, C. Anela; Popp, Brian N.; Kaneko, J. John; Drazen, Jeffrey C.

doi:10.1073/pnas.0900711106

Cited by 187 publications

(168 citation statements)

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“…In the ocean Hg primarily exists as inorganic Hg(ii) or Hg (0) [5][6][7] . In agreement with these vertical profiles, total Hg (THg) levels in commercially important predatory pelagic fish and their prey increase with median depth of occurrence 8,9 , which is indicative of both foraging depth and habitat utilization. However, the biogeochemical factors controlling the distribution and speciation of Hg in the ocean and the bioaccumulation of MMHg in marine food webs are still not well understood 10 .…”

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confidence: 62%

“…We analysed samples of muscle tissue from either three or four individuals from each of nine species of fish (six high-TP predatory species, three low-TP prey species; Supplementary Table S1 for species names and data on core depth ranges and median depths of occurrence) collected in the central NPSG near Hawaii and previously analysed for THg concentrations 8 . Electronic tagging and trawling studies provide very useful information on vertical habitat utilization.…”

Section: Species Sampled and Their Depth Of Occurrencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The combination of Hg MDF and MIF provides a probe into the reaction pathways and biogeochemical history of Hg and can also provide a fingerprint of sources of Hg to ecosystems [19][20][21][22] . Coupling estimates of TP with Hg concentrations can allow for an understanding of MMHg biomagnification in marine food webs 5,21 .Here we measured the Hg isotopic compositions and established TPs of pelagic fish from the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG) near Hawaii, for which Hg concentration and median depth of occurrence were known (Supplementary Tables S1 and S2) 8 . We used amino acid compound-specific N isotope analyses (AA-CSIA) to establish organism TP because this technique provides information on time-integrated TP independent of the δ 15 N values at the base of the food web 23 .…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Here we measured the Hg isotopic compositions and established TPs of pelagic fish from the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG) near Hawaii, for which Hg concentration and median depth of occurrence were known (Supplementary Tables S1 and S2) 8 . We used amino acid compound-specific N isotope analyses (AA-CSIA) to establish organism TP because this technique provides information on time-integrated TP independent of the δ 15 N values at the base of the food web 23 .…”

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Methylmercury production below the mixed layer in the North Pacific Ocean

et al. 2013

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Mercury enters marine food webs in the form of microbially generated monomethylmercury. Microbial methylation of inorganic mercury, generating monomethylmercury, is widespread in low-oxygen coastal sediments. The degree to which microbes also methylate mercury in the open ocean has remained uncertain, however. Here, we present measurements of the stable isotopic composition of mercury in nine species of marine fish that feed at different depths in the central North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. We document a systematic decline in δ 202 Hg, 199 Hg and 201 Hg values with the depth at which fish feed. We show that these mercury isotope trends can be explained only if monomethylmercury is produced below the surface mixed layer, including in the underlying oxygen minimum zone, that is, between 50 and more than 400 m depth. Specifically, we estimate that about 20-40% of the monomethylmercury detected below the surface mixed layer originates from the surface and enters deeper waters either attached to sinking particles, or in zooplankton and micronekton that migrate to depth. We suggest that the remaining monomethylmercury found at depth is produced below the surface mixed layer by methylating microbes that live on sinking particles. We suggest that microbial production of monomethylmercury below the surface mixed later contributes significantly to anthropogenic mercury uptake into marine food webs.M ercury (Hg) is a globally distributed atmospheric pollutant that can form monomethyl-Hg (MMHg), which is neurotoxic and bioaccumulative in aquatic food webs. The main pathway for human exposure to MMHg is through consumption of piscivorous marine fish 1 . In the ocean Hg primarily exists as inorganic Hg(ii) or Hg (0) [5][6][7] . In agreement with these vertical profiles, total Hg (THg) levels in commercially important predatory pelagic fish and their prey increase with median depth of occurrence 8,9 , which is indicative of both foraging depth and habitat utilization. However, the biogeochemical factors controlling the distribution and speciation of Hg in the ocean and the bioaccumulation of MMHg in marine food webs are still not well understood 10 .Microbial activity and both dark and photochemical inorganic reactions ultimately control the chemical speciation and subsequent bioavailability of Hg (ref. 2), thus an understanding of the competing processes that produce and degrade MMHg at different depths in the ocean is critical to tracing its bioaccumulation in fish and biomagnification in marine food webs. MMHg typically comprises only a small fraction of THg in North Pacific sea water (<15%; ref. 4) but nearly all of the Hg (>95%) in large marine fish 2,11 and most of the Hg (>80%) in small fish with trophic position (TP) as low as 2.5 (ref. 12). DMHg concentrations are generally small relative to MMHg (refs 3,4,13), although at some (refs 13,14). As DMHg is not bioaccumulated and because its Hg isotopic composition has not been measured, it is not treated in detail here. MMHg production in the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) of...

