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Mercury bioaccumulation in mussels in the Minas Basin: a comparison of soft tissues and shells as bioindicators

Document
Author
Call Number
LE3 .A278 2022
Date Issued
2022
Supervisor
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Degree Level
Honours
Degree Discipline
Abstract
This project investigated mercury contamination in coastal mussels at the Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy. This research aims to evaluate whether mussels are a valid and reliable biomarker of coastal mercury pollution. There was low contamination at the sampling sites (mean sediment total mercury = 5.1 ng/g dry weight (d.w.)). The mean concentration of total mercury in the mussel tissues was 62.3 ng/g d.w. (SD = 13.7 ng/g d.w.; n = 57). Through a regression analysis, we determined that total mercury and methylmercury in tissues were significantly negatively related with the mussel's condition index (p < 0.001, R = -0.5, R2 = 0.24 in both cases). Additionally, we found a negative and significant linear relationship between the logarithm of the whole organism soft tissue mass (d.w.) and the logarithm of the total mercury content (p < 0.001; R2 = 0.23) Through a Pearson correlation, shell length was found to have a negative correlation with the total mercury in soft tissue samples (p value = 0.01, R = -0.3). The mean concentration of methylmercury in soft tissues was 13.2 ng/g d.w. (SD = 6.3 ng/g d.w.), equivalent to 1.7 ng/g wet weight (w.w.). This is lower than Environment Canada's tissue residue guideline for effects on aquatic organisms for methylmercury (33 ng/g w.w.) In the mussel shells, total mercury in all samples was below the method detection limit (MDL = 1.7 ng/g d.w.). As such, for this study, the shells could not be used as a bioindicator of soft tissue concentration of mercury.
Rights
The author retains copyright in this thesis. Any substantial copying or any other actions that exceed fair dealing or other exceptions in the Copyright Act require the permission of the author.
Publisher
Acadia University

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