Mercury accumulation in hydrothermal vent mollusks from the southern Tonga Arc, southwestern Pacific Ocean

摘要: We provide the mercury (Hg) and monomethylmercury (MMHg) levels of plume water, sulfide ore, sediment, mollusks located at hydrothermal vent fields southern Tonga Arc, where active volcanism intense seismic activity occur frequently. Our objectives were: (1) to address potential release Hg from fluids (2) examine distribution MMHg in (mussels snails) harboring chemotrophic bacteria. While high concentrations sediment Hg, As, Sb ore indicates that their source is likely fluids, concentration was orders magnitude lower than (<0.001%). It suggests methylation may have not been favorable field sediment. In addition, were much higher (10–100 times) other environments, indicating organisms Arc are exposed exceedingly levels. gills digestive glands mantles residues snails mussels, (0.004–0.04%) concentrations. summary, our results suggest subsequent bioaccumulation substantial, but for MMHg.