Stoicov Dan, Bonin Carolina A, van Wijnen Andre J, Lewallen Eric A
Department of Biological Sciences, Hampton University, Hampton, VA 23668, USA.
Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Hampton University, Hampton, VA 23668, USA.
Acad Biol. 2025;3(1). doi: 10.20935/acadbiol7544. Epub 2025 Feb 26.
Mercury (Hg) pollutes marine ecosystems and accumulates in benthic species. This ecological case study investigated the temporal accumulation of Hg in American lobster () from coastal Maine (Casco Bay, ME, USA). We analyzed total Hg levels in legal-sized lobsters (carapace length: 8.255-12.5 cm; n = 34) collected during the early (May-July 1) or late (July 15-October) recreational harvest seasons. Morphometric data show that body size correlates with body weight (R = 0.76; p < 0.001), and average body sizes were similar in early and late seasons. The average chelipod size was 7% larger in male lobsters (p < 0.02), reflecting sexual dimorphism. Hg levels in select tissues from boiled lobsters were analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Hg in ambient water was undetectable, indicating that Hg in tissues reflects bioaccumulation. Hg content correlated with the lengths (cm) and weights (g) of cephalothorax, carapace, chelipod, and hepatopancreas in both male and female lobsters. Total Hg levels in most tissues were within safe and acceptable limits for human consumption (<0.2 ppm). Compared to late-season lobsters, early-season lobsters had significantly higher Hg levels in tail (55% increase; 0.130 ppm vs. 0.084 ppm; p < 0.05) and hepatopancreas tissues (~29% increase; 0.099 ppm vs. 0.077 ppm; p < 0.05), suggesting that seasonal factors influence Hg content (e.g., spring river runoff, lobster migration, inert biological cycles). Observed seasonal fluctuations in lobster Hg levels may inform future strategies for mitigating pollution in coastal marine ecosystems.
汞（Hg）污染海洋生态系统，并在底栖物种中积累。本生态案例研究调查了美国缅因州沿海（美国缅因州卡斯科湾）美洲龙虾（）体内汞的时间积累情况。我们分析了在休闲捕捞季节早期（5月至7月1日）或晚期（7月15日至10月）收集的合法尺寸龙虾（头胸甲长度：8.255 - 12.5厘米；n = 34）中的总汞水平。形态测量数据表明，体型与体重相关（R = 0.76；p < 0.001），且早期和晚期的平均体型相似。雄性龙虾的螯足平均尺寸大7%（p < 0.02），反映出两性异形。使用原子吸收光谱法分析了煮熟龙虾特定组织中的汞含量。环境水中未检测到汞，表明组织中的汞反映了生物累积。雄性和雌性龙虾体内的汞含量与头胸部、头胸甲、螯足和肝胰腺的长度（厘米）和重量（克）相关。大多数组织中的总汞水平在人类食用的安全和可接受限度内（<0.2 ppm）。与晚期龙虾相比，早期龙虾尾部（55%增长；0.130 ppm对0.084 ppm；p < 0.05）和肝胰腺组织中的汞水平显著更高（~29%增长；0.099 ppm对0.077 ppm；p < 0.05），这表明季节因素会影响汞含量（例如春季河流径流、龙虾洄游、生物惰性周期）。观察到的龙虾汞水平的季节性波动可能为未来减轻沿海海洋生态系统污染的策略提供参考。
