Impact of forest fire on the mercury stable isotope composition in litter and soil in the Amazon.

Mercury (Hg) emissions from forest fires, especially tropical forests such as the Amazonian forest, were shown to contribute significantly to the atmospheric mercury budget, but new methods are still necessary to improve the traceability and to reduce the great uncertainties related to this emission source. Recent studies have shown that the combustion process can result in Hg stable isotope fractionation that allows tracking coal combustion Hg emissions, as influenced by different factors such as combustion temperature. The main goal of the present study was, therefore, to investigate for the first time the potential of Hg stable isotopes to trace forest fire Hg emissions and pathways. More specifically, small-scale and a large scale prescribed forest fire experiments were conducted in the Brazilian Amazonian forest to study the impact of fire severity on Hg isotopic composition of litter, soil, and ash samples and associated Hg isotope fractionation pathways. In the small-scale experiment, no difference was found in the mercury isotopic composition of the samples collected before and after burning. In contrast, the larger-scale experiment resulted in significant mass dependent fractionation (MDF δ202Hg) in soils and ash suggesting that higher combustion temperature influence Hg isotopic fractionation with the emission of lighter Hg isotopes to the atmosphere and enrichment with heavier Hg in ashes. As for coal combustion, mass independent fractionation was not observed. To our knowledge, these results are the first to highlight the potential of forest fires to cause Hg isotopic fractionation, depending on the fire severity. The results also allowed to establish an isotopic fingerprint for tropical forest fire Hg emissions that corresponds to a mixture of litter and soil Hg isotopic composition (resulting atmospheric δ202Hg, Δ200Hg and Δ199Hg were -1.79 ± 0.24‰, -0.05 ± 0.04‰ and -0.45 ± 0.12‰, respectively).

Elevated Mercury Concentrations and Isotope Signatures (N, C, Hg) in Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares) from the Galápagos Marine Reserve and Waters off Ecuador.

We examined how dietary factors recorded by C and N influence Hg uptake in 347 individuals of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), an important subsistence resource from the Galápagos Marine Reserve (Ecuador) and the Ecuadorian mainland coast in 2015-2016. We found no differences in total Hg (THg) measured in red muscle between the two regions and no seasonal differences, likely due to the age of the fish and slow elimination rates of Hg. Our THg concentrations are comparable to those of other studies in the Pacific (0.20-9.60 mg/kg wet wt), but a subset of individuals exhibited the highest Hg concentrations yet reported in yellowfin tuna. Mercury isotope values differed between Δ199 Hg and δ202Hg in both regions (Δ199 Hg = 2.86 ± 0.04‰ vs. Δ199 Hg = 2.33 ± 0.07‰), likely related to shifting food webs and differing photochemical processing of Hg prior to entry into the food web. There were significantly lower values of both δ15 N and δ13 C in tuna from Galápagos Marine Reserve (δ15 N: 8.5-14.2‰, δ13 C: -18.5 to -16.1‰) compared with those from the Ecuadorian mainland coast (δ15 N: 8.3-14.4‰, δ13 C: -19.4 to -11.9‰), of which δ13 C values suggest spatially constrained movements of tuna. Results from the pooled analysis, without considering region, indicated that variations in δ13 C and δ15 N values tracked changes of Hg stable isotopes. Our data indicate that the individual tuna we used were resident fish of each region and were heavily influenced by upwellings related to the eastern Pacific oxygen minimum zone and the Humboldt Current System. The isotopes C, N, and Hg reflect foraging behavior mainly on epipelagic prey in shallow waters and that food web shifts drive Hg variations between these populations of tuna. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:2732-2744. © 2022 SETAC.

In Situ Photochemical Transformation of Hg Species and Associated Isotopic Fractionation in the Water Column of High-Altitude Lakes from the Bolivian Altiplano.

