Abstract
Dietary uptake is key for transferring potentially toxic contaminants, such as mercury (Hg) and essential dietary nutrients, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), to consumers at higher trophic levels of aquatic food webs. We evaluated the role of diet sources for Hg bioaccumulation and PUFA retention in fish across lake food webs in seven Swedish lakes and two Chinese reservoirs. Fish total Hg (THg) and methyl-Hg (MeHg) differed greatly between the two countries: the Chinese fish contained less than 300 ng g−1 dry weight (d.w.) THg with less than 50% as MeHg, versus the Swedish fishes which contained approximately 2000 ng g−1 d.w. THg and nearly 100% as MeHg. Fatty acids enrichment of linoleic acids (LIN) were more prevalent in the Chinese fishes regardless of size (p < 0.05). Here we examined food web length, fish growth rates, and fatty acids patterns in relation to the quality of fish as a food source for both Hg and FA. Contrary to the expectation that biodilution of Hg throughout the food chain would explain these differences, a more complex picture emerged with high levels of Hg at the base of the food web in the Chinese reservoirs, a decoupling of fatty acid and Hg bioaccumulation, and a major role for both fish stocking and fish feed. It is hoped that this work will provide a nuanced picture of fish quality as a food source in different ecosystems.
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Acknowledgements
PW and HY have received support from the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet, VR) through the Sino-Swedish Mercury Management Research Framework (Contract 2013-6978). We appreciate supports from Staffan Åkerblom, and many staff members in Biodiversity Lab at Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. And many thanks to staff members with Analytical Services at the Biotron Centre for Experimental Climate Change Research at Western University.
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PW, HY, MK, A-KB, BB and KB contributed to the study conception and design. PW, MJ and MK performed material preparation, data collection and analysis. PW prepared the manuscript with contributions from all co-authors.
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Wu, P., Yan, H., Kainz, M.J. et al. Investigating the diet source influence on freshwater fish mercury bioaccumulation and fatty acids—Experiences from Swedish lakes and Chinese reservoirs. Ecotoxicology (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-023-02712-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-023-02712-0