Spatio-temporal variations in biomass and mercury concentrations of epiphytic biofilms and their host in a large river wetland (Lake St. Pierre, Qc, Canada)

Hamelin, Stéphanie; Planas, Dolors; Amyot, Marc

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2014.11.007

Cited by 22 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…In Canadian fluvial wetlands, Hamelin et al (2015b) observed levels of net MeHg production in the periphyton that were two orders of magnitude greater than those in the sediment. Furthermore, there was a direct correlation between the methylation rate constant and the MeHg concentration of the periphyton; concentrations that were 10× higher than in the lake's macrophytes (Hamelin et al 2015a(Hamelin et al , 2015b. It is evident that significant amounts of methylation occur not only in sediments but also in the periphyton of aquatic environments.…”

Section: Benthic Surfacesmentioning

confidence: 78%

Recent advances in the study of mercury methylation in aquatic systems

Paranjape

Hall

2017

FACETS

121

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With increasing input of neurotoxic mercury to environments as a result of anthropogenic activity, it has become imperative to examine how mercury may enter biotic systems through its methylation to bioavailable forms in aquatic environments. Recent development of stable isotope-based methods in methylation studies has enabled a better understanding of the factors controlling methylation in aquatic systems. In addition, the identification and tracking of the hgcAB gene cluster, which is necessary for methylation, has broadened the range of known methylators and methylation-conducive environments. Study of abiotic factors in methylation with new molecular methods (the use of stable isotopes and genomic methods) has helped elucidate the confounding influences of many environmental factors, as these methods enable the examination of their direct effects instead of merely correlative observations. Such developments will be helpful in the finer characterization of mercury biogeochemical cycles, which will enable better predictions of the potential effects of climate change on mercury methylation in aquatic systems and, by extension, the threat this may pose to biota.

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Section: Benthic Surfacesmentioning

confidence: 78%

Recent advances in the study of mercury methylation in aquatic systems

Paranjape

Hall

2017

FACETS

121

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“…4 ). Previous research indicates that Hg concentration in biofilm-covered macrophytes is influenced by water temperature and level, dissolved organic carbon and oxygen, available light, as well as host species (Hamelin et al 2015a ). In the studied area, the dominance of species belonging to the motile and high-profile guilds indicates a relatively high proportion of sediment in the biofilm formed by organisms in the epilithon (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury in the Diatoms of Various Ecological Formations

Bełdowska

Zgrundo

Kobos

2018

Water Air Soil Pollut

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Mercury is a neurotoxin, its main source in the human organism being fish and seafood. The first level in the marine food web is formed of planktonic and benthic photosynthetic microorganisms, which form a biofilm on the surface of the hard bottom (epilithon) or plants (epiphyton). They are carriers of nutritional as well as toxic substances and pass these on to subsequent levels of the trophic web. Their biomass is often dominated by diatoms. This was the basis for the presented study into Hg accumulation in epilithic, epiphytic and planktonic diatoms, which was carried out in 2012–2013 in the coastal zone of the Puck Lagoon and the Gulf of Gdańsk (southern Baltic). In this coastal area, both micro- and macroorganisms develop particularly intensively. The collected results indicate an increase in Hg concentration in the biofilm during the warm season which, with the lengthening of the vegetative period due to global warming in recent years, is of great significance. As a consequence, the annual mercury load entering the trophic web is larger in comparison with a year in which there is a long, cold winter. An important parameter influencing the accumulation of Hg was the function of those organisms from the biofilm-forming communities. In this case, the highest concentrations of Hg were measured in organisms forming high-profile guilds.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s11270-018-3814-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…Rates of both MeHg formation and MeHg degradation are seldom measured simultaneously, and there is still great uncertainty regarding factors and mechanisms controlling each of these processes (Kelly et al, 1995;Ullrich et al, 2001;Avramescu et al, 2011). It has been shown that periphyton can reach significant concentrations of MeHg, as high as 55 ng/g dry weight (DW), (Hamelin et al, 2014;Roulet et al, 2000;Desrosiers et al, 2006b), and can even surpass concentrations in sediment of the same site. Periphyton is also a direct food source for primary consumers in littoral habitats (Hecky and Hesslein, 1995;Vadeboncoeur et al, 2002;McIntyre et al, 2006;Cremona et al, 2009).…”

Section: Contents Lists Available At Sciencedirectmentioning

confidence: 99%