Photochemical reactions are major pathways for the removal of Hg species from aquatic ecosystems, lowering the concentration of monomethylmercury (MMHg) and its bioaccumulation in foodwebs. Here, we investigated the rates and environmental drivers of MMHg photodegradation and inorganic Hg (IHg) photoreduction in waters of two high-altitude lakes from the Bolivian Altiplano representing meso- to eutrophic conditions. We incubated three contrasting waters in situ at two depths after adding Hg-enriched isotopic species to derive rate constants. We found that transformations mostly occurred in subsurface waters exposed to UV radiation and were mainly modulated by the dissolved organic matter (DOM) level. In parallel, we incubated the same waters after the addition of low concentrations of natural MMHg and followed the stable isotope composition of the remaining Hg species by compound-specific isotope analysis allowing the determination of enrichment factors and mass-independent fractionation (MIF) slopes (Δ199Hg/Δ201Hg) during in situ MMHg photodegradation in natural waters. We found that MIF enrichment factors potentially range from -11 to -19‰ and average -14.3 ± 0.6‰ (1 SE). The MIF slope diverged depending on the DOM level, ranging from 1.24 ± 0.03 to 1.34 ± 0.02 for the low and high DOM waters, respectively, and matched the MMHg MIF slope recorded in fish from the same lake. Our in situ results thus reveal (i) a relatively similar extent of Hg isotopic fractionation during MMHg photodegradation among contrasted natural waters and compared to previous laboratory experiments and (ii) that the MMHg MIF recorded in fish is characteristic for the MMHg bonding environment. They will enable a better assessment of the extent and conditions conducive to MMHg photodegradation in aquatic ecosystems.

Hg concentrations and stable isotope variations in tropical fish species of a gold-mining-impacted watershed in French Guiana.

The aim of the study was to determine if gold-mining activities could impact the mercury (Hg) concentrations and isotopic signatures in freshwater fish consumed by riparian people in French Guiana. Total Hg, MeHg concentrations, and Hg stable isotopes ratios were analyzed in fish muscles from different species belonging to three feeding patterns (herbivorous, periphytophagous, and piscivorous). We compared tributaries impacted by gold-mining activities (Camopi, CR) with a pristine area upstream (Trois-Sauts, TS), along the Oyapock River. We measured δ15N and δ 13C to examine whether Hg patterns are due to differences in trophic level. Differences in δ 15N and δ 13C values between both studied sites were only observed for periphytophagous fish, due to difference of CN baselines, with enriched values at TS. Total Hg concentrations and Hg stable isotope signatures showed that Hg accumulated in fish from both areas has undergone different biogeochemical processes. Δ199Hg variation in fish (-0.5 to 0.2‰) was higher than the ecosystem baseline defined by a Δ199Hg of -0.66‰ in sediments, and suggested limited aqueous photochemical MeHg degradation. Photochemistry-corrected δ202Hg in fish was 0.7‰ higher than the baseline, consistent with biophysical and chemical isotope fractionation in the aquatic environment. While THg concentrations in periphytophagous fish were higher in the gold-mining area, disturbed by inputs of suspended particles, than in TS, the ensemble of Hg isotope shifts in fish is affected by the difference of biotic (methylation/demethylation) and abiotic (photochemistry) processes between both areas and did therefore not allow to resolve the contribution of gold-mining-related liquid Hg(0) in fish tissues. Mercury isotopes of MeHg in fish and lower trophic level organisms can be complementary to light stable isotope tracers.

The cost of gold: Mercury contamination of fishes in a Neotropical river food web

In South America, mercury contamination due to gold mining operations is a threat to both biodiversity and human health. We examined mercury (Hg) concentrations in fishes that constitute important subsistence fisheries from mined and non-mined tributaries in the middle Mazaruni River, Guyana. Mercury concentrations and trophic food web structure (based on carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes) were characterized for primary basal sources and 39 fish species representing seven trophic guilds. Fishes collected at mined sites had higher mercury concentrations; piscivores and carnivores had the highest Hg concentrations and exhibited significant Hg biomagnification. Our results showed that medium- to large-bodied fishes commonly eaten by local people contained Hg values that exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, and pose a health concern for riverine communities along the Mazaruni River that depend on fish as their main source of protein. Further research to determine the sources of Hg contamination and how it affects human health in this neotropical river must become a top priority. In addition, more research on how Hg contamination impacts the fishes themselves and overall aquatic biodiversity is also needed in the Mazaruni River which has both high fish endemism and diversity.(AU)

