Uptake of methylmercury by marine microalgae and its bioaccumulation in them

Assessment of methylmercury (MeHg) accumulation by marine microalgae is critical to understand the dynamics of mercury (Hg) and MeHg in marine environments. We conducted incubation experiments with added MeHg to reveal its bioaccumulation by four marine microalgal lineages. Cyanophyceae had a higher cellular MeHg accumulation than Pelagophyceae, Prymnesiophyceae, and Bacillariophyceae (diatom). MeHg accumulation was higher in living (than dead) diatom cells. Moreover, diatom cells did not release cellular MeHg during cell division and the stationary phase. Our findings suggest that the community composition and metabolic activity of marine microalgae can be critical for MeHg biomagnification in marine food webs.