Mercury Contamination of Fish and Their Prey Across a Riverine Food Web

Abstract

Lakes and reservoirs are frequently monitored by researchers for elevated mercury concentrations in sportfish. Rivers and streams, especially those of smaller orders, are less frequently monitored for mercury contamination and nonsport fishes and invertebrates, although important components of the food web, are rarely examined. We addressed this gap by surveying mercury levels in a stream community in the Kiamichi River in southeastern Oklahoma, U.S., by sampling fish and macroinvertebrates at ten sites in the river. We found elevated levels of mercury across taxa within the river including individuals of smallmouth bass populations 10–25 cm in length having concentrations (2986 ± 1053 ng/g dry weight) above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency human limit. Furthermore, we observed high concentrations in darters and logperch (1133 ± 464 ng/g dry weight), nonsport fishes found predominantly in rivers and streams. Our results indicate mercury contamination can reach elevated concentrations in rivers and stream food webs, posing risks to both humans and wildlife.