
Related items loading ...
Section 1: Publication
Publication Type
Journal Article
Authorship
Pelletier, Alexander R.; Villamarin, Francisco; Campos-Silva, João V.; Scabin, Andressa B.; Doig, Lorne E.; Jardine, Timothy D.
Title
Trophic magnification rates of eighteen trace elements in freshwater food webs
Year
2025
Publication Outlet
Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 958, 178069
DOI
ISBN
ISSN
0048-9697
Citation
Pelletier, Alexander R.; Villamarin, Francisco; Campos-Silva, João V.; Scabin, Andressa B.; Doig, Lorne E.; Jardine, Timothy D. (2025) Trophic magnification rates of eighteen trace elements in freshwater food webs, Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 958, 178069,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.178069
Abstract
Trace elements play diverse roles in animal physiology ranging from essential micronutrients to potent toxicants. Despite animals accumulating many trace elements through their diets, relationships between trophic positions and biological concentrations of most trace elements remain poorly described. We report trophic transfer rates of Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, Ti, Tl, U, V, and Zn from 31 freshwaters located in distinct biogeographic regions. Elemental concentrations and stable nitrogen isotope ratios (proxies for trophic position) were determined in zooplankton, molluscs, insects, and fishes from all sites. Trophic magnification factors (TMFs) were calculated as the mean fraction of each element that transferred from prey to predators at each site. TMFs >1 indicate biomagnification and TMFs <1 indicate biodilution. Mercury was the only biomagnifying element (median TMF = 3.77), and selenium neither biomagnified nor biodiluted (median TMF = 1.01). All 16 remaining elements biodiluted, with median TMFs ranging from 0.07 (uranium) to 0.60 (thallium). We used a model selection procedure to determine whether intrinsic physical and chemical elemental properties explained differences in TMFs among elements. Elements with high covalent bonding indices (Q) had marginally greater TMFs than elements with low Q values. Based on their high Q values, we recommend investigation into the trophic transfer rates of ten additional trace elements, some of which may biomagnify through some aquatic food webs. The high variability in TMFs within elements suggests that ecological factors are likely more important than intrinsic elemental properties at determining elemental TMFs.
Plain Language Summary
Section 2: Additional Information
Program Affiliations
Project Affiliations
Submitters
Publication Stage
Published
Theme
Presentation Format
Additional Information
Keywords: Metals; Bioaccumulation; Biodilution; Trophic transfer; Food chains; Stable isotopes