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Methylmercury produced in upper oceans accumulates in deep Mariana Trench fauna

Author

Listed:
  • Ruoyu Sun

    (Tianjin University)

  • Jingjing Yuan

    (Tianjin University)

  • Jeroen E. Sonke

    (Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/Institute for Research and Development/Université Paul Sabatier–Toulouse III)

  • Yanxu Zhang

    (Nanjing University)

  • Tong Zhang

    (College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University)

  • Wang Zheng

    (Tianjin University)

  • Shun Chen

    (Deep Sea Science Division, Institute of Deep Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Mei Meng

    (Tianjin University)

  • Jiubin Chen

    (Tianjin University)

  • Yi Liu

    (Tianjin University)

  • Xiaotong Peng

    (Deep Sea Science Division, Institute of Deep Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Congqiang Liu

    (Tianjin University)

Abstract

Monomethylmercury (MMHg) is a potent toxin that bioaccumulates and magnifies in marine food webs. Recent studies show abundant methylated Hg in deep oceans (>1000 m), yet its origin remains uncertain. Here we measured Hg isotope compositions in fauna and surface sediments from the Mariana Trench. The trench fauna at 7000–11000 m depth all have substantially positive mass-independent fractionation of odd Hg isotopes (odd-MIF), which can be generated only in the photic zone via MMHg photo-degradation. Given the identical odd-MIF in trench fauna and North Pacific upper ocean (

Suggested Citation

  • Ruoyu Sun & Jingjing Yuan & Jeroen E. Sonke & Yanxu Zhang & Tong Zhang & Wang Zheng & Shun Chen & Mei Meng & Jiubin Chen & Yi Liu & Xiaotong Peng & Congqiang Liu, 2020. "Methylmercury produced in upper oceans accumulates in deep Mariana Trench fauna," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-17045-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17045-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Seung Hyeon Lim & Younggwang Kim & Laura C. Motta & Eun Jin Yang & Tae Siek Rhee & Jong Kuk Hong & Seunghee Han & Sae Yun Kwon, 2024. "Near surface oxidation of elemental mercury leads to mercury exposure in the Arctic Ocean biota," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Ying-Li Zhou & Paraskevi Mara & Guo-Jie Cui & Virginia P. Edgcomb & Yong Wang, 2022. "Microbiomes in the Challenger Deep slope and bottom-axis sediments," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.

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