Fecal Methylmercury Correlates With Gut Microbiota Taxa in Pacific Walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)

• Published in: Frontiers in Microbiology
• Main Authors: Rothenberg, Sarah E., Sweitzer, Danielle N., Rackerby, Bryna R., Couch, Claire E., Cohen, Lesley A., Broughton, Heather M., Steingass, Sheanna M., Beechler, Brianna R.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021
• Subjects: Microbiology; Lawrence Island; Pacific; Odobenus rosmarus; St Lawrence Island; Alaska; walrus*
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8220164/; https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.648685

OBJECTIVES: Methylmercury metabolism was investigated in Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) from St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, United States. METHODS: Total mercury and methylmercury concentrations were measured in fecal samples and paired colon samples (n = 16 walruses). Gut microbiota c...