Mercury bioaccumulation and biomagnification in mesopelagic biota
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study investigated the distribution and biomagnification pathways of total mercury (THg) concentrations in three mesopelagic species in the Tasman Sea: two fish (Diaphus hudsoni, Metelectrona ventralis) and one predatory squid (Lycoteuthis lorigera). THg concentrations in muscle tissue varied from 0.06 to 0.26 μg g-1 and were consistently higher in liver than muscle across each species. Species-specific variations in THg bioaccumulation and the liver-to-muscle THg ratio suggested differences in mercury metabolism. Stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13C) varied across tissues and species reflecting a diverse range of bathypelagic habitat utilisation (−19.46 to −16.72‰). Bulk and amino acid nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes provided robust estimates of mean trophic positions of fish (ranging 3.1 to 3.5) and squid (4.3). THg concentrations correlated with trophic factors only in L. lorigera while it increased with size in M. ventralis and L. lorigera but not in D. hudsoni. THg biomagnification factors between fish and squid ranged between 0.54 and 1.45, indicating limited biomagnification, as confirmed with trophic magnification factors in the liver (1.89) and muscle (0.78). Spatial differences in THg concentrations were evident with higher levels in the eastern region for all species, likely linked to local ecological and environmental conditions. These results highlight the complexity of THg dynamics in mesopelagic food webs and provide important baseline data for future bioaccumulation studies in this region and globally.
Source: Marine Pollution Bulletin
Authors: Bowen Zhang, Heidi Pethybridge, Yunkai Li
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life below water
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,740
OpenAlex ID: W4410732827