Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
09:33
An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium
Published on: December 17, 2018
11.7K
Interactions between mercury and phytoplankton: speciation, bioavailability, and internal handling.
Séverine Le Faucheur1, Peter G C Campbell, Claude Fortin
1Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Versoix, Switzerland.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
|October 16, 2013
Summary
Phytoplankton play a crucial role in mercury (Hg) biogeochemical cycling by influencing Hg concentrations and speciation. While Hg toxicity to phytoplankton at environmental levels is unlikely, further research is needed on Hg uptake and bioavailability.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Aquatic Ecology
- Biogeochemistry
Background:
- Phytoplankton are exposed to various mercury (Hg) species in aquatic environments.
- Phytoplankton influence Hg concentration, speciation, and fate through uptake processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and discuss key interactions between mercury and phytoplankton.
- To highlight phytoplankton's role in the mercury biogeochemical cycle.
- To understand direct and indirect effects of mercury on phytoplankton.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing toxicological and mechanistic studies on mercury-phytoplankton interactions.
- Analysis of phytoplankton's role in mercury uptake, transformation, and detoxification.
- Evaluation of mercury bioavailability and toxicity to phytoplankton.
Main Results:
- Phytoplankton uptake mechanisms for mercury are not fully understood but may involve facilitated transport and passive diffusion.
- Internalized mercury can impair physiological processes like photosynthesis.
- Phytoplankton possess detoxification strategies, including mercury reduction and sequestration.
- Laboratory studies suggest mercury is unlikely to be toxic to phytoplankton at environmentally relevant concentrations, but caution is advised.
Conclusions:
- Phytoplankton are central to mercury's biogeochemical cycle and transfer to higher trophic levels.
- Further research is essential to elucidate mercury uptake mechanisms and bioavailability.
- Understanding mercury-phytoplankton interactions is critical for assessing ecosystem-wide mercury impacts.
More Related Videos
12:59A Study of the Complexation of MercuryII with Dicysteinyl Tetrapeptides by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Published on: January 8, 2016
6.8K
06:52Experimental Column Setup for Studying Anaerobic Biogeochemical Interactions Between Iron OxyHydroxides, Trace Elements, and Bacteria
Published on: December 19, 2017
7.0K
Related Concept Videos
01:26Microbial Interactions: Competition
98
Microbial competition is an ecological interaction in which microorganisms vie for limited resources within shared environments. These resources may include nutrients, space, or light, depending on the system. The intensity and outcome of competition are influenced by the environmental context, such as nutrient availability, spatial constraints, and the diversity of microbial species present. These competitive interactions significantly influence the structure, function, and resilience of...
98
01:27The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements
18.5K
Elements are the smallest units of matter that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes. There are 118 known elements, but not all of these are naturally occurring, and only a few of them are essential for life. Living matter is composed primarily of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller amounts of other elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Other elements are also necessary for life but only in trace amounts.
Periodic Table Provides Information...
Periodic Table Provides Information...
18.5K
00:57The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements
161.7K
OverviewElements are the smallest units of matter that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes. There are 118 known elements, but not all of these are naturally-occurring, and fewer still are essential for life. Living matter is composed primarily of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller amounts of other elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Other elements are also necessary for life but only in trace amounts.The Periodic Table Provides Information...
161.7K
01:24Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles
95
Microbial activity plays a pivotal role in the biogeochemical cycling of iron and manganese, especially at the redox gradients characteristic of stratified aquatic environments. These cycles are driven by microbial transformations between oxidized and reduced forms of the metals, allowing organisms to exploit them for metabolic energy and structural purposes.Iron Cycling Across Redox GradientsIn neutral, oxygen-rich surface waters, iron is predominantly found in its oxidized, insoluble ferric...
95
01:30Marine Microbial Ecology
74
Marine microbial ecosystems are shaped by distinct physicochemical limits, including high salinity, low nutrient availability, and fluctuating oxygen levels. These conditions favor smaller microbial cell sizes, which maximize their surface-to-volume ratio for efficient nutrient uptake.Microbial activity and community composition are closely linked to biogeochemical cycles, particularly in dynamic environments like estuaries, where halotolerant microbes thrive in response to variable salinity...
74
01:25Microbial Interactions: Mutualism
99
Mutualism is a symbiotic interaction in which all participating organisms benefit. These relationships can be obligate or facultative and are fundamental to ecosystem functions across diverse biological systems.Plant–Fungi MutualismOne well-known example is the association between plant roots and mycorrhizal fungi, such as Rhizophagus species. The fungal hyphae penetrate the root hairs and the epidermis, forming an extensive hyphal network that establishes a symbiotic association. Through...
99