A1 Journal article (refereed)
Mercury and amino acid content relations in northern pike (Esox lucius) in subarctic lakes along a climate-productivity gradient (2023)

Kozak, N., Kahilainen, K. K., Pakkanen, H. K., Hayden, B., Østbye, K., & Taipale, S. J. (2023). Mercury and amino acid content relations in northern pike (Esox lucius) in subarctic lakes along a climate-productivity gradient. Environmental Research, 233, Article 116511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.116511

JYU authors or editors

Pakkanen, Hannu
Taipale, Sami

Publication details

All authors or editors: Kozak, Natalia; Kahilainen, Kimmo K.; Pakkanen, Hannu K.; Hayden, Brian; Østbye, Kjartan; Taipale, Sami J.

Journal or series: Environmental Research

ISSN: 0013-9351

eISSN: 1096-0953

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 25/06/2023

Volume: 233

Article number: 116511

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.116511

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/88156

Abstract

Mercury is a highly toxic element for consumers, but its relation to amino acids and physiology of wild fish is not well known. The main aim of this study was to evaluate how total mercury content (THg) of northern pike (Esox lucius) is related to amino acids and potentially important environmental and biological factors along a climate-productivity gradient of ten subarctic lakes. Linear regression between THg and sixteen amino acids content [nmol mg−1 dry weight] from white dorsal muscle of pike from these lakes were tested. Lastly, a general linear model (GLM) for age-corrected THg was used to test which factors are significantly related to mercury content of pike. There was a positive relationship between THg and proline. Seven out of sixteen analysed amino acids (histidine, threonine, arginine, serine, glutamic acid, glycine, and aspartic acid) were significantly negatively related to warmer and more productive lakes, while THg showed a positive relationship. GLM model indicated higher THg was found in higher trophic level pike with lower cysteine content and inhabiting warmer and more productive lakes with larger catchment containing substantial proportion of peatland area. In general, THg was not only related to the biological and environmental variables but also to amino acid content.

Keywords: mercury; amino acids; fishes; pike; lakes

Free keywords: age; cysteine; growth; methionine; proline; total mercury

Fields of science: