The relationships between mercury and selenium in plankton and fish from a tropical food web

Background, aim, and scope  Selenium (Se) has been shown to reduce mercury (Hg) bioavailability and trophic transfer in aquatic ecosystems. The study of methylmercury (MeHg) and Se bioaccumulation by plankton is therefore of great significance in order to obtain a better understanding of the estuarine processes concerning Hg and Se accumulation and biomagnification throughout the food web. In the western South Atlantic, few studies have documented trace element and MeHg in fish tissues. No previous study about trace elements and MeHg in plankton has been conducted concerning tropical marine food webs. Se, Hg, and MeHg were determined in two size classes of plankton, microplankton (70–290 μm) and mesoplankton (≥290 μm), and also in muscle tissues and livers of four fish species of different trophic levels (Mugil liza, a planktivorous fish; Bagre spp., an omnivorous fish; Micropogonias furnieri, a benthic carnivorous fish; and Centropomus undecimalis, a pelagic carnivorous fish) from a polluted estuary in the Brazilian Southeast coast, Guanabara Bay. Biological and ecological factors such as body length, feeding habits, and trophic transfer were considered in order to outline the relationships between these two elements. The differences in trace element levels among the different trophic levels were investigated. Materials and methods  Fish were collected from July 2004 to August 2005 at Guanabara Bay. Plankton was collected from six locations within the bay in August 2005. Total mercury (THg) was determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS) with sodium borohydride as a reducing agent. MeHg analysis was conducted by digesting samples with an alcoholic potassium hydroxide solution followed by dithizone-toluene extraction. MeHg was then identified and quantified in the toluene layer by gas chromatography with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD). Se was determined by AAS using graphite tube with Pin platform and Zeeman background correction. Results and discussion  Total mercury, MeHg, and Se increased with plankton size class. THg and Se values were below 2.0 and 4.8 μg g⁻¹ dry wt in microplankton and mesoplankton, respectively. A large excess of molar concentrations of Se in relation to THg was observed in both plankton size class and both fish tissues. Plankton presented the lowest concentrations of this element. In fish, the liver showed the highest THg and Se concentrations. THg and Se in muscle were higher in Centropomus undecimalis (3.4 and 25.5 nmol g⁻¹) than in Micropogonias furnieri (2.9 and 15.3 nmol g⁻¹), Bagre spp (1.3 and 3.4 nmol g⁻¹) and Mugil liza (0.3 and 5.1 nmol g⁻¹), respectively. The trophic transfer of THg and Se was observed between trophic levels from prey (considering microplankton and mesoplankton) to top predator (fish). The top predators in this ecosystem, Centropomus undecimalis and Micropogonias furnieri, presented similar MeHg concentrations in muscles and liver. Microplankton presented lower ratios of methylmercury to total mercury concentration (MeHg/THg) (34%) than those found in mesoplankton (69%) and in the muscle of planktivorous fish, Mugil liza (56%). The other fish species presented similar MeHg/THg in muscle tissue (of around 100%). M. liza showed lower MeHg/THg in the liver than C. undecimalis (35%), M. furnieri (31%) and Bagre spp. (22%). Significant positive linear relationships were observed between the molar concentrations of THg and Se in the muscle tissue of M. furnieri and M. liza. These fish species also showed significant inverse linear relationships between hepatic MeHg and Se, suggesting a strong antagonistic effect of Se on MeHg assimilation and accumulation. Conclusions  Differences found among the concentrations THg, MeHg, and Se in microplankton, mesozooplankton, and fishes were probably related to the preferred prey and bioavailability of these elements in the marine environment. The increasing concentration of MeHg and Se at successively higher trophic levels of the food web of Guanabara Bay corresponds to a transfer between trophic levels from the lower trophic level to the top-level predator, suggesting that MeHg and Se were biomagnified throughout the food web. Hg and Se were positively correlated with the fish standard length, suggesting that larger and older fish bioaccumulated more of these trace elements. THg, MeHg, and Se were a function of the plankton size. Recommendations and perspectives  There is a need to assess the role of selenium in mercury accumulation in tropical ecosystems. Without further studies of the speciation of selenium in livers of fishes from this region, the precise role of this element, if any, cannot be verified in positively affecting mercury accumulation. Further studies of this element in the study of marine species should include liver samples containing relatively high concentrations of mercury. A basin-wide survey of selenium in fishes is also recommended.     

