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Mercury concentrations in landlocked Arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus ) from the Canadian Arctic. Part II: Influence of lake biotic and abiotic characteristics on geographic trends in 27 populations
Author(s) -
Gantner Nikolaus,
Muir Derek C.,
Power Michael,
Iqaluk Deborah,
Reist James D.,
Babaluk John A.,
Meili Markus,
Borg Hans,
Hammar Johan,
Michaud Wendy,
Dempson Brian,
Solomon Keith R.
Publication year - 2010
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.96
Subject(s) - arctic char , char , trophic level , arctic , salvelinus , environmental science , mercury (programming language) , ecology , abiotic component , ecoregion , latitude , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental chemistry , biology , physical geography , chemistry , geography , geology , fishery , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , geodesy , trout , pyrolysis , fish <actinopterygii> , computer science , programming language
Among‐lake variation in mercury (Hg) concentrations in landlocked Arctic char was examined in 27 char populations from remote lakes across the Canadian Arctic. A total of 520 landlocked Arctic char were collected from 27 lakes, as well as sediments and surface water from a subset of lakes in 1999, 2002, and 2005 to 2007. Size, length, age, and trophic position (δ 15 N) of individual char were determined and relationships with total Hg (THg) concentrations investigated, to identify a common covariate for adjustment using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). A subset of 216 char from 24 populations was used for spatial comparison, after length‐adjustment. The influence of trophic position and food web length and abiotic characteristics such as location, geomorphology, lake area, catchment area, catchment‐to‐lake area ratio of the lakes on adjusted THg concentrations in char muscle tissue were then evaluated. Arctic char from Amituk Lake (Cornwallis Island) had the highest Hg concentrations (1.31 µg/g wet wt), while Tessisoak Lake (Labrador, 0.07 µg/g wet wt) had the lowest. Concentrations of THg were positively correlated with size, δ 15 N, and age, respectively, in 88, 71, and 58% of 24 char populations. Length and δ 15 N were correlated in 67% of 24 char populations. Food chain length did not explain the differences in length‐adjusted THg concentrations in char. No relationships between adjusted THg concentrations in char and latitude or longitude were found, however, THg concentrations in char showed a positive correlation with catchment‐to‐lake area ratio. Furthermore, we conclude that inputs from the surrounding environment may influence THg concentrations, and will ultimately affect THg concentrations in char as a result of predicted climate‐driven changes that may occur in Arctic lake watersheds. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:633–643. © 2009 SETAC