Predicting Mercury Retention and Bioavailability in Estuarine Ecosystems

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Mercury is a globally dispersed contaminant that bioaccumulates to harmful levels in aquatic organisms in both industrially impacted and remote locations. Estuarine ecosystems are key habitat for spawning fish, migratory birds, and contribute substantially to the economy of the planet. The prediction of mercury retention and bioavailability in estuarine ecosystems is a key knowledge gap. The long-term goal of my proposed NSERC-funded research program is to create predictive models to identify areas of mercury retention and bioaccumulation in estuarine ecosystems. My research program will achieve this through an examination of two critical biogeochemical processes: (1) mercury retention in ecosystems, and (2) methylmercury availability to the food web. My group's newly developed methodologies will allow quantitative measurements of mercury retention and bioavailability and factors that affect them over time. This will lead to a better understanding of the sensitivity of ecosystems to mercury inputs and will facilitate the identification and management of estuarine areas at risk of contamination. My proposed research program will provide the necessary tools for predicting these mercury-sensitive areas, such that food-web impacts can be mitigated. According to predictive models, global emissions of Hg will increase substantially over the next decade. As such, Hg will continue to affect organisms in sensitive ecosystems worldwide. My research program has international importance as it focuses on the identification of Hg-sensitive areas in estuarine ecosystems. This work has significance for Canada, as estuarine ecosystems are critical to our environment, economy and culture. The results will have a significant impact on the implementation of national Hg policy (i.e. the UNEP global mercury treaty) and on risk management strategies, which will benefit the health of all Canadians and the ecosystems on which they rely.