Main Title |
Factors Influencing Mercury Concentrations in Walleyes in Northern Wisconsin Lakes. |
Author |
Wiener, J. G. ;
Martini, R. E. ;
Sheffy, T. B. ;
Glass, G. E. ;
|
CORP Author |
National Fisheries Contaminant Research Center, La Crosse, WI. Field Research Station. ;Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources, Madison.;Environmental Research Lab.-Duluth, MN. |
Publisher |
c1990 |
Year Published |
1990 |
Report Number |
EPA-R-809484; EPA/600/J-90/495; |
Stock Number |
PB91-196345 |
Additional Subjects |
Water pollution effects(Animals) ;
Mercury(Metal) ;
Toxicity ;
Lakes ;
pH ;
Regression analysis ;
Body size ;
Calcium ;
Biological availability ;
Muscles ;
Concentration(Composition) ;
Reprints ;
Walleye pike ;
Northern Region(Wisconsin) ;
Stizostedion vitreum
|
Holdings |
Library |
Call Number |
Additional Info |
Location |
Last Modified |
Checkout Status |
NTIS |
PB91-196345 |
Some EPA libraries have a fiche copy filed under the call number shown. |
|
07/26/2022 |
|
Collation |
10p |
Abstract |
The study examined relations between mercury concentrations in walleyes Stizostedion vitreum and the characteristics of clear-water Wisconsin lakes, which spanned a broad range of pH values (5.0-8.1) and acid-neutralizing capacities (-9 to 1,017 microgram eq/L). Total concentrations of mercury in axial muscle tissue of walleyes (total length, 25-56 cm) varied from 0.12 to 1.74 microgram g/g wet weight. Concentrations were greatest in fish from the eight lakes with pH less than 7.0; concentrations in these fish equaled or exceeded 0.5 microgram g/g in 88% of the samples analyzed and 1.0 microgram g/g in 44%. In the five lakes with pH of 7.0 and above, concentrations exceeded 0.5 microgram g/g in only 1 of 21 walleyes. Multiple regression revealed that lake pH and total length of fish accounted for 69% of the variation in mercury concentration in walleyes. Regression models with total length and either waterborne calcium or acid-neutralizing capacity as independent variables accounted for 67% of the variation in concentration. The observed differences in fish mercury concentration between the low-pH and high-pH lakes could not be logically attributed to differences in growth rate or diet among the walleye populations. Moreover, it is improbable that mercury influxes to the low-pH lakes were greater than those to the high-pH lakes, because of the close proximity and spatial interspersion of low- and high-pH lakes. |