Global mercury concentrations in biota: their use as a basis for a global biomonitoring framework

Ecotoxicology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 33(4-5), P. 325 - 396

Published: April 29, 2024

Abstract An important provision of the Minamata Convention on Mercury is to monitor and evaluate effectiveness adopted measures its implementation. Here, we describe for first time currently available biotic mercury (Hg) data a global scale improve understanding efforts reduce impact Hg pollution people environment. Data from peer-reviewed literature were compiled in Global Biotic Synthesis (GBMS) database (>550,000 points). These provide foundation establishing biomonitoring framework needed track concentrations biota globally. We exposure taxa identified by Convention: fish, sea turtles, birds, marine mammals. Based GBMS database, are presented at relevant geographic scales continents oceanic basins. identify some effective regional templates monitoring methylmercury (MeHg) availability environment, but overall illustrate that there general lack initiatives around world, especially Africa, Australia, Indo-Pacific, Middle East, South Atlantic Pacific Oceans. Temporal trend generally limited. Ecologically sensitive sites (where have above average MeHg tissue concentrations) been throughout world. Efforts model quantify ecosystem sensitivity locally, regionally, globally could help establish efficient programs. present network includes three-step continental approach integrate existing prioritize filling gaps linked with key sources. standardized builds an evidence-based evaluation assess Convention’s progress

Language: Английский

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Diet and habitat as determinants of intestine length in fishes

Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 34(3), P. 1017 - 1034

Published: April 12, 2024

Fish biologists have long assumed a link between intestinal length and diet, relative gut or Zihler's index are often used to classify species into trophic groups. This has been done for specific fish taxa ecosystems, but not global dataset. Here, we assess these relationships across dataset of 468 (254 marine, 191 freshwater, 23 that occupy both habitats) in relation body mass length. Herbivores had significantly relatively stouter bodies longer intestines than omni- faunivores. Among faunivores, corallivores invertivores, with piscivores having the shortest. There were no detectable differences herbivore groups, possibly due insufficient understanding herbivorous diets. We propose reasons include (i) difficult-to-digest items require symbiotic microbiome, (ii) dilution easily digestible compounds indigestible material (e.g., sand, wood, exoskeleton). Intestinal indices differed dietary there was substantial group overlap. Counter-intuitively, largest dataset, marine shorter freshwater fish. These results put together mammals as vertebrate clear convergence intestine association level, contrast reptiles birds, even if peculiar feeding ecology is probably more varied mammalian herbivores.

Language: Английский

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Impact of Glaciers on Trophic Dynamics and Polyunsaturated Fat Accumulation in Southern Greenland Fjord Ecosystems

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 31(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

The primary production of fjords across the Arctic and Subarctic is undergoing significant transformations due to climatically driven retreat glaciers ice sheets. However, implications these changes for upper trophic levels remain largely unknown. In this study, we employ both bulk compound-specific stable isotope analyses investigate how shifts at base fjord food webs impact carbon energy sources consumers. Focusing on two rapidly changing in Southern Greenland, used migratory char as an indicator species, sampling populations along environmental gradients within fjords, building upon assumption that feed primarily close their natal stream, thereby integrating a dietary gradient. Our analysis isotopes tissue confirmed premise, revealing consistent change resource use from outer inner fjord, which nonetheless served preferred feeding grounds. Essential amino acid further indicated nitrogen sources, with nutrient near glacier inputs characterized by low turbidity high iron levels. Notably, source were associated positions transfer polyunsaturated fatty acids, glacier-influenced lower level (size-corrected) accumulating higher high-quality docosahexaenoic (DHA). These findings highlight usefulness new analytical tools glacial can substantially alter web dynamics, enhancing flow nutritional quality fish ecosystems. Greenland studied could represent future other where retreating become land-terminating decrease. study underscores critical role dynamics affecting high-level consumers, such salmonids, globally.

Language: Английский

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The significance of partial migration for food web and ecosystem dynamics

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 26(1), P. 3 - 22

Published: Nov. 28, 2022

Migration is ubiquitous and can strongly shape food webs ecosystems. Less familiar, however, that the majority of life cycle, seasonal diel migrations in nature are partial migrations: only a fraction population migrates while other individuals remain their resident ecosystem. Here, we demonstrate different impacts migration rendering it fundamental to our understanding significance for web ecosystem dynamics. First, affects spatiotemporal distribution ecosystem-level processes they drive differently than expected under full migration. Second, whether an individual or not regularly correlated with morphological, physiological, and/or behavioural traits its food-web impacts. Third, dynamics migrating, enabling potential feedbacks between causes consequences within across These impacts, individually combination, yield unintuitive effects dynamics, diversity functions By presenting first integration trophic (meta-)community (meta-)ecosystem ecology, provide roadmap studying how affected by changing world.

Language: Английский

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Body size, trophic position, and the coupling of different energy pathways across a saltmarsh landscape

Limnology and Oceanography Letters, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 6(6), P. 360 - 368

Published: Sept. 9, 2021

Abstract Body size is considered an important structuring mechanism of food webs because consumers are usually larger and more mobile than their prey may couple energy among habitats. We explored the links trophic position (TP), body size, coupling different channels (phytoplankton C4‐marsh plants) in a saltmarsh landscape northern Gulf Mexico—a dynamic system weakly shaped by biotic interactions. was positively associated with TP, this relationship stronger phytoplankton pathway vs. pathway. There gradual increase plants at sizes higher TP. Phytoplankton supported longer chains plants. Results support predictions theory for web architecture indicate that role determining interactions vary across compartments.