Na América do Sul, a contaminação por mercúrio devido às operações de mineração de ouro é uma ameaça à biodiversidade e à saúde humana. Nós examinamos as concentrações de mercúrio (Hg) em peixes que constituem importantes pescarias de subsistência em afluentes minerados e não minerados no médio rio Mazaruni, Guiana. As concentrações de mercúrio e a estrutura trófica da teia alimentar (baseada em isótopos estáveis ​​de carbono e nitrogênio) foram caracterizadas para fontes basais primárias e 39 espécies de peixes representando sete guildas tróficas. Os peixes coletados em locais minerados tiveram maiores concentrações de mercúrio; piscívoros e carnívoros tiveram as maiores concentrações de Hg e exibiram biomagnificação significativa de Hg. Nossos resultados mostraram que peixes de corpo médio a grande comumente consumidos pela população local continham valores de Hg que excedem os critérios da Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS) e representam uma preocupação para a saúde das comunidades ribeirinhas ao longo do rio Mazaruni que dependem dos peixes como sua principal fonte de proteína. Outras pesquisas para determinar as fontes de contaminação por Hg e como isso afeta a saúde humana neste rio neotropical devem se tornar uma prioridade. Além disso, mais pesquisas sobre como a contaminação por Hg impacta os próprios peixes e a biodiversidade aquática em geral também são necessárias no rio Mazaruni, que tem alto endemismo e diversidade de peixes.(AU)

The cost of gold: Mercury contamination of fishes in a Neotropical river food web

In South America, mercury contamination due to gold mining operations is a threat to both biodiversity and human health. We examined mercury (Hg) concentrations in fishes that constitute important subsistence fisheries from mined and non-mined tributaries in the middle Mazaruni River, Guyana. Mercury concentrations and trophic food web structure (based on carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes) were characterized for primary basal sources and 39 fish species representing seven trophic guilds. Fishes collected at mined sites had higher mercury concentrations; piscivores and carnivores had the highest Hg concentrations and exhibited significant Hg biomagnification. Our results showed that medium- to large-bodied fishes commonly eaten by local people contained Hg values that exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, and pose a health concern for riverine communities along the Mazaruni River that depend on fish as their main source of protein. Further research to determine the sources of Hg contamination and how it affects human health in this neotropical river must become a top priority. In addition, more research on how Hg contamination impacts the fishes themselves and overall aquatic biodiversity is also needed in the Mazaruni River which has both high fish endemism and diversity.(AU)

Na América do Sul, a contaminação por mercúrio devido às operações de mineração de ouro é uma ameaça à biodiversidade e à saúde humana. Nós examinamos as concentrações de mercúrio (Hg) em peixes que constituem importantes pescarias de subsistência em afluentes minerados e não minerados no médio rio Mazaruni, Guiana. As concentrações de mercúrio e a estrutura trófica da teia alimentar (baseada em isótopos estáveis ​​de carbono e nitrogênio) foram caracterizadas para fontes basais primárias e 39 espécies de peixes representando sete guildas tróficas. Os peixes coletados em locais minerados tiveram maiores concentrações de mercúrio; piscívoros e carnívoros tiveram as maiores concentrações de Hg e exibiram biomagnificação significativa de Hg. Nossos resultados mostraram que peixes de corpo médio a grande comumente consumidos pela população local continham valores de Hg que excedem os critérios da Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS) e representam uma preocupação para a saúde das comunidades ribeirinhas ao longo do rio Mazaruni que dependem dos peixes como sua principal fonte de proteína. Outras pesquisas para determinar as fontes de contaminação por Hg e como isso afeta a saúde humana neste rio neotropical devem se tornar uma prioridade. Além disso, mais pesquisas sobre como a contaminação por Hg impacta os próprios peixes e a biodiversidade aquática em geral também são necessárias no rio Mazaruni, que tem alto endemismo e diversidade de peixes.(AU)

Mercury bioaccumulation in tilefish from the northeastern Gulf of Mexico 2 years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: Insights from Hg, C, N and S stable isotopes.

