Mercury levels in humpback whales, and other Southern Ocean marine megafauna

No Thumbnail Available
File version
Author(s)
Bengtson Nash, Susan M
Casa, Maria Valeria
Kawaguchi, So
Staniland, Iain
Bjerregaard, Poul
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2021
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract

Mercury is a known potent neurotoxin. The biogeochemical cycle of mercury in the remote Antarctic region is still poorly understood, with Polar climate change contributing added complexity. Longitudinal biomonitoring of mercury accumulation in Antarctic marine megafauna can contribute top-down insight into the bio-physical drivers of wildlife exposure. The bioaccumulative nature of organic mercury renders high trophic predators at the greatest risk of elevated exposure. Humpback whales represent secondary consumers of the Antarctic sea-ice ecosystem and an ideal biomonitoring species for persistent and bioaccumulative compounds due to their extended life-spans. This study provides the first results of mercury accumulation in humpback whales, and places findings within the context of mercury accumulation in both prey, as well as six other species of Antarctic marine megafauna. Combined, these findings contribute new baseline information regarding mercury exposure to Antarctic wildlife, and highlights methodological prerequisites for routine mercury biomonitoring in wildlife via non-lethally biopsied superficial tissues.

Journal Title

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume

172

Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Biological oceanography

Environmental sciences

Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology)

Persistent link to this record
Citation

Bengtson Nash, SM; Casa, MV; Kawaguchi, S; Staniland, I; Bjerregaard, P, Mercury levels in humpback whales, and other Southern Ocean marine megafauna, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2021, 172, pp. 112774

Collections