Language: Английский

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Cross‐ecosystem trophic structure and benthic–pelagic coupling: Effects of depth, body size, and feeding guild

Limnology and Oceanography, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 17, 2025

Abstract Understanding how energy is transferred within and across ecosystems essential to better understand drivers future consequences of shifts in pathways. We used stable isotope ratios 1932 fish individuals belonging the 11 most abundant species collected 300,000 km 2 along English Channel–Celtic Sea continuum. To examine cross‐ecosystem differences trophic functioning, we assessed effects both extrinsic (depth) intrinsic factors (body size feeding guild) on resource use position consumers. Positive relationships between body were observed for zoobenthivore piscivore fishes, whereas relationship was negative benthivore fishes. Body thus an important structuring mechanism systems. Trophic decreased with increasing depth all levels biological organization. The amplitude change shallow deep stations equivalent more than one level generalist planktivores piscivores. In Channel, food web marked by stronger coupling benthic pelagic habitats via diverse pathways, due proximity species, Celtic Sea, leads a decoupling For piscivores, consistent pattern dependence subsidies highlights importance large consumers compartments. This study describes production functioning provides empirical ecological explanation structures.

Language: Английский

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Call to alter WIO River catchment management unveiled from the assessment of anguillid and fish habitat quality at two Kenya east flowing rivers

International Journal of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(1), P. 9 - 21

Published: April 29, 2025

Language: Английский

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Response and Effect Traits of Coral Reef Fish

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 8

Published: March 25, 2021

The response-and-effect framework is a trait-based approach that seeks to break down the mechanistic links between ecosystem disturbances, species' traits, and processes. We apply this review of literature on coral reef fish in order illustrate research landscape structure path forward for field. Traits were categorized into five broad groupings: behavioral, life history, morphological, diet, physiological. Overall, there are fewer studies linking effect traits processes (number papers herbivory, n = 14; predation, 12; bioerosion, 2; nutrient cycling, 0) than response disturbances (climate change, 26; fishing, 20; pollution, 4). Through network analysis, we show size diet two most common currently used literature, central both Behavioral history more commonly shown respond while morphological tend be capturing Pearson correlation coefficients quantifying strength relationships studied process, key (size, gregariousness, diel activity) provided. find popular cluster functional diversity metrics (e.g., richness, dispersion) comprised size, space use/position water column, activity, mobility, which encompass three trait categories. Our assessment highlights needed support an evidence-based selection understand predict functioning. In synthesizing identify gaps provide avenue toward robust trait-selection process.

Language: Английский

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Body size and trophic level increase with latitude, and decrease in the deep-sea and Antarctica, for marine fish species

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11, P. e15880 - e15880

Published: Sept. 7, 2023

The functional traits of species depend both on species' evolutionary characteristics and their local environmental conditions opportunities. temperature-size rule (TSR), gill-oxygen limitation theory (GOLT), temperature constraint hypothesis (TCH) have been proposed to explain the gradients body size trophic level marine species. However, how vary with latitude depth not quantified at a global scale for any taxon. We compared latitudinal maximum 5,619 fish from modelled ranges, based (1) three <30, 30-100, >100 cm, (2) four levels, <2.20, 2.20-2.80, 2.81-3.70, >3.70. These were parsed into 5° intervals in zones: whole water column, 0-200, 201-1,000, 1,001-6,000 m. described relationship between salinity, sea surface near seabed temperatures, dissolved oxygen. found mean sizes levels smaller lower warmer latitudes, larger higher respectively high latitudes except Southern Ocean (Antarctica). Fish ≤2.80 dominant absent colder environments. attribute these differences polar regions greater heterogeneity Arctic Antarctica. suggest that declined because decreased results support TSR, GOLT TCH hypotheses respectively. Thus, scale, oxygen are primary factors affecting fishes' biogeography biological traits.

Language: Английский

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Spatial and Ontogenetic Trophic Dynamics of Co-occurring Predatory Fishes in a Northern Gulf of Mexico Estuary

Estuaries and Coasts, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 47(4), P. 1119 - 1138

Published: April 24, 2024

Abstract Co-occurring predators often exhibit ecological niche partitioning, resulting from competition over evolutionary time. However, in productive estuarine ecosystems with high resource availability, may occupy similar niches without conflict. Determining the degree of partitioning and overlap among co-occurring can provide insights into a food web’s function its potential resiliency to perturbations. This study used stable isotope analysis assess trophic ecology four Galveston Bay, Texas, USA: spotted seatrout, black drum, bull shark, alligator gar. Spatially distinct primary producer isotopic ratios emerged for both δ 13 C 15 N following salinity regimes, which translated patterns predator tissue. The volume species’ also varied spatially, species-specific expansion contraction across freshwater-marine continuum. observed were likely related movements, implications coupling landscape. Using regional delineations baseline values yielded position estimates that validated by compound-specific isotopes (3.77 3.96) all species but drum (3.25). Trophic increased body length these relationships differed when using estuary-wide versus regionally baselines. Alligator gar gut contents examined, primarily aligned piscivory included previously unreported taxa (insect, mammal). Collectively, results evidence spatial ontogenetic shifts within this assemblage highlight importance scale examine webs.

Language: Английский

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