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Non-Steady State Mercury Bioaccumulation And Dynamics, Rachel Abma

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored Hg bioaccumulation with age in three Lake Huron lake trout populations, considering effects of growth and trophic dynamics. Hg concentrations and stable isotopes were measured in trout, smelt, round goby, zooplankton and zebra mussels. Trout populations demonstrated exponentially increasing Hg concentrations with age and revealed basin-specific accumulation patterns. High biomagnification Factor (BMF) correlated with low prey densities suggest that physiological and ecological factors regulating fish growth rates such as foraging efficiencies are important in regulating Hg bioaccumulation. Physiological processes affect Hg bioaccumulation, specifically elimination dynamics. Hg in liver, gonads, dorsal muscle, and remaining carcass in pre-spawn, spawning, …