Mercury (Hg) concentration in fish of the Gulf of the Mexico (GoM) is a major concern due to the importance of the GoM for U.S. fisheries. The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in April 2010 in the northern GoM resulted in large amounts of oil and dispersant released to the water column, which potentially modified Hg bioaccumulation patterns in affected areas. We measured Hg species (methylmercury (MMHg) and inorganic Hg (IHg)) concentrations, and light (C, N and S) and Hg stable isotopes in muscle and liver tissues from tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaleonticeps) sampled in 2012 and 2013 along the shelf break of the northeastern GoM. Fish located close to the mouth of the Mississippi River (MR) and northwest of the DWH well-head (47 km) showed significantly lower Hg levels in muscle and liver than fish located further northeast of the DWH (>109 km), where 98% of tilefish had Hg levels in the muscle above US consumption advisory thresholds (50% for tilefish close to the DWH). Differences in light and Hg stable isotopes signatures were observed between these two areas, showing higher δ15N, and lower δ202Hg, Δ199Hg and δ34S in fish close to the DWH/MR. This suggests that suspended particles from the MR reduces Hg bioavailability at the base of the GoM food chains. This phenomenon can be locally enhanced by the DWH that resulted in increased particles in the water column as evidenced by the marine snow layer in the sediments. On the other hand, freshly deposited Hg associated with organic matter in more oligotrophic marine waters enhanced Hg bioaccumulation in local food webs. Comparing Hg isotopic composition in liver and muscle of fish indicates specific metabolic response in fish having accumulated high levels of MMHg.

Mercury Isotopic Fractionation during Pedogenesis in a Tropical Forest Soil Catena (French Guiana): Deciphering the Impact of Historical Gold Mining.

We used natural mercury (Hg) stable isotopes to investigate the Hg cycle in a rainforest soil catena (French Guiana) partially gold-mined during the early 1950s. Litterfall showed homogeneous Δ199Hg values [-0.18 ± 0.05‰, i.e., a modern gaseous elemental Hg (GEM) isotopic signature]. After litter decomposition, Hg bound to organic matter (OM) is mixed with Hg from pristine (-0.55 ± 0.22‰) or gold-mined (-0.09 ± 0.16‰) mineral materials. Negative Δ199Hg values in deep pristine mineral horizons (-0.60 ± 0.16‰) suggest the transfer of Hg bound to dissolved OM depleted in odd isotopes due to mass-independent fractionation during Hg abiotic reduction. Perennial palm tree leaves collected above gold-mined and pristine soil recorded contrasting Δ199Hg signatures likely resulting from GEM re-emission processes from soils and leaf surfaces. Upslope, soil δ202Hg signatures showed a negative shift (ε ∼ -1‰) with depth attributed to mass-dependent fractionation during Hg sorption and complexation onto iron oxides and dissolved OM. Downslope, higher δ202Hg values in soils resulted from hydromorphy [lower humification, greater Hg(II) reduction, etc.]. The unique Hg isotopic signatures of Amazonian soils probably result in multistep fractionation processes during pedogenesis (millions of years) and in a potentially different Hg isotopic signature of preanthropogenic background GEM.

An investigation of mercury sources in the Puyango-Tumbes River: Using stable Hg isotopes to characterize transboundary Hg pollution.

Mercury (Hg) concentrations and stable isotopes along with other trace metals were examined in environmental samples from Ecuador and Peru's shared Puyango-Tumbes River in order to determine the extent to which artisanal- and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Portovelo-Zaruma, Ecuador contributes to Hg pollution in the downstream aquatic ecosystem. Prior studies investigated the relationship between ASGM activities and downstream Hg pollution relying primarily on Hg concentration data. In this study, Hg isotopes revealed an isotopically heavy Hg signature with negligible mass independent fractionation (MIF) in downstream sediments, which was consistent with the signature observed in the ASGM source endmember. This signature was traced as far as ∼120 km downstream of Portovelo-Zaruma, demonstrating that Hg stable isotopes can be used as a tool to fingerprint and trace sources of Hg over vast distances in freshwater environments. The success of Hg isotopes as a source tracer in fresh waters is largely due to the particle-reactive nature of Hg. Furthermore, the magnitude and extent of downstream Hg, lead, copper and zinc contamination coupled with the Hg isotopes suggest that it is unlikely that the smaller artisanal-scale activities, which do not use cyanidation, are responsible for the pollution. More likely it is the scale of ores processed and the cyanide leaching, which can release other metals and enhance Hg transport, used during small-scale gold mining that is responsible. Thus, although artisanal- and small-scale gold mining occur in tandem in Portovelo-Zaruma, a distinction should be made between these two activities.

