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Research
Natalija Suhareva
Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology: Latvijas Hidroekologijas instituta
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1391-1121
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
Eurasian Perch (Perca fluviatilis) is one of ecologically significant fish species in the Baltic Sea and has been recognized as a suitable organism to measure concentrations of hazardous substances that characterize levels of local pollution (e.g. heavy metals or persistent organic pollutants). However, the ability of the species to inhabit a wide range of feeding grounds raises concerns about the adequacy of monitoring data in relation to the representativeness of measured levels of hazardous substances at specific locations. Accounting of the migratory characteristics of this species can shed light on the origin of the analyzed specimens and thus trace the pollution uptake chain. Perch samples and potential perch prey were collected at three remote stations in a fully interlinked system river– lake–coastal waters of the Gulf of Riga. Mercury (Hg) concentration and stable isotope ratios (13C/12C and 15N/14N) were measured in each sampled item. The perch data were divided into three subgroups associated with specific feeding grounds and one mixed group. A Bayesian mixing model was implemented to quantify the feeding preferences of each group, and based on the results, influence of each food source on Hg uptake by perch was modelled by means of Gaussian GAM model.
Results
Calculated stable isotope ratios of δ13C and δ15N demonstrated clear evidence that perch specimens migrate between the sampling stations. Substantial proportion of specimens sampled in river and lake stations had isotopic signals consistent with feeding in the gulf. The group of perch associated with feeding in river grounds exhibited the highest Hg concentrations with mean value of 209 µg kg-1 wet weight. The food item C. harengus membras and Crustacea showed significant mitigating effect on Hg concentration. The rest of the food items were not significant at the α = 0.05 level, although had different directions of the influence and slope values.
Conclusions
The study clearly showed that the high mobility of perch along associated aquatic systems has noticeable effect. Therefore, trophic position and isotopic signatures, along with identification of the food sources, can serve as important supplementary tools for more accurate data interpretation of Hg accumulation.
Keywords
Mercury bioaccumulation in fish, biomagnification, analysis of nitrogen (15N) and carbon (13C) stable isotopes, dietary composition, fresh and brackish water linked system, environmental modelling, Eurasian Perch (Perca fluviatilis), The Gulf of Riga
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View the published article at Environmental Sciences Europe.
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Posted 16 Mar, 2021
This version was not preprinted
Version 1
Posted 16 Mar, 2021
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 22 May, 2021
Review #2 received
Received 21 May, 2021
Review #3 received
Received 12 May, 2021
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 21 Apr, 2021
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 18 Apr, 2021
Review #1 received
Received 03 Apr, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 13 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 13 Mar, 2021
Reviews received
Received 13 Mar, 2021
Editor assigned
On 08 Mar, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 08 Mar, 2021
Editor invited
On 08 Mar, 2021
First submitted
On 02 Mar, 2021
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Subject Areas
Environmental Engineering
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See the published version of this preprint at Environmental Sciences Europe.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research
Natalija Suhareva
Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology: Latvijas Hidroekologijas instituta
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1391-1121
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at Environmental Sciences Europe.
Version (no preprint)
Posted 16 Mar, 2021
This version was not preprinted
Version 1
Posted 16 Mar, 2021
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 22 May, 2021
Review #2 received
Received 21 May, 2021
Review #3 received
Received 12 May, 2021
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 21 Apr, 2021
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 18 Apr, 2021
Review #1 received
Received 03 Apr, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 13 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 13 Mar, 2021
Reviews received
Received 13 Mar, 2021
Editor assigned
On 08 Mar, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 08 Mar, 2021
Editor invited
On 08 Mar, 2021
First submitted
On 02 Mar, 2021
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Environmental Engineering
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at Environmental Sciences Europe.
Background
Eurasian Perch (Perca fluviatilis) is one of ecologically significant fish species in the Baltic Sea and has been recognized as a suitable organism to measure concentrations of hazardous substances that characterize levels of local pollution (e.g. heavy metals or persistent organic pollutants). However, the ability of the species to inhabit a wide range of feeding grounds raises concerns about the adequacy of monitoring data in relation to the representativeness of measured levels of hazardous substances at specific locations. Accounting of the migratory characteristics of this species can shed light on the origin of the analyzed specimens and thus trace the pollution uptake chain. Perch samples and potential perch prey were collected at three remote stations in a fully interlinked system river– lake–coastal waters of the Gulf of Riga. Mercury (Hg) concentration and stable isotope ratios (13C/12C and 15N/14N) were measured in each sampled item. The perch data were divided into three subgroups associated with specific feeding grounds and one mixed group. A Bayesian mixing model was implemented to quantify the feeding preferences of each group, and based on the results, influence of each food source on Hg uptake by perch was modelled by means of Gaussian GAM model.
Results
Calculated stable isotope ratios of δ13C and δ15N demonstrated clear evidence that perch specimens migrate between the sampling stations. Substantial proportion of specimens sampled in river and lake stations had isotopic signals consistent with feeding in the gulf. The group of perch associated with feeding in river grounds exhibited the highest Hg concentrations with mean value of 209 µg kg-1 wet weight. The food item C. harengus membras and Crustacea showed significant mitigating effect on Hg concentration. The rest of the food items were not significant at the α = 0.05 level, although had different directions of the influence and slope values.
Conclusions
The study clearly showed that the high mobility of perch along associated aquatic systems has noticeable effect. Therefore, trophic position and isotopic signatures, along with identification of the food sources, can serve as important supplementary tools for more accurate data interpretation of Hg accumulation.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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