长江流域污染物输出对河口水质的影响

基于EFDC模型建立长江口及邻近海域三维水质模型,模拟2004—2007年不同水期的ρ(COD_Mn)、ρ(DIN)、ρ(PO₄3--P)状况,分析水质分布的变化特征,研究流域污染物输出对河口水质分布的影响. 根据GB 3097—1997《海水水质标准》,长江口门以上ρ(COD_Mn)为Ⅱ类水质,ρ(DIN)、ρ(PO₄3--P)为劣Ⅳ类,并且有明显的分层现象. 枯水期各指标等值线均向东北方向延伸,丰水期和平水期向东南延伸,丰水期流域污染物输出对河口水质的影响最大,不同类别水体的分布形态和水体面积年际变化不明显. 按不同时期ρ(COD_Mn)、ρ(DIN)、ρ(PO₄3--P)分布面积进行统计,长江口ρ(COD_Mn)、ρ(DIN)、ρ(PO₄3--P)分布与流域污染物输出之间有显著关系,河口水质分布面积与流域污染物输出之间存在定量的压力-响应关系.ρ(COD_Mn)、ρ(DIN)、ρ(PO₄3--P)达Ⅳ类以上水体面积(y)与流域污染物输出通量(x)的关系分别为:y_CODMn=2 061.4 ln x_CODMn-15 357.0,y_DIN=1 386.8 ln x_DIN-6 546.1,y_PO43--P=2 219.3 ln x_PO43--P-6 166.1.      

中国主要河口沉积物污染及潜在生态风险评价

采用单因子指数法和Hakanson生态风险指数法,通过分析长江口、珠江口、鸭绿江口和辽河口沉积物中典型污染要素PCB,Hg,Cd,Pb和As的含量,评价了上述河口沉积物的质量现状,定量确定了诸河口的潜在生态风险程度,结果表明,综合污染程度,长江口<鸭绿江口<珠江口<辽河口,长江口和鸭绿江口典型污染物的平均综合指数Cd分别为0.91和1.02,海域沉积物质量良好;而辽河口Cd污染程度较高(平均污染指数C if为3.38),珠江口As为中等污染参数(平均污染指数C if为1.57),潜在生态风险由低到高的排列顺序为鸭绿江口<长江口<珠江口<辽河口,Cd在辽河口具有较高的潜在生态风险(平均潜在风险参数E ir达101.53),而Hg在珠江口的局部海域具有中等潜在生态风险(潜在风险参数E ir达51.20).     

鸭绿江口及毗邻浅海沉积物重金属富集特征与潜在生态风险比较

为研究鸭绿江河口及毗邻浅海沉积物中重金属的污染状况,比较了鸭绿江口及毗邻浅海表层沉积物重金属的富集系数、多金属污染度的沿程变化,分析了重金属的分布富集规律;讨论了采用不同的背景值在潜在生态风险指数、地累积指数、生物效应浓度3种评价方法中的差异及其对生态风险评价结果的影响. 结果表明:鸭绿江口及毗邻浅海的潜在生态风险总体属于低风险等级,其中毗邻浅海和潮滩的重金属污染较轻,西汊道的污染相对较重. 重金属的高值分布区与混浊带具有一定的对应关系,但受人类活动的影响更大,对鸭绿江口及毗邻浅海表层沉积物重金属污染生态风险评价贡献率较高的重金属污染因子是Cu,Hg和Cd.      

污染负荷多情景变化下河流水质响应关系研究

以松花江哈尔滨段为研究对象,构建了EFDC水动力-水质模型,以主要污染物COD、NH₃-N为指标,结合情景分析方法对松花江哈尔滨段支流污染负荷多情景变化下对干流水质及下游出口断面水质进行量化评估.结果表明,大顶子山出口断面COD浓度值在满足Ⅲ类及以下水质要求时,阿什河口与呼兰河口的浓度在枯水期、桃花汛期、平水期和丰水期分别最高不能超过29.3、22.3、41.82和32.13mg/L以及47.75、36.27、65.4和41.47mg/L,大顶子山断面的NH₃-N浓度,枯水期保持在Ⅲ类,则要求阿什河口和呼兰河口NH₃-N浓度最高为8.73和2.92mg/L,桃花汛期保持在Ⅱ类时,则二者最高分别为6.3和2.23mg/L,枯水期大顶子山断面保持在I类时,阿什河口和呼兰河口则最高不能超过7.57和1.79mg/L.     

