Methyl mercury concentrations in macroinvertebrates and fish from burned and undisturbed lakes on the Boreal Plain
Abstract
Methyl mercury (MeHg) concentrations in macroinvertebrates and fish were compared among five lakes in burned catchments and five reference lakes on the western Canadian Boreal Plain to determine the influence of forest fire on MeHg bioaccumulation. Two years after fire, MeHg concentrations in five of six aquatic taxa were similar in burned and reference lakes. Among a larger set of 12 lakes, MeHg concentrations in biota were negatively correlated with lake water pH, trophic status, and hardness, reflecting a pre-existing gradient in water chemistry. Biomagnification of MeHg (as determined by regression of MeHg concentration on baseline-adjusted δ 15 N) was negatively correlated with lake water chlorophyll a concentration. A subsequent logging experiment interrupted by fire provided an opportunity to compare pre- and post-fire MeHg concentrations in aquatic biota. Three months after fire, biota MeHg concentrations had decreased by 32%50%, and lake water ammonium concentrations had increased 11-fold relative to the previous year. In this nutrient-rich setting, fire may lower MeHg concentrations in aquatic biota over the short-term by inducing an increase in lake productivity that dilutes MeHg at the base of the food web.
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At least some organic carbon increases in aquatic ecosystems below burned watersheds, especially lakes, are likely attributable to algae.
“At least some organic carbon increases in aquatic ecosystems below burned watersheds, especially lakes, are likely attributable to algae.”
From Wildfire Induces Changes in Receiving Waters: A Review With Considerations for Water Quality Management (2022) · cites this paper as Allen et al., 2005
Algal biomass in downstream lakes, especially oligotrophic lakes, often increased in response to dissolved nutrient export from burned watersheds and contributed organic carbon through exudation or lysis.
“Algal biomass in these downstream lakes, especially oligotrophic lakes, often increased in response to dissolved nutrient export from burned watersheds and contributed organic carbon through exudation or lysis (Allen et al., 2003, 2005; McCullough et al., 2019).”
From Wildfire Induces Changes in Receiving Waters: A Review With Considerations for Water Quality Management (2022) · cites this paper as Allen et al., 2005
Only two studies and two reviews discussing littoral invertebrates or zooplankton responses in lakes were identified.
“For lakes, we identified only two studies and two reviews discussing littoral invertebrates or zooplankton responses (Allen et al., 2005; Lewis et al., 2014; McCormick et al., 2010; McCullough et al., 2019).”
From Wildfire Induces Changes in Receiving Waters: A Review With Considerations for Water Quality Management (2022) · cites this paper as Allen et al., 2005
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Paul, M. J., LeDuc, S. D., Lassiter, M. G., Moorhead, L. C., Noyes, P. D., & Leibowitz, S. G. (2022) · Water Resources Research · doi:10.1029/2021wr030699 · Cited by 219 · see citing works
“Increases in organic carbon have been observed in temperate (Emelko et al., 2011; Murphy et al., 2018; Writer et al., 2014) and boreal regions (Allen et al., 2003, 2005; Crilly et al., 2017).”
Moreno, C. E., Fjeld, E., & Lydersen, E. (2016) · Environmental Monitoring and Assessment · doi:10.1007/s10661-016-5148-z · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Yellow Perch (<i>Perca flavescens</i>) Mercury Unaffected by Wildland Fires in Northern Minnesota
Riggs, C. E., Kolka, R. K., Nater, E. A., Witt, E. L., Wickman, T. R., Woodruff, L. G., & Butcher, J. T. (2017) · Journal of Environmental Quality · doi:10.2134/jeq2016.10.0418 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
- Authors
- Allen, E. W., Prepas, E. E., Gabos, S., Strachan, W. M., & Zhang, W.
- ORCID
- Zhang, Weiping
- Venue
- Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
- Publisher
- Canadian Science Publishing
- Published
- 2005-09-01
- Volume
- 62
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1963-1977
- ISSN
- 0706-652X (ISSN-L)
- 1205-7533
- OpenAlex
- W1979988430
- Cited by
- 55
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 2.47
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Health Canada
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Mercury impact and mitigation studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Keywords
- methylmercury, forest fires, macroinvertebrates, fish, bioaccumulation, biomagnification, nitrogen isotopes, lake water chemistry, chlorophyll a, lake productivity, logging, Boreal Plains, aquatic food webs
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