Water and sediment chemistry influences on mercury bioaccumulation in freshwater invertebrates from two lakes in Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia

Clarke, R. (2018). Water and sediment chemistry influences on mercury bioaccumulation in freshwater invertebrates from two lakes in Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia. https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3223

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Title

Water and sediment chemistry influences on mercury bioaccumulation in freshwater invertebrates from two lakes in Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia

Author
Clarke, Rachel
Call Number

LE3 .A278 2018

Date

2018

Supervisor

O'Driscoll, Nelson
Hillier, Kirk

Degree Grantor

Acadia University

Degree Name

Bachelor or Science

Degree Level

Honours

Discipline

Earth & Environmental Science

Affiliation

Earth & Environmental Sciences

Abstract

Mercury is a trace metal and a toxic environmental pollutant that can be deposited in remote ecosystems and result in adverse effects on the heath of organisms. Higher mercury concentrations near the bottom of the food web have implications for significant mercury transfer to higher trophic organisms. Caddisfly larvae and mayfly naiads, lake water, and benthic sediment were collected from two lakes and one wetland catchment in Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia. Methylmercury(MeHg) was analyzed in all samples using gas chromatography-atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (AFS). Across all sampling sites, pH was significantly negatively correlated with MeHg concentration in mayflies. Water samples from Big Dam East (BDE) and Big Dam West (BDW), sediment samples from BDW, and invertebrate samples from BDE from the wetland catchment (Thomas Meadow Brook; TMB) were significantly higher in MeHg concentration than the lake locations. Mayfly MeHg concentrations were positively correlated with water MeHg concentrations. Caddisfly MeHg concentrations were not significantly correlated with water MeHg concentrations, however, results suggest that caddisfly MeHg might be correlated with sediment MeHg concentrations (BDW and TMB R=-0.23 and -0.21, respectively). These results indicate that caddisflies may be more influenced by sediment characteristics, while mayflies may be more influenced by water characteristics. Analysis of MeHg bioaccumulation in aquatic invertebrates and its relationship with water and sediment characteristics is important to understand relative accumulation between invertebrates, and more research into MeHg bioaccumulation at the base of food webs is necessary to better understand food web transfer.

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Permanent Link

https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3223

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