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Willacker J, Eagles-Smith CA, Chandler JA, Naymik J, Myers R, Krabbenhoft DP. Reservoir Stratification Modulates the Influence of Impoundments on Fish Mercury Concentrations along an Arid Land River System. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:21313-21326. [PMID: 38051342 PMCID: PMC10734268 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Impoundment is among the most common hydrologic alterations with impacts on aquatic ecosystems that can include effects on mercury (Hg) cycling. However, landscape-scale differences in Hg bioaccumulation between reservoirs and other habitats are not well characterized nor are the processes driving these differences. We examined total Hg (THg) concentrations of Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) collected from reservoir, tailrace, and free-flowing reaches along an 863 km segment of the Snake River, USA, a semiarid river with 22 impoundments along its course. Across three size-classes (putative 1-year-old, first reproductive, and harvestable sized fish), THg concentrations in reservoirs and tailraces averaged 76% higher than those in free-flowing segments. Among reservoirs, THg concentrations were highest in reservoirs with inconsistent stratification patterns, 47% higher than annually stratified, and 144% higher than unstratified reservoirs. Fish THg concentrations in tailraces immediately downstream of stratified reservoirs were higher than those below unstratified (38-130%) or inconsistently stratified (32-79%) reservoirs. Stratification regimes influenced the exceedance of fish and human health benchmarks, with 52-80% of fish from stratifying reservoirs and downstream tailraces exceeding a human consumption benchmark, compared to 6-17% where stratification did not occur. These findings suggest that impoundment and stratification play important roles in determining the patterns of Hg exposure risk across the landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- James
J. Willacker
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Collin A. Eagles-Smith
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - James A. Chandler
- Idaho
Power Company, 1221 West Idaho Street, Boise, Idaho 83702, United States
| | - Jesse Naymik
- Idaho
Power Company, 1221 West Idaho Street, Boise, Idaho 83702, United States
| | - Ralph Myers
- Idaho
Power Company, 1221 West Idaho Street, Boise, Idaho 83702, United States
| | - David P. Krabbenhoft
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, 8505 Research Way, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562, United States
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2
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Leclerc M, Ponton DE, Bilodeau F, Planas D, Amyot M. Enhanced Bioaccumulation and Transfer of Monomethylmercury through Periphytic Biofilms in Benthic Food Webs of a River Affected by Run-of-River Dams. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:20792-20801. [PMID: 38016692 PMCID: PMC10720379 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Run-of-river (ROR) power plants impound limited terrestrial areas compared to traditional hydropower plants with large reservoirs and are assumed to have reduced impacts on mercury cycling. We conducted a study on periphyton and benthic communities from different habitats of the St. Maurice River (Québec, Canada) affected by two ROR power plants and their effect on the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of monomethylmercury (MMHg). Proportion of total mercury as MMHg reached maximum values about 2.9 times higher in flooded sites compared to unflooded sites. Impoundment by ROR would therefore provide favorable environments for the growth of periphyton, which can produce and accumulate MMHg. Periphyton MMHg concentrations significantly explained concentrations in some benthic macroinvertebrates, reflecting a local transfer. Through the analysis of δ13C and δ15N signatures, we found that flooding, creating scattered lenthic habitats, led to modifications in trophic structures by the introduction of new organic matter sources. The computed trophic magnification slopes did not show significant differences in the transfer efficiency of MMHg between sectors, while intercepts of flooded sectors were higher. Increases in MMHg concentrations in flooded areas are likely due to the impoundment, combined with watershed disturbances, and the creation of small habitats favorable to periphyton should be included in future predictive models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Leclerc
- GRIL,
GEOTOP, Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, 1375 Thérèse-Lavoie-Roux Ave., Montréal, Québec H2V 0B3, Canada
| | - Dominic E. Ponton
- GRIL,
GEOTOP, Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, 1375 Thérèse-Lavoie-Roux Ave., Montréal, Québec H2V 0B3, Canada
| | - François Bilodeau
- Hydro-Québec,
Direction Environnement, 800 De Maisonneuve Est Blvd., Montréal, Québec H2Z 1A4, Canada
| | - Dolors Planas
- GRIL,
GEOTOP, Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, 141 Président-Kennedy Ave., Montréal, Québec H2X 1Y4, Canada
| | - Marc Amyot
- GRIL,
GEOTOP, Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, 1375 Thérèse-Lavoie-Roux Ave., Montréal, Québec H2V 0B3, Canada
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3
