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Effects of macrophytes on the fate of mercury in aquatic systems
Author(s) -
Cosio Claudia,
Flück Rebecca,
Regier Nicole,
Slaveykova Vera I.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.2499
Subject(s) - macrophyte , wetland , mercury (programming language) , trophic level , environmental science , marsh , rhizosphere , methylmercury , food web , aquatic ecosystem , ecology , aquatic plant , salt marsh , environmental chemistry , bioaccumulation , biology , chemistry , genetics , computer science , bacteria , programming language
Abstract Vegetated and shallow areas such as wetlands and salt marshes, as well as freshwater lakes and rivers, have been identified as hotspots for Hg methylation. The presence of aquatic macrophytes, the predominant primary producers in shallow waters, plays an important but still poorly understood role in the fate of Hg in these environments. The present review focuses on the influences of macrophytes on Hg speciation and distribution in sediments, the rhizosphere, and the water column; on Hg transformation; and on Hg release to the environment, including transfer to the trophic web. Future research will require an improved understanding of the mechanisms and the factors controlling these aspects as well as a broader general view. Thus, the main gaps in knowledge are also discussed. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:1225–1237. © 2014 SETAC