![]() Water was sampled within 1 week of fish deployment and again within 1 week of fish retrieval. In contrast, treatment wetlands had open- and deep-water pools constructed at the downstream end in an attempt to remove methylmercury from surface waters.ĭuring 2015–17, 3,000 (1,000 per year) western mosquitofish were tagged, weighed, and then caged for 30 days each season at specific locations within the control and treatment wetlands to determine changes in methylmercury concentrations. The control wetlands received traditional wetland management. The team established four treatment and four control wetlands at the Cosumnes River Preserve in California. These naturally occurring processes include particle settling, microbial degradation, and photo-demethylation. The team’s approach was to modify the physical structure of existing seasonal wetlands to enhance the naturally occurring processes that have been shown to reduce methylmercury in other surface waters. Geological Survey’s Ecologically-Driven Exposure Pathways Science Team tested the efficacy of a wetland management strategy designed to address the dual goals of reducing the amount of methylmercury exported from wetlands to downstream habitats and reducing methylmercury bioaccumulation in fish within the wetlands themselves. ![]() Moreover, methylmercury can accumulate in fish, potentially affecting their health and the health of fish-consuming humans and wildlife. Land managers are seeking methods to reduce methylmercury export from seasonal wetlands because methylmercury is a highly toxic form of mercury that affects the nervous system. ![]() Wetlands are productive habitats for fish and wildlife and provide ecological and economic benefits however, the biogeochemical conditions common in wetlands, particularly seasonal wetlands, have been shown to facilitate methylmercury production, making methylmercury available to wetland animals and to downstream habitats. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |