Reductions in Biomass and Diversity Resulting from Exposure to Mercury in Artificial Streams

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Abstract
Mercury levels in concentrations similar to those in natural waters contaminated with mercury (0.1 and 1.0 μg/ℓ) caused significant reduction in algal numbers, standing stock, and diversity. Reductions in diversity resulted from a decrease in the evenness of distribution of numbers among species and a decline in the number of species. Although the algal community was affected by mercury ions, the magnitude of change was small at the mercury levels tested and the number of species affected were few. The decline in algal standing crop could indirectly affect other food chain members that possess physiological resistance to the mercury. There was no evidence of direct or indirect impact on the herbivorous or carnivorous midges. The impact on primary producers was not sufficient to be transferred to consumer trophic levels.

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