Mercury residues in south Florida apple snails (Pomacea paludosa)

J.D. Eisemann; W. N. Beyer; R.E. Bennetts; Alexandra Morton

doi:10.1007/s001289900395

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Mercury residues in south Florida apple snails (Pomacea paludosa)

J.D. Eisemann·W. N. Beyer·R.E. Bennetts·Alexandra Morton

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Abstract

Mercury concentrations in the sediments of south Florida wetlands have increased three fold in the last century (Rood et al. 1993). Because south Florida is home to many endemic and endangered species, it is important to understand the potential impacts of mercury in this ecosystem's food web. Recent research by Malley et al. (1996) has shown mollusks to be sensitive indicators of methyl mercury which can reflect small differences in background methyl mercury concentrations. In this study, we attempted to determine if the apple snail (Pomacea paludosa) or its eggs are good indicators of bioavailable mercury. Then, using the apple snail as an indicator, we attempted to determine geographic differences in the concentrations of mercury in south Florida.

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Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 24.67004645331697° to 28.016774177532028° latitude; -82.86591178748976° to -79.35028678749° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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J.D. Eisemann, W. N. Beyer, R.E. Bennetts, Alexandra Morton. 1997. Mercury residues in south Florida apple snails (Pomacea paludosa). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001289900395

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