Absence of fractionation of mercury isotopes during trophic transfer of methylmercury to freshwater fish in captivity

Sae Yun Kwon; Joel D. Blum; Michael J. Carvan; Niladri Basu; Jessica A. Head; Charles P. Madenjian; Solomon R. David

doi:10.1021/es300794q

Absence of fractionation of mercury isotopes during trophic transfer of methylmercury to freshwater fish in captivity

Environmental Science & Technology

By: Sae Yun Kwon, Joel D. Blum, Michael J. Carvan, Niladri Basu, Jessica A. Head, Charles P. Madenjian, and Solomon R. David

https://doi.org/10.1021/es300794q

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Abstract

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.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Absence of fractionation of mercury isotopes during trophic transfer of methylmercury to freshwater fish in captivity
Series title	Environmental Science & Technology
DOI	10.1021/es300794q
Volume	46
Issue	14
Year Published	2012
Language	English
Publisher	American Chemical Society
Publisher location	Washington, D.C.
Contributing office(s)	Great Lakes Science Center
Description	8 p.
Larger Work Type	Article
Larger Work Subtype	Journal Article
Larger Work Title	Environmental Science and Technology
First page	7527
Last page	7534
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