Partitioning of Monomethylmercury between Freshwater Algae and Water

Phytoplankton−water monomethylmercury (MeHg) partition constants (K pl) have been determined in the laboratory for two green algae Selenastrum capricornutum and Cosmarium botrytis, the blue-green algae Schizothrix calcicola, and the diatom Thallasiosira spp., algal species that are commonly found in natural surface waters. Two methods were used to determine K pl, the Freundlich isotherm method and the flow-through/dialysis bag method. Both methods yielded K pl values of about 106.6 for S. capricornutum and were not significantly different. The K pl for the four algae studied were similar except for Schizothrix, which was significantly lower than S. capricornutum. The K pl for MeHg and S. capricornutum (exponential growth) was not significantly different in systems with predominantly MeHgOH or MeHgCl species. This is consistent with other studies that show metal speciation controls uptake kinetics, but the reactivity with intracellular components controls steady-state concentrations. Partitioning constants determined with exponential and stationary phase S. capricornutum cells at the same conditions were not significantly different, while the partitioning constant for exponential phase, phosphorus-limited cells was significantly lower, suggesting that P-limitation alters the ecophysiology of S. capricornutum sufficiently to impact partitioning, which may then ultimately affect mercury levels in higher trophic species.