辽宁双台河口湿地生态安全评价

受人类活动强烈干扰,河口湿地的生态安全问题日益严峻。对湿地生态安全的评价研究应遵循"人—湿地"复合系统思想,文章坚持湿地可持续发展的时空观念,突出人为因素,兼顾自然因素,评价了双台河口湿地生态安全的空间状况,具体探讨了湿地核心地带生态安全的演化机理。结果表明:辽河三角洲地区生态安全水平空间差异较大,西市区、站前区为极不安全,鲅鱼圈区为不安全区,盘山县、双台子区、兴隆台区为临界安全区,老边区、大洼县为较安全区。双台河口湿地核心区所在的大洼地区,近7年来生态安全演变态势较好,由生态临界安全上升为较安全,但仍未达到理想安全状态,与周边县区生态安全等级不高有密切关系。最后提出了双台河口湿地生态安全的对策与建议。     

闽江河口潮汐沼泽湿地CO_2排放通量特征

以闽江河口区面积最大的鳝鱼滩湿地分布的3种植物沼泽湿地：土著种咸草（Cyperus malaccensis Lam.var.brevifolius Bocklr.）沼泽湿地、芦苇（Phragmites australis）沼泽湿地及外来入侵种互花米草（Spartina alterniflora Loisel.）沼泽湿地...     

黄河口新生湿地土壤Fe和Mn元素的空间分布特征

2009年5月,在今黄河入海口北部的新生湿地区域,依据植被类型设置9个采样区,研究了不同植物群落下湿地土壤Fe和Mn含量的空间分布特征.结果表明,不同类型湿地土壤的Fe、Mn含量在水平分布上由三棱蔗草-朝天委陵菜湿地到光滩呈波动上升趋势,在垂直分布上则表现为不同的波动变化特征.成土母质决定湿地土壤Fe、Mn含量的空间分布,而海水、植被和土壤细颗粒对其也有重要影响.相关分析表明,Fe、Mn之间以及二者与粉粒、TN、NO-3-N和有机质呈极显著正相关(P<0.01),与黏粒呈显著正相关(P<0.05),说明Fe、Mn与N具有较好的共存性,土壤细颗粒和有机质是影响土壤Fe、Mn分布的主导因素.黄河口新生湿地的Fe含量范围为16.49~33.11 g·kg-1,均值为22.54 g·kg-1,与苏北潮滩湿地,中国黄土高原黄土和中国土壤的背景值相近,但略低于长江口湿地,红树林湿地和内陆湖泊湿地.Mn含量范围为305.87~711.39mg·kg-1,均值为451.09 mg·kg-1,低于中国黄土高原黄土和中国土壤的Mn含量背景值.     

珠江口沉积物中生物有效性硅的赋存形态及释放研究

运用A Tessier逐步化学连续提取法,研究了珠江口沉积物中各种生物有效性硅:Ⅰ-可交换离子态、Ⅱ-碳酸盐结合态、Ⅲ-铁锰氧化物结合态、Ⅳ-有机质和硫化物结合态.研究表明:表层沉积物中,Ⅲ为优势赋存态.在沉积柱C2中,Ⅲ＞Ⅳ＞Ⅱ＞Ⅰ,Ⅰ、Ⅱ随深度变化无规律性,Ⅲ随深度先升高后下降,Ⅳ表层含量较高,到达一定深度(18 cm左右)后骤降.释放试验表明:振荡在一定时间内有利于硅释放;而盐度对硅释放的影响比较复杂,低盐度(5%以内),随盐度升高,释放量下降.当盐度继续升高时释放量又增加,但高盐度对硅释放影响不大;硅的释放在pH值=3～8范围内随着pH值升高而减少.     

长江入海口北支沿海滩涂养殖区底泥重金属污染特征及趋势评价

对长江入海口北支沿海滩涂养殖区底泥重金属污染的总体水平进行调查,结果表明,滩涂养殖区底泥重金属含量满足海洋沉积物质量一类标准要求,污染程度属于安全Ⅰ级水平,重金属潜在生态危害属轻微级别,6种重金属潜在生态危害由大到小排序依次为Cd﹥Hg﹥Cu﹥Cr﹥Pb﹥As,2005年～2011年,底泥重金属污染程度均处于安全的Ⅰ级水平。