Concentrations and isotope ratios of mercury in sediments from shelf and continental slope at Campos Basin near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Mercury (Hg) may originate from both anthropogenic and natural sources. The measurement of spatial and temporal variations of Hg isotope ratios in sediments may enable source identification and tracking of environmental processes. In this study we establish the distribution of mercury concentrations and mercury isotope ratios in surface sediments of three transects along the continental shelf and slope in Campos Basin-RJ-Brazil. The shelf showed on average lower total Hg concentrations (9.2 ± 5.3 ng g-1) than the slope (24.6 ± 8.8 ng g-1). MMHg average concentrations of shelf 0.15 ± 0.12 ng g-1 and slope 0.13 ± 0.06 ng g-1 were not significantly different. Distinct differences in Hg isotope ratio signatures were observed, suggesting that the two regions were impacted by different sources of Hg. The shelf showed more negative δ202Hg and Δ199Hg values ranging from -0.59 to -2.19‰ and from -0.76 to 0.08‰, respectively. In contrast, the slope exhibited δ202Hg values from -0.29 to -1.82‰ and Δ199Hg values from -0.23 to 0.09‰. Mercury found on the shelf, especially along the "D" and "I" transects, is depleted in heavy isotopes resulting in more negative δ202Hg compared to the slope. Isotope ratios observed in the "D" and "I" shelf region are similar to Hg ratios commonly associated with plants and vegetation and very comparable to those detected in the estuary and adjoining mangrove forest, which suggests that Hg exported from rivers may be the dominating source of Hg in near coastal regions along the northern part of the shelf.

Isotopic profile and mercury concentration in fish of the lower portion of the rio Paraíba do Sul watershed, southeastern Brazil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the isotopic profile and mercury (Hg) concentrations in fish (carnivores, omnivores and detritivores) in the lower portion of the rio Paraíba do Sul watershed, southeastern Brazil. Carbon (δ13C) isotopic analyses revealed that pelagic and benthonic sources are part of the feeding of the fish from the different guilds (-14.0 to -24.8 ‰). The benthic sources are usually enriched in δ13C (-16.9‰, from watershed runoff) compared to pelagic sources because the phytoplankton, important primary producer that supports several pelagic chains, has δ13C signature lighter (-23.9‰). The nitrogen (δ15N) isotopic signatures indicated that most guilds were at the same trophic position (10.0 to 15.5 ‰), except for pelagic omnivorous fish, which had a lower trophic position. Niche overlap was observed among pelagic and demersal carnivorous fish, demersal omnivorous fish, and demersal detritivorous fish. The lower isotopic niche breadth of pelagic carnivorous fish reveals the specialized resource use by this guild. Hg concentrations (ng g-1 dry weight) differed significantly between demersal carnivorous fish (185.3 dry weight; 27.8 wet weight) and demersal omnivorous fish (277.9 dry weight; 41.7 wet weight) and between pelagic omnivorous fish (197.2 dry weight; 29.6 wet weight) and demersal omnivorous fish due to (1) differences in food sources: guilds that fed on bottom resources were more affected by contamination because the sediment is an important Hg accumulator in the study area, and (2) because of its trophic positions. Considering that the fish consumed prey of similar trophic positions, the guilds did not show a well-defined food hierarchy. Therefore, in this study, there was no clear relationship between Hg and δ15N.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o perfil isotópico e as concentrações de mercúrio (Hg) em peixes (carnívoros, onívoros e detritívoros) na bacia inferior do rio Paraíba do Sul, sudeste do Brasil. As análises isotópicas de carbono (δ13C) revelaram participação de fontes pelágica e bentônica na alimentação dos peixes das diferentes guildas (-14,0 a -24,8 ‰). As fontes bentônicas são usualmente mais enriquecidas em δ13C (-16,9‰, derivado do escoamento superficial da bacia de drenagem) comparadas às fontes pelágicas pois, o fitoplâncton, importante produtor primário que suporta inúmeras cadeias pelágicas, tem assinatura de δ13C mais leve (-23,9‰). As assinaturas isotópicas de nitrogênio (δ15N) indicaram que a maioria das guildas estava no mesmo nível trófico (10,0 a 15,5 ‰), exceto os peixes onívoros pelágicos cuja posição trófica foi inferior. Observou-se sobreposição de nicho entre peixes carnívoros pelágicos e demersais, onívoros demersais, e detritívoros demersais. A menor amplitude de nicho isotópico dos peixes carnívoros pelágicos revela o uso de recursos especializados por esta guilda. A concentração de Hg (ng g-1 peso seco) diferiu significativamente entre peixes carnívoros demersais (185,3 peso seco; 27,8 peso úmido) e onívoros demersais (277,9 peso seco; 41,7 peso úmido), e entre peixes onívoros pelágicos (197,2 peso seco; 29,6 peso úmido) e onívoros demersais devido a (1) diferenças nas fontes alimentares: guildas que utilizaram recursos de fundo foram mais afetadas pela contaminação pois o sedimento é um importante acumulador de Hg na área de estudo, e (2) por causa das suas posições tróficas. Tendo em vista que os peixes consumiram presas com níveis tróficos semelhantes, as guildas não apresentaram uma hierarquia alimentar definida. Desse modo, no presente estudo não se verificou uma relação clara entre Hg e δ15N.(AU)

