Abstract
Methyl mercury (Hg) was determined in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and organisms in the lower tropic levels: smelts (Retropinna retropinna), bullies (Gobiomorphus cotidianus), koura (Paranephrops planifrons); and zooplankton (Daphnia carinata and Calamoecia lucasi) in Lakes Okareka, Okaro, Tarawera, Rotorua and Rotomahana, New Zealand. Water concentrations of total Hg (HgT) and methyl Hg were also measured. Mean methyl Hg concentrations in the trout, the prey species (smelts, bullies and koura) and zooplankton increased linearly with mean HgT and methyl Hg chloride (CH3HgCl) concentrations in water. Most of the bio-magnification of methyl Hg occurred in the lower trophic levels of the trout food web (104.72) between the zooplankton and water. The bioaccumulation factors between the forage fish and zooplankton were 100.73 for bullies and 101.06 for smelt. Methyl Hg was 100.41 to 100.95 times greater in the trout then their prey.
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