Sediment Biogeochemistry and Subsequent Mercury Biomagnification in Wetland Food Webs of the San Francisco Bay, CA (ver. 2.0, December 2023)
Dates
Publication Date
2020-11-05
Start Date
2005
End Date
2006
Revision
2023-12-06
Citation
Hall, L.A., Woo, I., Marvin-DiPasquale, M.C., Tsao, D.C., Krabbenhoft, D.P., Takekawa, J.Y., and De La Cruz, S.E.W., 2020, Sediment biogeochemistry and subsequent mercury biomagnification in wetland food webs of the San Francisco Bay, CA (ver. 2.0, December 2023): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9AMA3PL.
Summary
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a globally pervasive contaminant that biomagnifies in food webs and can reach toxic concentrations in consumers at higher trophic levels, including wildlife and humans. The production of MeHg, and its subsequent entry and biomagnification in food webs, is governed by a complex suite of biogeochemical, physical, and ecological processes, resulting in spatial variation in the distribution of MeHg. To better understand the link between MeHg production in sediments and MeHg bioaccumulation in biota, we evaluated the effects of habitat biogeochemistry, food web structure, and diet composition on bioaccumulation in the wetland-obligate California black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus) at three wetlands along [...]
Summary
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a globally pervasive contaminant that biomagnifies in food webs and can reach toxic concentrations in consumers at higher trophic levels, including wildlife and humans. The production of MeHg, and its subsequent entry and biomagnification in food webs, is governed by a complex suite of biogeochemical, physical, and ecological processes, resulting in spatial variation in the distribution of MeHg. To better understand the link between MeHg production in sediments and MeHg bioaccumulation in biota, we evaluated the effects of habitat biogeochemistry, food web structure, and diet composition on bioaccumulation in the wetland-obligate California black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus) at three wetlands along the Petaluma River in northern San Francisco Bay, California, USA. We also characterized meso-scale spatial variation by assessing differences among marsh subhabitats in sediment biogeochemistry and MeHg concentrations of sediments, surface waters, and tissues of biota.
These data support the following publication:
Hall, L.A., Woo, I., Marvin-DiPasquale, M., Tsao, D.C., Krabbenhoft, D.P., Takekawa, J.Y. and De La Cruz, S.E., 2019. Disentangling the effects of habitat biogeochemistry, food web structure, and diet composition on mercury bioaccumulation in a wetland bird. Environmental Pollution, p.113280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113280
Hall, L.A., Woo, I., Marvin-DiPasquale, M., Takekawa, J.Y., Krabbenhoft, D.P., Yee, D., Grenier, L. and De La Cruz, S.E., 2023. Linking Mesoscale Spatial Variation in Methylmercury Production to Bioaccumulation in Tidal Marsh Food Webs. Environmental Science & Technology. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c04907
Data were collected to better understand biogeochemical, physical, and ecological factors that contribute to variation in MeHg production and availability to food webs. We assessed variation in sediment biogeochemistry and concentrations of MeHg in sediments, water, and biota among different marsh subhabitats including marsh interiors, marsh edges, first order channels, and third order channels. We also evaluated the effects of habitat biogeochemistry, food web structure, and diet composition on MeHg bioaccumulation in the wetland-obligate California black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus).
Rights
The authors of these data require that data users contact them regarding intended use and to assist with understanding limitations and interpretation. Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Revision 2.0 by Erika Sanchez on December 6, 2023. To review the changes that were made, see “Revision history for Petaluma mercury data release.txt” in the attached files section.
