Piranhas (Serrasalmus spp.) as markers of mercury bioaccumulation in Amazonian ecosystems

Mercury (Hg) concentration in fish depends on feeding strategies and age/size within the species as well as on water parameters related to acidity and Hg speciation. We chose two species of piranhas (Serrasalmus aff. eigenmanni and Serrasalmus rhombeus) to test their suitability as markers of Hg bioaccumulation. The results of Hg concentrations in piranhas of the Rio Negro, with no history of gold-mining activity, are similar to other Amazonian rivers with intensive gold mining. An increase in water Hg associated with low pH favored higher mean Hg concentrations in the two species. S. rhombeus in this habitat showed a consistently higher Hg concentration than S. eigenmanni. This result was attributed to fish size because of differences in correlation coefficient between S. rhombeus (r = 0.4443; P < 0.0001) and S. eigenmanni (r = 0.1520; P = 0.0135). Matching for fish weight resulted in comparable ranges of Hg concentrations between the two species.