Higher Mass-Independent Isotope Fractionation of Methylmercury in the Pelagic Food Web of Lake Baikal (Russia)

Mercury undergoes several transformations that influence its stable isotope composition during a number of environmental and biological processes. Measurements of Hg isotopic mass-dependent (MDF) and mass-independent fractionation (MIF) in food webs may therefore help to identify major sources and processes leading to significant bioaccumulation of methylmercury (MeHg). In this work, delta C-13, delta N-15, concentration of Hg species (MeHg, inorganic Hg), and stable isotopic composition of Hg were determined at different trophic levels of the remote and pristine Lake Baikal ecosystem. Muscle of seals and different fish as well as amphipods, zooplankton, and phytoplankton were specifically investigated. MDF during trophic transfer of MeHg leading to enrichment of heavier isotopes in the predators was clearly established by delta Hg-202 measurements in the pelagic prey predator system (carnivorous sculpins and top-predator seals). Despite the low concentrations of Hg in the ecosystem, the pelagic food web reveals very high MIF Delta Hg-199 (3.15-6.65 parts per thousand) in comparison to coastal fish (0.26-1.65 parts per thousand) and most previous studies in aquatic organisms. Trophic transfer does not influence MIF signature since similar Delta Hg-199 was observed in sculpins (4.59 +/- 0.55 parts per thousand) and seal muscles (4.62 +/- 0.60 parts per thousand). The MIF is suggested to be mainly controlled by specific physical and biogeochemical characteristics of the water column. The higher level of MIF in pelagic fish of Lake Baikal is mainly due to the bioaccumulation of residual MeHg that is efficiently turned over and photodemethylated in deep oligotrophic and stationary (i.e., long residence time) freshwater columns.