Some Spiders Can Transfer Mercury Contamination to Land Animals
Published:19 Nov.2023 Source:American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society recently released a study showing that some spiders can transfer mercury contamination from water bodies to land animals. Industrial pollution is the main source of mercury contamination in water bodies. Microorganisms can transform mercury into more toxic methylmercury, which bioaccumulates and biomagnifies along the food chain. Spiders are considered a potential link between mercury contamination in water bodies and birds, bats and amphibians that eat insects.
Researchers collected spiders, sediments, dragonfly larvae and yellow perch samples from two tributaries of Lake Superior, and analyzed and identified the mercury sources in them. The results showed that from wetlands to reservoir and urban shorelines, the mercury sources in the sediments could be traced back to organisms along the food chain. For example, when industrial mercury accounted for a larger proportion in sediments, the mercury content in dragonfly larvae, spiders and yellow perch was also higher.
The study also analyzed two other types of spiders, and the results showed differences in mercury sources among the three spider species, due to their different feeding habits. The study believes that while long-jawed spiders can help monitor aquatic pollutants, not all shoreline spiders can accurately reflect mercury sources. The study provides new insights into using spiders to monitor environmental mercury contamination.