Bioaccumulation and Transport of Contaminants: Migrating Sockeye Salmon As Vectors of Mercury

Biological transport by migratory animals is increasingly recognized as important to the long-range dispersal of toxic contaminants. Mercury (Hg) contamination is a widespread environmental concern with serious health implications for humans and wildlife. Due to their unique life history, anadromous salmon may act as important vectors for this contaminant transferring Hg between marine and freshwater ecosystems. Previous analyses have considered contaminant transport by salmon to be unidirectional. These studies have evaluated Hg import to freshwater by spawning adults, but have not quantitatively assessed export through the migration of juveniles to the ocean. To determine the total Hg burden to freshwater systems by sockeye salmon, we reconstructed the net transport of Hg to the Wood River System in Bristol Bay, Alaska accounting for fluxes in (via adults) and out(via juveniles) of the system. Hg concentrations were higher in juvenile than adult salmon. Hg export from freshwater systems by salmon ranged from 3 to 30% of total import. Proportional export by smolts may be higher for populations under heavy exploitation with strong density dependence in juvenile recruitment, Full consideration of contaminant loading by migratory species requires attention to the relative contaminant flux at all life history stages and the effects of density dependent growth and survival.