Isotopic profile and mercury concentration in fish of the lower portion of the rio Paraíba do Sul watershed, southeastern Brazil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the isotopic profile and mercury (Hg) concentrations in fish (carnivores, omnivores and detritivores) in the lower portion of the rio Paraíba do Sul watershed, southeastern Brazil. Carbon (δ13C) isotopic analyses revealed that pelagic and benthonic sources are part of the feeding of the fish from the different guilds (-14.0 to -24.8 ‰). The benthic sources are usually enriched in δ13C (-16.9‰, from watershed runoff) compared to pelagic sources because the phytoplankton, important primary producer that supports several pelagic chains, has δ13C signature lighter (-23.9‰). The nitrogen (δ15N) isotopic signatures indicated that most guilds were at the same trophic position (10.0 to 15.5 ‰), except for pelagic omnivorous fish, which had a lower trophic position. Niche overlap was observed among pelagic and demersal carnivorous fish, demersal omnivorous fish, and demersal detritivorous fish. The lower isotopic niche breadth of pelagic carnivorous fish reveals the specialized resource use by this guild. Hg concentrations (ng g-1 dry weight) differed significantly between demersal carnivorous fish (185.3 dry weight; 27.8 wet weight) and demersal omnivorous fish (277.9 dry weight; 41.7 wet weight) and between pelagic omnivorous fish (197.2 dry weight; 29.6 wet weight) and demersal omnivorous fish due to (1) differences in food sources: guilds that fed on bottom resources were more affected by contamination because the sediment is an important Hg accumulator in the study area, and (2) because of its trophic positions. Considering that the fish consumed prey of similar trophic positions, the guilds did not show a well-defined food hierarchy. Therefore, in this study, there was no clear relationship between Hg and δ15N.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o perfil isotópico e as concentrações de mercúrio (Hg) em peixes (carnívoros, onívoros e detritívoros) na bacia inferior do rio Paraíba do Sul, sudeste do Brasil. As análises isotópicas de carbono (δ13C) revelaram participação de fontes pelágica e bentônica na alimentação dos peixes das diferentes guildas (-14,0 a -24,8 ‰). As fontes bentônicas são usualmente mais enriquecidas em δ13C (-16,9‰, derivado do escoamento superficial da bacia de drenagem) comparadas às fontes pelágicas pois, o fitoplâncton, importante produtor primário que suporta inúmeras cadeias pelágicas, tem assinatura de δ13C mais leve (-23,9‰). As assinaturas isotópicas de nitrogênio (δ15N) indicaram que a maioria das guildas estava no mesmo nível trófico (10,0 a 15,5 ‰), exceto os peixes onívoros pelágicos cuja posição trófica foi inferior. Observou-se sobreposição de nicho entre peixes carnívoros pelágicos e demersais, onívoros demersais, e detritívoros demersais. A menor amplitude de nicho isotópico dos peixes carnívoros pelágicos revela o uso de recursos especializados por esta guilda. A concentração de Hg (ng g-1 peso seco) diferiu significativamente entre peixes carnívoros demersais (185,3 peso seco; 27,8 peso úmido) e onívoros demersais (277,9 peso seco; 41,7 peso úmido), e entre peixes onívoros pelágicos (197,2 peso seco; 29,6 peso úmido) e onívoros demersais devido a (1) diferenças nas fontes alimentares: guildas que utilizaram recursos de fundo foram mais afetadas pela contaminação pois o sedimento é um importante acumulador de Hg na área de estudo, e (2) por causa das suas posições tróficas. Tendo em vista que os peixes consumiram presas com níveis tróficos semelhantes, as guildas não apresentaram uma hierarquia alimentar definida. Desse modo, no presente estudo não se verificou uma relação clara entre Hg e δ15N.

