Absence of Fractionation of Mercury Isotopes during Trophic Transfer of Methylmercury to Freshwater Fish in Captivity

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 46; no. 14; pp. 7527 - 7534
• Main Authors: Kwon, Sae Yun, Blum, Joel D, Carvan, Michael J, Basu, Niladri, Head, Jessica A, Madenjian, Charles P, David, Solomon R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 17.07.2012
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Aquatic ecosystems; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical Fractionation; Ecosystem; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Environmental Monitoring; Fisheries; Food; Fresh Water; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Isotopes; Lakes; Mercury Isotopes; Methylmercury Compounds - metabolism; Perches - metabolism; Tissues; Trout; Trout - metabolism; Wisconsin; Wisconsin; Freshwater environment; Trace element; Pollutant; Vertebrata; Animal community; Pisces; Trophic Transfer; Captivity; Isotopes; Mercury; Heavy metal
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es300794q

We performed two controlled experiments to determine the amount of mass-dependent and mass-independent fractionation (MDF and MIF) of methylmercury (MeHg) during trophic transfer into fish. In experiment 1, juvenile yellow perch (Perca flavescens) were raised in captivity on commercial food pellets and then their diet was either maintained on unamended food pellets (0.1 μg/g MeHg) or was switched to food pellets with 1.0 μg/g or 4.0 μg/g of added MeHg, for a period of 2 months. The difference in δ202Hg (MDF) and Δ199Hg (MIF) between fish tissues and food pellets with added MeHg was within the analytical uncertainty (δ202Hg, 0.07 ‰; Δ199Hg, 0.06 ‰), indicating no isotope fractionation. In experiment 2, lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) were raised in captivity on food pellets and then shifted to a diet of bloater (Coregonus hoyi) for 6 months. The δ202Hg and Δ199Hg of the lake trout equaled the isotopic composition of the bloater after 6 months, reflecting reequilibration of the Hg isotopic composition of the fish to new food sources and a lack of isotope fractionation during trophic transfer. We suggest that the stable Hg isotope ratios in fish can be used to trace environmental sources of Hg in aquatic ecosystems.