Nutrients mediate the effects of temperature on methylmercury concentrations in freshwater zooplankton

Science of the Total Environment
By: , and 

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Abstract

Methylmercury (MeHg) bioaccumulation in freshwater aquatic systems is impacted by anthropogenic stressors, including climate change and nutrient enrichment. The goal of this study was to determine how warmer water temperatures and excess nutrients would alter zooplankton communities and phytoplankton concentrations, and whether those changes would in turn increase or decrease MeHg concentrations in freshwater zooplankton. To test this, we employed a 2x2 factorial experimental design with nutrient and temperature treatments. Mesocosms were filled with ambient water and plankton from Cottage Grove Reservoir, Oregon, U.S.A, a waterbody that has experienced decades of elevated MeHg concentrations and corresponding fish consumption advisories due to run-off from Black Butte Mine tailings, located within the watershed. Treatment combinations of warmer temperature (increased by 0.7°C) and nutrient addition (a single pulse of 10 ambient concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorous), control, and a combination of temperature and nutrients were applied to mesocosms.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Nutrients mediate the effects of temperature on methylmercury concentrations in freshwater zooplankton
Series title Science of the Total Environment
DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.259
Volume 667
Year Published 2019
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
Description 12 p.
First page 601
Last page 612
Country United States
State Oregon
Other Geospatial Cottage Grove Reservoir
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