Influence of dissolved organic matter character on mercury incorporation by planktonic organisms: an experimental study using oligotrophic water from Patagonian lakes
Journal of Environmental Sciences
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Open Access Version: External Repository
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
Ligands present in dissolved organic matter (DOM) form complexes with inorganic divalent mercury (Hg2+) affecting its bioavailability in pelagic food webs. This investigation addresses the influence of a natural gradient of DOM present in Patagonian lakes on the bioaccumulation of Hg2+ (the prevailing mercury species in the water column of these lakes) by the algae Cryptomonas erosa and the zooplankters Brachionus calyciflorus and Boeckella antiqua. Hg2+ accumulation was studied through laboratory experiments using natural water of four oligotrophic Patagonian lakes amended with197Hg2+. The bioavailability of Hg2+ was affected by the concentration and character of DOM. The entrance of Hg2+ into pelagic food webs occurs mostly through passive and active accumulation. The incorporation of Hg2+ by Cryptomonas, up to 27% of the Hg2+ amended, was found to be rapid and dominated by passive adsorption, and was greatest when low molecular weight compounds with protein-like or small phenolic signatures prevailed in the DOM. Conversely, high molecular weight compounds with a humic or fulvic signature kept Hg2+ in the dissolved phase, resulting in the lowest Hg2+ accumulation in this algae. In Brachionus and Boeckella the direct incorporation of Hg from the aqueous phase was up to 3% of the Hg2+ amended. The dietary incorporation of Hg2+ by Boeckella exceeded the direct absorption of this metal in natural water, and was remarkably similar to the Hg2+ adsorbed in their prey. Overall, DOM concentration and character affected the adsorption of Hg2+ by algae through competitive binding, while the incorporation of Hg2+ into the zooplankton was dominated by trophic or dietary transfer.
Suggested Citation
Dieguez, M.C., Queimalinos, C.P., Guevara, S.R., Marvin-DiPasquale, M.C., Cardenas, C.S., Arribere, M.A., 2013, Influence of dissolved organic matter character on mercury incorporation by planktonic organisms: an experimental study using oligotrophic water from Patagonian lakes: Journal of Environmental Sciences, v. 25, no. 10, p. 1980-1991, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1001-0742(12)60281-2.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Influence of dissolved organic matter character on mercury incorporation by planktonic organisms: an experimental study using oligotrophic water from Patagonian lakes |
| Series title | Journal of Environmental Sciences |
| DOI | 10.1016/S1001-0742(12)60281-2 |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue | 10 |
| Year Published | 2013 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Contributing office(s) | National Research Program - Western Branch |
| Description | 11 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Journal of Environmental Sciences |
| First page | 1980 |
| Last page | 1991 |
| Country | Argentina |
| Other Geospatial | Patagonia |