Mercury–Selenium Accumulation Patterns in Muscle Tissue of Two Freshwater Fish Species, Eurasian Perch (Perca fluviatilis) and Vendace (Coregonus albula)

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) in the form of highly toxic methyl mercury (MeHg) accumulates in aquatic food webs to an extent where it may threaten fish health in many freshwaters. Selenium (Se) mitigates the toxicity of accumulated Hg by forming strong bonds with it, a drawback being diversion of Se from biosynthetic pathways of essential selenoenzymes. We measured Se and Hg in muscle tissue of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) and vendace (Coregonus albula). For the perch, Se and Hg correlated positively. For the vendace, a positive relationship was seen when the effect of fish size was accounted for. All fish displayed surplus Se (mol Se – mol Hg > 0). For both fish species, the Se molar surplus ((nmol Se – nmol Hg)/g ww) decreased with fish weight. It was higher in the perch than in the vendace and showed the least variation among the small perch (4–34 g). For the large perch (79–434 g), the Se molar surplus decreased with increasing Hg below 0.5 µg Hg but then increased with further Hg increment despite Hg being a negative term in the Se molar surplus. In case the Se molar surplus reflected the weight-specific Se requirement, the latter clearly decreased with increasing fish size for the vendace. This was less clear for the perch because of the strong correlation between Hg and weight. Together, these Se–Hg relationships suggest that Se accumulation was at least partly subject to homeostatic control and responded to the Hg body burden and the Se requirement.Graphical abstract