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Uptake and Trophic Transfer for Mercury and Methylmercury at the Base of Marine Food Webs Kathleen J

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Uptake and Trophic Transfer for Mercury and Methylmercury at the Base of Marine Food Webs Kathleen J University of Connecticut OpenCommons@UConn Doctoral Dissertations University of Connecticut Graduate School 3-31-2016 Uptake and Trophic Transfer for Mercury and Methylmercury at the Base of Marine Food Webs Kathleen J. Gosnell University of Connecticut - Storrs, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://opencommons.uconn.edu/dissertations Recommended Citation Gosnell, Kathleen J., "Uptake and Trophic Transfer for Mercury and Methylmercury at the Base of Marine Food Webs" (2016). Doctoral Dissertations. 1043. https://opencommons.uconn.edu/dissertations/1043 Uptake and Trophic Transfer for Mercury and Methylmercury at the Base of Marine Food Webs Kathleen Joëhr Gosnell, PhD University of Connecticut, 2016 Methylmercury (MeHg) is bioconcentrated in phytoplankton and transferred via consumption to zooplankton, planktivorous fish, and eventually larger predators. This dissertation research investigated the transfer of Hg and MeHg from phytoplankton to zooplankton through laboratory experiments and field measurements for several different realms of the marine environment, including coastal, oceanic, and polar regions. Phytoplankton samples were size fractioned into 0.2-5 µm, 5-20 µm, and seston of >20 µm samples, and demonstrate distinctive regional and global variations. The MeHg bioconcentration factors (logBCF) for phytoplankton in the Pacific Ocean had logBCF values that averaged 5.7 ± 1.0 and were higher than the range for Long Island Sound and coastal regions (2.6-5). Zooplankton samples were analyzed for Hg and MeHg at size fractionations of 0.2-0.5 mm, 0.5-1.0 mm, 1.0-2.0 mm and >2.0 mm. The %MeHg in the organisms was typically highest in the largest size class, displaying MeHg bioaccumulation for increasing zooplankton sizes. The carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N) and sulfur (δ34S) isotopes were also evaluated, and demonstrate characteristic feeding sources and patterns for zooplankton Hg and MeHg accumulation. Feeding experiments were performed using stable isotopes of inorganic Hg 200 199 ( Hg) and MeHg (CH3 Hg) in order to determine assimilation efficiencies (AE) and uptake and transfer of Hg and MeHg into marine diatoms and the copepod Acartia tonsa. The average AEs were 199 200 much greater for CH3 Hg (~85%) than for Hg (~35%) demonstrating more efficient transfer of MeHg at the planktonic level. Furthermore, these experiments gave evidence for active uptake of MeHg into algae at low (~pM) concentrations. Coastal estuarine uptake experiments for Hg isotope species directly from sediment were also undertaken, and demonstrate that sedimentary sources have a limited and highly variable impact on coastal phytoplankton MeHg accumulation. Uptake and Trophic Transfer for Mercury and Methylmercury at the Base of Marine Food Webs Kathleen Joëhr Gosnell B.S., Humboldt State University, 2003 M.S., Florida State University, 2010 A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Connecticut 2016 ii Copyright by Kathleen Joëhr Gosnell 2016 iii APPROVAL PAGE Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation Uptake and Trophic Transfer for Mercury and Methylmercury at the Base of Marine Food Webs Presented by Kathleen Joëhr Gosnell, B.S., M.S. Major Advisor ______________________________________________________________________ Robert P. Mason Associate Advisor ___________________________________________________________________ Hans G. Dam Associate Advisor ___________________________________________________________________ Craig Tobias Associate Advisor ___________________________________________________________________ Penny Vlahos University of Connecticut 2016 iv Acknowledgements I would like to thank my advisor Robert Mason for all of the guidance and support throughout my dissertation research. I would also like to thank my committee members Hans Dam, Craig Tobias and Penny Vlahos for their assistance and suggestions towards this research, as well as allowing me to use necessary equipment and laboratory space to undertake and complete this work. This research relied on multiple opportunistic and planned research cruises, therefore many thanks go out to the wonderful captains and enthusiastic crews for the: R/V Atlantic Explorer, R/V Kilo Moana, R/V Cape Hatteras, R/V Nunavut and R/V Connecticut. As well as much appreciated assistance with navigation and sampling from: Charlie Woods, Dave Cohen, Turner Cabaniss, Prentiss Balcom, Veronica Ortiz, Tristan Kading, Anne Sørenson and Brian DiMento. Additional cruise collaboration was provided by Carl Lamborg, George McManus, Amina Schartup, Kathleen Munson and Gretchen Swarr. I would also