Mercury levels in humpback whales, and other Southern Ocean marine megafauna

Bengtson Nash, S.M.; Casa, M.V.; Kawaguchi, S.; Staniland, I. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2736-9134; Bjerregaard, P.. 2021 Mercury levels in humpback whales, and other Southern Ocean marine megafauna. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 172, 112774. 6, pp. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112774

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Abstract/Summary

Mercury is a known potent neurotoxin. The biogeochemical cycle of mercury in the remote Antarctic region is still poorly understood, with Polar climate change contributing added complexity. Longitudinal biomonitoring of mercury accumulation in Antarctic marine megafauna can contribute top-down insight into the bio-physical drivers of wildlife exposure. The bioaccumulative nature of organic mercury renders high trophic predators at the greatest risk of elevated exposure. Humpback whales represent secondary consumers of the Antarctic sea-ice ecosystem and an ideal biomonitoring species for persistent and bioaccumulative compounds due to their extended life-spans. This study provides the first results of mercury accumulation in humpback whales, and places findings within the context of mercury accumulation in both prey, as well as six other species of Antarctic marine megafauna. Combined, these findings contribute new baseline information regarding mercury exposure to Antarctic wildlife, and highlights methodological prerequisites for routine mercury biomonitoring in wildlife via non-lethally biopsied superficial tissues.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112774
ISSN:	0025-326X
Additional Keywords:	Persistent contaminants, Antarctica, Biophysical drivers, Bioaccumulation, marine predators, Sentinel species
Date made live:	13 Aug 2021 07:42 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/530879

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