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English SG, Hess H, Bishop CA, Porter E, Cheng KM, Elliott JE. Bioaccumulation and effects of selenium from surface coal mining in an aquatic songbird. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 208:112702. [PMID: 35026185 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Open-pit mining operations are hailed for safe working conditions for miners as well as economically and logistically favourable outcomes for mining companies. However, ecological impacts of these operations may persist for decades. Expansions of open-pit coal mining in British Columbia of Western Canada are planned. Governmental regulation of background contaminants leached from these mines into nearby water systems were established to mitigate environmental impacts associated with these operations. We analyzed water, periphyton, invertebrate, and American dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) blood, egg, and feather samples for selenium and mercury exposure related to mining operations in the Elk Valley. We also quantified effects associated with exposure on clutch size and hatching success. Selenium concentrations in water, periphyton, and invertebrates were significantly higher downstream of mines compared to reference sites within and outside of the Elk River watershed. Selenium concentrations in water from exposed sites exceeded current regulatory levels established to protect wildlife by up to 20 times. Mercury concentrations were below toxic levels for birds in all media and did not factor into determination of selenium exposure or effects. Egg selenium concentrations were on average 0.9 times the regulatory threshold. Our stable isotope analyses showed that diets of nesting females included a negligible proportion of higher order consumers. We did not detect a significant effect of selenium on the rate of hatching success or clutch size of dippers nesting in exposed sites. We conclude that at the time of the investigation, selenium exposure was not impairing hatching of American dippers at the sampled locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon G English
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pacific Wildlife Research Centre, 5421 Robertson Road, Delta, BC, V4K 3N2, Canada
| | - Helmi Hess
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Christine A Bishop
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pacific Wildlife Research Centre, 5421 Robertson Road, Delta, BC, V4K 3N2, Canada
| | - Emily Porter
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Wildlife Research Division, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Kimberly M Cheng
- Canada Avian Research Centre, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - John E Elliott
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pacific Wildlife Research Centre, 5421 Robertson Road, Delta, BC, V4K 3N2, Canada; Canada Avian Research Centre, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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4
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Ni FJ, Bhavsar SP, Poirier D, Branfireun B, Petro S, Arts MT, Chong-Kit R, Mitchell CPJ, Arhonditsis GB. Impacts of water level fluctuations on mercury concentrations in hydropower reservoirs: A microcosm experiment. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 220:112354. [PMID: 34116335 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Hydropower generation, a renewable source of electricity, has been linked to elevated methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in impoundments and aquatic biota. This study investigates the impact of water level fluctuations (WLF) on MeHg concentrations in water, sediment, and fish. Using a set of controlled microcosm experiments emulating the drawdown/refill dynamics and subsequent sediment exposure to air experienced in reservoirs, we demonstrate that less frequent WLFs, and/or increased exposure of sediment to air, can lead to elevated MeHg concentrations in sediment, and total mercury (THg) and MeHg concentrations in water. In examining the effects of WLF frequency (two-day, weekly, and monthly), the monthly treatment displayed the highest THg and MeHg water levels, while the weekly treatment was characterized by the highest MeHg levels in the sediment. Our work supports emerging evidence that longer duration between WLF creates a larger surface area of sediment exposed to air leading to conditions conducive to higher MeHg concentrations in sediments and water. In contrast, THg, MeHg, and fatty acid trends in fish were largely inconclusive characterized by similar among-treatment effects and minimal temporal variability over the course of our experiment. This result could partly be attributed to overall low mercury levels and simple "worm-forage fish" food web in our experiment. To elucidate the broader impacts of water fluctuations on aquatic chemistry and biota, other factors (e.g., longer WLF cycles, dissolved organic matter, temperature, more complex food webs) which modulate both methylation rates and food web dynamics must be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicity J Ni
- Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Satyendra P Bhavsar
- Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada; Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks, Toronto, Ontario M9P 3V6, Canada.
