Mercury and Arctic Char Gill Microbiota Correlation in Canadian Arctic Communities
Author Information
Author(s): Amill Flora, Couture Patrice, Derome Nicolas
Primary Institution: Institute of Integrative and Systems Biology, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada
Hypothesis
To what extent does gill exposure to mercury alter gill microbiota activity in Arctic char?
Conclusion
Mercury contamination correlates with active gill microbiota composition in Arctic char, suggesting implications for mercury toxicity modulation.
Supporting Evidence
- Total mercury concentrations were higher in Ekaluktutiak than in other sites.
- Proteobacteria was the main phylum correlated to mercury concentration.
- Aeromonas and Pseudomonas were predominant in the most contaminated sites.
- Negative correlations were found between mercury concentration and certain bacterial genera.
Takeaway
This study found that mercury in fish can change the tiny bacteria living in their gills, which might affect how sick the fish can get from mercury.
Methodology
The study measured total mercury in livers and muscles of Arctic char and analyzed gill microbiota using 16S rRNA metabarcoding.
Limitations
The study did not measure environmental mercury concentrations at all sites.
Participant Demographics
Wild populations of Arctic char from four regions in the Canadian Arctic.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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