like to thank Celia Chen, Kate Buckman, Amanda Curtis, Nashaat Mazrui, Emily Seelen, Sofi Jonsson, Vivien Taylor and Brian Jackson for estuarine sampling support. Also, many thanks go to Claudia Koerting, Dave Cady, Jamie Vaudrey and Bill Gilhooly for ancillitory analysis assistance. Additional thanks goes to Zair Burris, Michael Finiguerra and the interns for advice and assistance towards culturing marine plankton. I would like to further thank Deb Schuler and everyone in and around the Mason lab for tolerating my eclectic and energetic music selections while undertaking sampling and laboratory analysis. I would especially like to thank my parents, Ronald & Joaleen Gosnell, in addition to my siblings, Emily and Daniel, and their families, as well as Robert Lu, Aileen, and all of my friends near and far for all of the support and encouragement throughout my dissertation research. Finally, I would like to acknowledge National Science Foundation (NSF) Chemical Oceanography (Grant # 1260416) for the primary support of this dissertation research. Additional funding was provide by a Interdisciplinary Research and training Initiative on Coastal ecosystems and Human Health (I-RICH) fellowship, a Eastern Asia and Pacific Summer Institute (NSF-EAPSI) fellowship, in addition to several University of Connecticut Pre-doctoral award of excellence fellowships. v Table of Contents: Abstract ………………………………………………………………….……….……...... i Acknowledgements ………………………………..……………………………................ v Table of Contents ………………………………………………………..………………… vi List of Tables …………………………………………………………………………….... viii List of Figures …………………………………………………………………….…....….. x Chapter1: Introduction ……………………….……………………………………...…… 2 1.1 Background & Relevance ………………………...………………...……….… 2 1.2 Bioaccumulation Parameters …………………………………....……….…..... 5 1.3 Environmental Parameters ………………………………………....…….…..... 9 Chapter 2: Mercury and Methylmercury Incidence and Bioaccumulation Plankton from the Central Pacific Ocean ……………………………………………………………....……... 14 2.1 Introduction ………………………………………………………............….… 15 2.2 Methods …………………………………………………………….........….… 18 2.2.1 Sample Collection ………….…………………………………...….... 18 2.2.2 Analytical ……………….…………………………………...........…. 21 2.3 Results ……………………………….………………………………………… 23 2.3.1 Phytoplankton ……………………………………………………….. 23 2.3.2 Zooplankton …………………………………………………………. 30 2.4 Discussion ……………………………………………………………………... 34 2.4.1 Phytoplankton ………………………………………………..…….... 34 2.4.2 Zooplankton ……………………………………...…………..……… 38 Chapter 3: Seasonal Trophic Transfer Dynamics of Mercury species in Zooplankton and Phytoplankton of Long Island Sound …………………………………………..……...….. 42 3.1 Introduction ………………………………………………..…………...…….... 43 3.2 Methods …………………………………………………………….....………. 47 3.2.1Sample Collection ………………………………………..….……….. 47 3.2.2 Analytical ………………………………………………..….……...... 49 3.3 Results ………………………………………………………………...……...... 51 3.3.1 Phytoplankton & Water Column …………………………..………... 51 3.3.2 Zooplankton …………………………………………………..……... 59 3.3.3 Stable Isotopes ……………………………………………..………... 68 3.4 Discussion …………………………………………………………..….…...…. 78 3.4.1 Phytoplankton ………………………………………………...…...… 78 3.4.2 Zooplankton …………………………………………………..…...… 82 3.4.2.1 Long Island Sound …………………………………..…...... 82 3.4.2.2 Shelf Stations …………….…………………………..…..... 90 3.5 Conclusions ………………………………………………………..…………... 93 vi Chapter 4: Stable Isotope Quantification of Trophic Transfer for Inorganic and Methylmercury from Marine Diatoms to the copepod Acartia tonsa and Native LIS Zooplankton Species. 97 4.1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………...…...... 98 4.2 Methods ………………………………………………………………….......... 100 4.2.1 Experimental ………………………………………………....…........ 100 4.2.2 Analytical …………………………………………………...……….. 103 4.3 Results & Discussion …………………………………………………….……. 104 4.3.1 Algal Uptake ………………………………………………………… 104 4.3.2 Feeding Copepods ………………………………………………..….. 113 4.3.3 Field Feeding Experiments ………………………………………...... 119 Chapter 5: Factors Controlling Uptake of Mercury and Methylmercury into Algae from Sediment……………………………………………………….………………….…..…… 128 5.1 Introduction ………………………………………………………………...….. 129 5.2 Methods ……………………………………………………….…………...….. 131 5.2.1 Experimental Setup ……………………………………….…………. 131 5.2.2 Analytical ……………………………………………………..…....... 135 5.3 Results ……………………………………………………………….….…..…. 136 5.3.1 Treatment 1 (background control) …………………………….….…. 137 5.3.2 Treatment 2 (200Hg isotope into sediment) …………………….......... 138 199 5.3.3 Treatment 3 (CH3 Hg isotope into sediment) ……………..………. 141 200 199 5.3.4 Treatment 4 ( Hg & CH3 Hg isotope into sediment) ……..……... 144 200 199 5.3.5 Treatment 5 ( Hg & CH3 Hg isotope into overlying water) …....... 148 5.4 Discussion …………………………………………………………………..…. 152 Chapter 6: Current Regional and Global Overview for Trophic Transfer of Mercury Species in Plankton: Proposed
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