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Section: Species Sampled and Their Depth Of Occurrencementioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Methylmercury production below the mixed layer in the North Pacific Ocean

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“…KANNAN et al (1998) found high values of methylmercury in striped weakfish off southern Florida, four times higher than those occurring on the Cabo Frio Coast, demonstrating the important role of this species in the mercury transfer studies of Atlantic Ocean fish. CHOY et al (2009) observed that demersal carnivorous species present a greater tendency to incorporate mercury than do the pelagic ones. This is attributed to the greater mercury availability at the water-sediment interface due to the methylation processes that occur in this system.…”

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confidence: 99%

Mercury speciation in fish of the Cabo Frio upwelling region, SE-Brazil

et al. 2011

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A B S T R A C TMercury distribution in the oceans is controlled by complex biogeochemical cycles, resulting in retention of trace amounts of this metal in marine biota. The impact of upwelling processes in this metal behavior has been overlooked. Data from literature are insufficient to evaluate the risks associated with the presence of mercury in the fish collected in upwelling areas and its consumers. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to perform a study of mercury speciation in four fish species belonging to different trophic levels from Cabo Frio-Brazil upwelling region. The total mercury content vary of 53 ng g-1 (Sardinella brasiliensis -sardine) to 1215 ng g-1 (Cynoscion striatus -striped weakfish) and, with exception of the planktivorous fish, methylmercury levels reaches circa 90% of total mercury concentration. R E S U M OA distribuição de Mercúrio nos oceanos é controlada por um complexo ciclo biogeoquímico, resultando na retenção de pequenas quantidades na biota marinha. O impacto dos processos de ressurgência costeira no comportamento desse metal tem sido negligenciado. Dados da literatura são insuficientes para elucidar o risco associado com a presença de mercúrio em peixes capturados em áreas de ressurgência e seus consumidores. Portanto o objetivo do presente trabalho foi realizar um estudo de especiação de mercúrio em quatro espécies de peixes pertencentes a diferentes níveis tróficos da região de ressurgência de Cabo Frio -Brasil. O conteúdo total de mercúrio variou de 53 ng g-1 (Sardinella brasiliensis -sardinha) to 1215 ng g-1 (Cynoscion striatus -pescada) e, com exceção da espécie planctivora, os níveis de metilmercúrio atingem cerca de 90% da concentração total de mercúrio.

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Mercury species concentrations and fluxes in the Central Tropical Pacific Ocean

Munson

Lamborg

Swarr

et al. 2015

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

131

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The formation of the toxic and bioaccumulating monomethylmercury (MMHg) in marine systems is poorly understood, due in part to sparse data from many ocean regions. We present dissolved mercury (Hg) speciation data from 10 stations in the North and South Equatorial Pacific spanning large water mass differences and gradients in oxygen utilization. We also compare the mercury content in suspended particles from six stations and sinking particles from three stations to constrain local Hg sources and sinks.

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The influence of depth on mercury levels in pelagic fishes and their prey

Cited by 187 publications

References 50 publications

Methylmercury production below the mixed layer in the North Pacific Ocean

Methylmercury production below the mixed layer in the North Pacific Ocean

Mercury speciation in fish of the Cabo Frio upwelling region, SE-Brazil

Mercury species concentrations and fluxes in the Central Tropical Pacific Ocean

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