Document of bibliographic reference 305999

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

The role of benthic macrofauna in the trophic transfer of mercury in a low-diversity temperate coastal ecosystem (Puck Lagoon, southern Baltic Sea)

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant that affects human and ecosystem health. Hg is a serious threat especially for the marine environment, in which it undergoes bioaccumulation and biomagnification, reaching elevated concentrations in fish and other seafood. The research aimed at investigating the trophodynamics of Hg in the basal links of the marine food chain: benthic macrofauna and its main food sources (i.e. suspended and sediment organic matter, micro- and macrophytobenthos). The results showed that both the amount and the origin of organic matter affected the Hg level in particular trophic groups of macrozoobenthos. The intensive inflow of terrestrial material influenced the enrichment of suspended particles and microphytobenthos in Hg, leading to increased Hg concentrations in filter-feeding macrofauna. The input of Hg-rich marine matter transported from the deeper parts of the Gulf of Gdańsk along with the near-bottom currents caused higher Hg levels in deposit feeders. The biomagnification factor (BMF) of Hg through benthic food web was dependent on environmental conditions occurring in the studied areas, in particular, factors favouring the growth and fecundity of macrofauna. Consequently, as a result of biodilution, the trophic transfer of Hg was less effective in a more productive region, despite the elevated Hg concentrations in dietary components of the macrofauna and in the surrounding environment.

WebOfScience code

https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000458176700005

Bibliographic citation

Jedruch, A.; Beldowska, M.; Ziolkowska, M. (2019). The role of benthic macrofauna in the trophic transfer of mercury in a low-diversity temperate coastal ecosystem (Puck Lagoon, southern Baltic Sea). Environ. Monit. Assess. 191(3): 137. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7257-y

Topic

Marine

Is peer reviewed

true

Access rights

open access

Is accessible for free

true