El dicloruro de mercurio como desinfectante en la micropropagación del comino (Aniba perutilis Hemsley) / Dichloride of mercury as a disinfectant in the micropropagation of cumin (Aniba perutilis Hemsley)

El comino, Aniba perutilis Hemsley, especie de importancia económica por la resistencia, duración y excelente calidad de su madera; desde el punto de vista ecológico es importante para la sobrevivencia de especies animales como el guácharo y guacamayas. Es reportada por el Instituto Von Humboldt, como especie en peligro crítico (CR), debido principalmente a la sobre explotación de reductos de bosques donde aún se encuentran algunos ejemplares y al escaso conocimiento de su fenología y reproducción (Cárdenas y Salinas, 2006). El uso de técnicas de micropropagación, constituye una de las formas de conservación, para lo cual se hace necesario superar la fase de inducción en la cual se presentan problemas de contaminación de los explantes. Se desarrolló un protocolo de desinfección que permitió el establecimiento in vitro de la especie. La desinfección se inició desde el momento de la recolecta de los explantes sumergiéndolos en una solución de yodo+antifúngico (Benomil, 3gr/500 ml), llamada solución transportadora. El mejor resultado en el control de la contaminación fue utilizando Tween 80 (1 gota/100 ml) por 10 minutos y 20 minutos de inmersión en dicloruro de mercurio (HgCl2) al 0,2%, con un 8% de contaminación. En contraste con el tratamiento con hipoclorito de sodio (NaClO) que arrojó un 80% de contaminación; por lo que se puede afirmar que el dicloruro de mercurio es un desinfectante efectivo para el control de la contaminación de hongos y bacterias endógenas de los explantes de yemas, tanto apicales como laterales, de A. perutilis Hemsley.

Cumin, Aniba perutilis Hemsley, a species of economic importance for its strength, durability and excellent quality of its wood; from an ecological point of view it's important for the survival of species and animals such as macaws and guacharo. It is reported by Von Humboldt Institute as Critically Endangered (CR), mainly due to over-exploitation of forest redoubts where there are still some copies and limited knowledge of phenology and reproduction (Cardenas and Salinas, 2006). The use of micropropagation techniques is one of the methods of preservation, whereby it's necessary to overcome the induction phase where there is possibility of contamination of the explants. We developed a disinfection protocol which was achieved in vitro establishment of Aniba perutilis Hemsley. Initial disinfection was determined from the time of collection of the explants, which were placed in plastic boxes, previously disinfected with 96% alcohol, a solution of iodine + antifungal (Benomyl, 3grs/500 ml) called carrier solution. The best result in the contamination control was achieved using Tween 80 (1 drop / 100 ml) for 10 minutes and 20 minutes immersion in mercury dichloride (HgCl2) 0.2% with an 8% of contamination. Opposed to the treatment with sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), this showed an 80% contamination, for which one can attest that the mercury dichloride is an effective disinfectant for the control of fungal and bacterial contamination of the explants endogenous buds, both apical and lateral A. perutilis Hemsley.

Stable isotope (N, C, Hg) study of methylmercury sources and trophic transfer in the northern gulf of Mexico.

