Exploring microbial mercury methylation in Antarctica
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a toxin that biomagnifies in marine food webs and can have detrimental effects in birds, fish, and mammals. The production of MeHg in the environment is catalyzed by various anaerobic microorganisms that possess the genes hgcA and hgcB. The source of MeHg is unclear in the co...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Text |
| Language: | unknown |
| Published: |
No Publisher Supplied
2022
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://dx.doi.org/10.7282/t3-8pqd-fa35 https://rucore.libraries.rutgers.edu/rutgers-lib/67107 |
| Summary: | Methylmercury (MeHg) is a toxin that biomagnifies in marine food webs and can have detrimental effects in birds, fish, and mammals. The production of MeHg in the environment is catalyzed by various anaerobic microorganisms that possess the genes hgcA and hgcB. The source of MeHg is unclear in the coastal waters of the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP), which plays an important role in the cycling of nutrients and contaminants while supporting a productive marine food web. Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, are a critical food source for many organisms within the WAP marine ecosystem and as such may transfer MeHg to higher trophic levels. Through the analysis of genomic DNA from microorganisms living within both the krill digestive tract and sea ice, community profiles were constructed and potential methylators from varying classes were identified, including a known mercury methylator, Desulfovibrio dechloracetivorans. |
|---|