Methylmercury in marine ecosystems: Spatial patterns and processes of production, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

EcoHealth

Publication Date

12-1-2008

Abstract

The spatial variation of MeHg production, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification in marine food webs is poorly characterized but critical to understanding the links between sources and higher trophic levels, such as fish that are ultimately vectors of human and wildlife exposure. This article discusses both large and local scale processes controlling Hg supply, methylation, bioaccumulation, and transfer in marine ecosystems. While global estimates of Hg supply suggest important open ocean reservoirs of MeHg, only coastal processes and food webs are known sources of MeHg production, bioaccumulation, and bioadvection. The patterns observed to date suggest that not all sources and biotic receptors are spatially linked, and that physical and ecological processes are important in transferring MeHg from source regions to bioaccumulation in marine food webs and from lower to higher trophic levels. © 2008 International Association for Ecology and Health.

Volume

5

Issue

4

First Page

399

Last Page

408

DOI

10.1007/s10393-008-0201-1

ISSN

16129202

E-ISSN

16129210

Link to Full Text

Share

 
COinS