We combined N, C, and Hg stable isotope measurements to identify the most important factors that influence MeHg accumulation in fish from the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM), and to determine if coastal species residing in the Mississippi River (MR) plume and migratory oceanic species derive their MeHg from the same, or different, sources. In six coastal species and two oceanic species (blackfin and yellowfin tuna), trophic position as measured by delta(15)N explained most of the variance in log[MeHg] (r(2) approximately 0.8), but coastal species and tuna fell along distinct, nearly parallel lines with significantly different intercepts. The tuna also had significantly higher delta(202)Hg (0.2-0.5 per thousand) and Delta(201)Hg ( approximately 1.5 per thousand) than the coastal fish (delta(202)Hg = 0 to -1.0 per thousand; Delta(201)Hg approximately 0.4 per thousand). The observations can be best explained by largely disconnected food webs rooted in different baseline delta(15)N signatures (MR-plume vs oceanic) and isotopically distinct MeHg sources, with oceanic MeHg having undergone substantial photodegradation ( approximately 50%) before entering the base of the food web. Given the MR's large, productive footprint in the nGOM and the potential for exporting prey and MeHg to the adjacent oligotrophic GOM, the disconnected food webs and different MeHg sources are consistent with recent evidence in other systems of important oceanic MeHg sources.

Anomalous mercury isotopic compositions of fish and human hair in the Bolivian Amazon.

We report mercury (Hg) mass-dependent isotope fractionation (MDF) and mass-independent isotope fractionation (MIF) in hair samples of the Bolivian Esse Ejjas native people and in several tropical fish species that constitute their daily diet. MDF with delta(202)Hg ranging from -0.40 to -0.92 per thousand for fish and +1.04 to +1.42 per thousand for hair was observed. Hair samples of native people with a fish-dominated diet are enriched by +2.0 +/- 0.2 per thousand in delta(202)Hg relative to the fish consumed. Both odd Hg isotopes, (199)Hg and (201)Hg, display MIF in fish (from -0.14 to +0.38 per thousand for Delta(201)Hg and from -0.09 to +0.55 per thousand for Delta(199)Hg) and in hair (from +0.12 to +0.66 per thousand for Delta(201)Hg and from +0.14 to +0.81 per thousand for Delta(199)Hg). No significant difference in MIF anomalies is observed between Hg in fish and in human hair, suggesting that the anomalies act as conservative source tracers between upper trophic levels of the tropical food chain. Fish Hg MIF anomalies are 10-fold lower than those published for fish species from midlatitude lakes. Grouping all Amazonian fish species per location shows that Delta(199)Hg:Delta(201)Hg regression slopes for the clear water Itenez River basin (0.95 +/- 0.08) are significantly lower than those for the white water Beni River basin (1.28 +/- 0.12). Assuming that the observed MIF originates from aquatic photoreactions, we calculated limited photodemethylation of monomethylmercury (MMHg) in the Beni River floodplains and insignificant photodemethylation in the Itenez River floodplains. This is possibly related to lower residence times of MMHg in the Itenez compared to the Beni River floodplains. Finally, a significantly negative Delta(201)Hg of -0.14 per thousand in Beni River fish suggests that the inorganic Hg precursor to the MMHg that bioaccumulates up the food chain defines an ecosystem specific non-zero Delta(201)Hg baseline. Calculation of photodemethylation intensities from Hg or MMHg MIF, therefore, requires a baseline correction.

A simple theoretical treatment of quadrupolar effects on magic-angle-spinning solid-state NMR spectra of spin-1/2 nuclei in the limit of large quadrupole coupling constants.

A simple approach is discussed for studying the effect of quadrupolar nuclei on the magic-angle-spinning solid-state NMR lines of spin-1/2 nuclei in the limit of large quadrupole coupling constants. Equations are derived both for the isotropic shifts and the Pake-like powder patterns for any quadrupolar spin and for arbitrary orientations of the internuclear vector with respect to the unique axis of an axially symmetric quadrupole tensor. First-order effects due to a small Zeeman perturbation on these lines are explored, as well as deviations from axial symmetry in the electric field gradient when S = 3/2 quadrupolar nuclei are involved. Spectral parameters likely to be observed in the case of coupling between 31P and 201Hg are also discussed.