| | - David Poirier
- Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks, Toronto, Ontario M9P 3V6, Canada
| | - Brian Branfireun
- Department of Biology and Centre for Environment & Sustainability, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Steve Petro
- Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks, Toronto, Ontario M9P 3V6, Canada
| | - Michael T Arts
- Department of Chemistry & Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3, Canada
| | - Richard Chong-Kit
- Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks, Toronto, Ontario M9P 3V6, Canada
| | - Carl P J Mitchell
- Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - George B Arhonditsis
- Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada.
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5
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Tomczyk P, Wiatkowski M. Impact of a small hydropower plant on water quality dynamics in a diversion and natural river channel. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2021; 50:1156-1170. [PMID: 34328654 DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This study innovatively evaluates the impact of hydropower plants located in a diversion channel on water quality dynamics. The spatial characteristics of water in the diversion channel above and below a hydropower plant were assessed; specifically, the investigation was conducted in the watercourse undeveloped by the hydropower plant and at reference points. Among the five analyzed points, the strongest statistically significant changes were observed in electrical conductivity, pH, and dissolved oxygen. Statistical analyses showed a similar, statistically significant relationship for most months. The water quality indicators proposed in this study help assess hydropower plants' impact on water quality dynamics because they enable water comparison at different locations. The best water quality, as calculated using designated indices, was recorded below the hydropower plant. Among the physicochemical parameter values, the most noticeable change occurred in dissolved oxygen below the hydropower plant and below the fixed weir; its value was 8.10 and 5.32% higher in the two locations at the reference point below the hydropower facility. Moreover, the NH4 -N content was higher by 7.06% below the weir than the point below the hydropower plant. In the long term, this research may help plant operators manage water resources on watercourses with hydropower development more efficiently, according to sustainable development principles. This research will contribute to the rational management of such facilities on diversion channels considering sustainable water management principles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Tomczyk
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw Univ. of Environmental and Life Sciences, plac Grunwaldzki 24, 50-363, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Mirosław Wiatkowski
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw Univ. of Environmental and Life Sciences, plac Grunwaldzki 24, 50-363, Wrocław, Poland
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6
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Millera Ferriz L, Ponton DE, Storck V, Leclerc M, Bilodeau F, Walsh DA, Amyot M. Role of organic matter and microbial communities in mercury retention and methylation in sediments near run-of-river hydroelectric dams. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 774:145686. [PMID: 33609815 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Run-of-river power plants (RoRs) are expected to triple in number over the next decades in Canada. These structures are not anticipated to considerably promote the mobilization and transport of mercury (Hg) and its subsequent microbial transformation to methylmercury (MeHg), a neurotoxin able to biomagnify in food webs up to humans. To test whether construction of RoRs had an effect on Hg transport and transformation, we studied Hg and MeHg concentrations, organic matter contents and methylating microbial community abundance and composition in the sediments of a section of the St. Maurice River (Quebec, Canada). This river section has been affected by the construction of two RoR dams and its watershed has been disturbed by a forest fire, logging, and the construction of wetlands. Higher total Hg (THg) and MeHg concentrations were observed in the surface sediments of the flooded sites upstream of the RoRs. These peaks in THg and MeHg were correlated with organic matter proportions in the sediments (r2 = 0.87 and 0.82, respectively). In contrast, the proportion of MeHg, a proxy for methylation potential, was best explained by the carbon to nitrogen ratio suggesting the importance of terrigenous organic matter as labile substrate for Hg methylation in this system. Metagenomic analysis of Hg-methylating communities based on the hgcA functional gene marker indicated an abundance of methanogens, sulfate reducers and fermenters, suggesting that these metabolic guilds may be primary Hg methylators in these surface sediments. We propose that RoR pondages act as traps for sediments, organic matter and Hg, and that this retention can be amplified by other disturbances of the watershed such as forest fire and logging. RoR flooded sites can be conducive to Hg methylation in sediments and may act as gateways for bioaccumulation and biomagnification of MeHg along food webs, particularly in disturbed watersheds.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Millera Ferriz
- Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montreal H2V 2S9, QC, Canada; Biology Department, Concordia University, Montreal H4B 1R6, QC, Canada; GRIL, Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie, Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Campus MIL, Montreal H3C 3J7, QC, Canada
| | - D E Ponton
- Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montreal H2V 2S9, QC, Canada; GRIL, Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie, Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Campus MIL, Montreal H3C 3J7, QC, Canada
| | - V Storck
- Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montreal H2V 2S9, QC, Canada; Biology Department, Concordia University, Montreal H4B 1R6, QC, Canada
| | - M Leclerc
- Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montreal H2V 2S9, QC, Canada; GRIL, Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie, Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Campus MIL, Montreal H3C 3J7, QC, Canada
| | - F Bilodeau
- Hydro-Québec Production, Environment Department, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - D A Walsh
- Biology Department, Concordia University, Montreal H4B 1R6, QC, Canada; GRIL, Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie, Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Campus MIL, Montreal H3C 3J7, QC, Canada
| | - M Amyot
- Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montreal H2V 2S9, QC, Canada; GRIL, Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie, Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Campus MIL, Montreal H3C 3J7, QC, Canada.
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7
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Leclerc M, Harrison MC, Storck V, Planas D, Amyot M, Walsh DA. Microbial Diversity and Mercury Methylation Activity in Periphytic Biofilms at a Run-of-River Hydroelectric Dam and Constructed Wetlands. mSphere 2021; 6:e00021-21. [PMID: 33731467 PMCID: PMC8546676 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00021-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Periphytic biofilms have the potential to greatly influence the microbial production of the neurotoxicant monomethylmercury in freshwaters although few studies have simultaneously assessed periphyton mercury methylation and demethylation rates and the microbial communities associated with these transformations. We performed a field study on periphyton from a river affected by run-of-river power plants and artificial wetlands in a boreal landscape (Québec, Canada). In situ incubations were performed on three sites using environmental concentrations of isotopically enriched monomethylmercury (MM198Hg) and inorganic mercury (200Hg) for demethylation and methylation rate measurements. Periphytic microbial communities were investigated through 16S rRNA gene analyses and metagenomic screenings for the hgcA gene, involved in mercury methylation. Positive mercury methylation rates ([5.9 ± 3.4] × 10-3 day-1) were observed only in the wetlands, and demethylation rates averaged 1.78 ± 0.21 day-1 for the three studied sites. The 16S rRNA gene analyses revealed Proteobacteria as the most abundant phylum across all sites (36.3% ± 1.4%), from which families associated with mercury methylation were mostly found in the wetland site. Metagenome screening for HgcA identified 24 different hgcA sequences in the constructed wetland site only, associated with 8 known families, where the iron-reducing Geobacteraceae were the most abundant. This work brings new information on mercury methylation in periphyton from habitats of impacted rivers, associating it mostly with putative iron-reducing bacteria.IMPORTANCE Monomethylmercury (MMHg) is a biomagnifiable neurotoxin of global concern with risks to human health mostly associated with fish consumption. Hydroelectric reservoirs are known to be sources of MMHg many years after their impoundment. Little is known, however, on run-of-river dams flooding smaller terrestrial areas, although their numbers are expected to increase considerably worldwide in decades to come. Production of MMHg is associated mostly with anaerobic processes, but Hg methylation has been shown to occur in periphytic biofilms located in oxic zones of the water column. Therefore, in this study, we investigated in situ production of MMHg by periphytic communities in habitats impacted by the construction of a run-of-river dam by combining transformation rate measurements with genomic approaches targeting hgcAB genes, responsible for mercury methylation. These results provide extended knowledge on mercury methylators in river ecosystems impacted by run-of-river dams in temperate habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Leclerc
- GRIL, Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- GRIL, Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Veronika Storck
- GRIL, Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Dolors Planas
- GRIL, Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Marc Amyot
- GRIL, Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - David A Walsh
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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8
