2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

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5/20/2019 | 9:45 AM - 10:00 AM | LOADING AND BIOACCUMULATION OF SELENIUM AND MERCURY FROM MOUNTAINTOP COAL MINING INTO STREAMS AND RIPARIAN FOOD WEBS | 250 AB

LOADING AND BIOACCUMULATION OF SELENIUM AND MERCURY FROM MOUNTAINTOP COAL MINING INTO STREAMS AND RIPARIAN FOOD WEBS

While mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) bioaccumulate and are individually toxic to organisms at high concentrations, some studies show reduced rates of Hg bioaccumulation when organisms are fed diets high in both Se and Hg. This has been interpreted to suggest that Se enrichment of diets or entire ecosystems could prevent Hg toxicity. Yet, little is understood about the biogeochemical and bioaccumulation processes that potentially lead to this putative antagonistic relationship. We examined relationships between Hg and Se in Central Appalachian streams with variable Se concentration (BDL-70 ug/L) due to mountaintop coal mining. We measured Hg and methyl-Hg concentrations in water, sediment, biofilm, aquatic invertebrates, and riparian spiders across the Se concentration gradient. We found that while Se concentrations were strongly positively correlated with mining extent, mined watersheds generally had lower Hg concentrations. We found that total Hg, methyl-Hg, and Se bioaccumulate, with highest concentrations in macroinvertebrates. We found limited evidence for an antagonistic relationship between Hg and Se at the microbial level. The interaction between these two elements is less conclusive in invertebrates; while methyl-Hg and Se are negatively correlated in cranefly larvae, there is no correlation in spiders.

Water Quality
Landuse
Metals

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Presenters/Authors

Jacqueline Gerson (), Duke University, jgerson1@gmail.com;