Mercury concentrations in Antarctic zooplankton with a focus on the krill species, Euphausia superba.

Autor: Korejwo E; Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Department of Marine Chemistry, and Biochemistry, ul. Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland. Electronic address: ewakorejwo@iopan.pl., Panasiuk A; University of Gdansk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography Laboratory of Marine Plankton Biology, Division of Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Al. Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland., Wawrzynek-Borejko J; University of Gdansk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Division of Marine Ecosystems Functioning, Al. Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland., Jędruch A; Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Department of Marine Chemistry, and Biochemistry, ul. Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland., Bełdowski J; Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Department of Marine Chemistry, and Biochemistry, ul. Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland., Paturej A; University of Gdansk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Division of Chemical Oceanography and Marine Geology, Al. Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland., Bełdowska M; University of Gdansk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Division of Chemical Oceanography and Marine Geology, Al. Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: The Science of the total environment [Sci Total Environ] 2023 Dec 20; Vol. 905, pp. 167239. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Sep 22.
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167239
Abstrakt: The Antarctic is the most isolated region in the world; nevertheless, it has not avoided the negative impact of human activity, including the inflow of toxic mercury (Hg). Hg deposited in the Antarctic marine environment can be bioavailable and accumulate in the food web, reaching elevated concentrations in high-trophic-level biota, especially if methylated. Zooplankton, together with phytoplankton, are critical for the transport of pollutants, including Hg to higher trophic levels. For the Southern Ocean ecosystem, one of the key zooplankton components is the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba, the smaller euphausiid Thysanoessa macrura, and the amphipod Themisto gaudichaudii - a crucial food source for most predatory fish, birds, and mammals. The main goal of this study was to determine the Hg burden, as well as the distribution of different Hg forms, in these dominant Antarctic planktonic crustaceans. The results showed that the highest concentrations of Hg were found in T. gaudichaudii, a typically predatory taxon. Most of the Hg in the tested crustaceans was labile and potentially bioavailable for planktivorous organisms, with the most dangerous methylmercury (MeHg) accounting for an average of 16 % of the total mercury. Elevated Hg concentrations were observed close to the land, which is influenced by the proximity to penguin and pinniped colonies. In areas near the shore, volcanic activity might be a possible cause of the increase in mercury sulfide (HgS) content. The total Hg concentration increased with the trophic position and ontogenetic stage of predation, specific to adult organisms. In contrast, the proportion of MeHg decreased with age, indicating more efficient demethylation or elimination. The Hg magnification kinetics in the study area were relatively high, which may be related to climate-change induced alterations of the Antarctic ecosystem: additional food sources and reshaped trophic structure.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
(Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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