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Ponton DE, Lavoie RA, Leclerc M, Bilodeau F, Planas D, Amyot M. Understanding Food Web Mercury Accumulation Through Trophic Transfer and Carbon Processing along a River Affected by Recent Run-of-river Dams. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:2949-2959. [PMID: 33534545 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c07015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Unlike large dams which favor methylation of Hg in flooded soils over long periods, run-of-river dams are designed to flood a limited area of soils and are therefore not expected to significantly affect mercury (Hg) cycling or carbon processing. We studied the Hg and carbon cycles within food webs from several sectors along the Saint-Maurice River, Quebec, Canada, that differ in how they are influenced by two run-of-river dams and other watershed disturbances. We observed peak Hg concentrations in fish five-year postimpoundment, but these levels were reduced three years after this peak. Methylmercury concentrations in low trophic level fish and invertebrates were related to their carbon source (δ13C) rather than their trophic positions (δ15N). Biomagnification, measured by trophic magnification slopes, was driven mainly by methylmercury concentrations in low-trophic level organisms and environmental factors related to organic matter degradation and Hg-methylation. River sectors, δ13C and δ15N, predicted up to 80% of the variability in food web methylmercury concentrations. The installation of run-of-river dams and the related pondages, in association with other watershed disturbances, altered carbon processing, promoted Hg-methylation and its accumulation at the base of the food web, and led to a temporary increase in Hg levels in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic E Ponton
- Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie (GRIL), Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H2V 0B3, Canada
| | - Raphaël A Lavoie
- Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie (GRIL), Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H2V 0B3, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 801-1550 Avenue d'Estimauville, Québec, Québec G1J 0C3, Canada
| | - Maxime Leclerc
- Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie (GRIL), Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H2V 0B3, Canada
| | - François Bilodeau
- Direction Environnement, Hydro-Québec, 800 Boul. De Maisonneuve Est, Montréal, Québec H2Z 1A4, Canada
| | - Dolors Planas
- GRIL, Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec H2X 3Y7, Canada
| | - Marc Amyot
- Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie (GRIL), Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H2V 0B3, Canada
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9
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Brasso R, Rittenhouse KA, Winder VL. Do songbirds in wetlands show higher mercury bioaccumulation relative to conspecifics in non-wetland habitats? ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2020; 29:1183-1194. [PMID: 31942663 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-020-02160-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Environmental conditions in wetlands facilitate favorable biogeochemical conditions for the conversion of inorganic mercury into methylmercury. For this reason, wetlands are increasingly classified as mercury hotspots, places where biota exhibit elevated mercury concentrations. While it is clear that wetlands play an important role in methylmercury production, factors such as geographic variation in mercury deposition, wetland type, and trophic dynamics can cause variation in mercury dynamics and bioaccumulation in biota occupying wetlands or connected to wetland trophic systems. Here, we use songbirds as bioindicators in a two-pronged approach aimed at evaluating the state of our understanding of mercury bioaccumulation by songbirds in wetland ecosystems. First, we use a case study in southeast Missouri to compare blood mercury concentrations in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) and eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) occupying wetland and non-wetland habitats to test the hypothesis that songbirds in wetlands will have higher mercury bioaccumulation than those in non-wetlands. Adult tree swallows in wetlands had significantly higher blood mercury concentrations than those in non-wetlands; however, no difference between ecosystems was detected in eastern bluebirds. Second, we present a review of the current literature on mercury in songbirds in wetland ecosystems across North America. Mercury concentrations in songbirds varied among wetland types and with geographic location, often in an unpredictable manner. Mercury concentrations in songbird blood varied 3-10 fold at locations separated only by ~10 to several hundred kilometers. This magnitude of difference in blood mercury concentrations among wetlands exceeds documented differences between wetland and non-wetland ecosystems. Therefore, we caution against the automatic assumption that songbirds occupying wetlands will have higher mercury bioaccumulation than conspecifics living in other habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecka Brasso
- Department of Zoology, Weber State University, Ogden, UT, 84408, USA.
| | - Katie Ann Rittenhouse
- Department of Biology, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO, 63701, USA
| | - Virginia L Winder
- Department of Biology, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS, 66002, USA
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10
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Chételat J, Ackerman JT, Eagles-Smith CA, Hebert CE. Methylmercury exposure in wildlife: A review of the ecological and physiological processes affecting contaminant concentrations and their interpretation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 711:135117. [PMID: 31831233 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) can result in detrimental health effects in wildlife. With advances in ecological indicators and analytical techniques for measurement of MeHg in a variety of tissues, numerous processes have been identified that can influence MeHg concentrations in wildlife. This review presents a synthesis of theoretical principals and applied information for measuring MeHg exposure and interpreting MeHg concentrations in wildlife. Mercury concentrations in wildlife are the net result of ecological processes influencing dietary exposure combined with physiological processes that regulate assimilation, transformation, and elimination. Therefore, consideration of both physiological and ecological processes should be integrated when formulating biomonitoring strategies. Ecological indicators, particularly stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur, compound-specific stable isotopes, and fatty acids, can be effective tools to evaluate dietary MeHg exposure. Animal species differ in their physiological capacity for MeHg elimination, and animal tissues can be inert or physiologically active, act as sites of storage, transformation, or excretion of MeHg, and vary in the timing of MeHg exposure they represent. Biological influences such as age, sex, maternal transfer, and growth or fasting are also relevant for interpretation of tissue MeHg concentrations. Wildlife tissues that represent current or near-term bioaccumulation and in which MeHg is the predominant mercury species (such as blood and eggs) are most effective for biomonitoring ecosystems and understanding landscape drivers of MeHg exposure. Further research is suggested to critically evaluate the use of keratinized external tissues to measure MeHg bioaccumulation, particularly for less-well studied wildlife such as reptiles and terrestrial mammals. Suggested methods are provided to effectively use wildlife for quantifying patterns and drivers of MeHg bioaccumulation over time and space, as well as for assessing the potential risk and toxicological effects of MeHg on wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Chételat
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada.
| | - Joshua T Ackerman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA 95620, United States
| | - Collin A Eagles-Smith
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, United States
| | - Craig E Hebert
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada
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López-Perea JJ, Laguna C, Jiménez-Moreno M, Rodríguez Martín-Doimeadios RC, Feliu J, Mateo R. Metals and metalloids in blood and feathers of common moorhens (Gallinula chloropus) from wetlands that receive treated wastewater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 646:84-92. [PMID: 30048871 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We addressed the hypothesis that birds in eutrophic wetlands receiving wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents are exposed to high levels of metals and metalloids and this may drive an ecological trap in some species attracted to these highly productive ecosystems. Levels of metals and metalloids were determined in sediment and in blood and feathers of common moorhens (Gallinula chloropus) from two wetlands in Central Spain: Navaseca Pond, which receives directly the effluent of a WWTP; and Tablas de Daimiel National Park, which is a floodplain less affected by urban discharges. Sediment concentrations of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb were higher in Navaseca Pond than in Tablas de Daimiel; only Se was higher in Tablas de Daimiel than in Navaseca. Blood levels of Hg and Se were higher in moorhens from Tablas de Daimiel than those from Navaseca. In the case of Hg these levels were below the threshold of adverse effect, but Se levels in 24% of moorhens from Tablas de Daimiel were above the threshold value associated with Se toxicity in birds (1000 ng/mL). In feathers, Hg, Se, Mn, Cu and As levels were higher in Tablas de Daimiel than in Navaseca. Body condition of moorhens was negatively associated with blood Se levels in the moorhens from Tablas de Daimiel. We can reject the hypothesis of a higher accumulation of metals and metalloids in birds associated with the WWTP effluent, but Se levels may need further research considering the nature of the floodplain of Tablas de Daimiel National Park.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhon J López-Perea
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Celia Laguna
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - María Jiménez-Moreno
- Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Bioquímica, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | | | - Jordi Feliu
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Rafael Mateo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain.
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