Mercury concentrations in northern pike ( Esox lucius) from boreal lakes with logged, burned, or undisturbed catchments

We measured total Hg and stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) in northern pike (Esox lucius) from 19 Boreal Shield lakes with undisturbed, logged, or burned watersheds. Average Hg level in standard 560-mm northern pike, on a dry weight basis, was significantly higher in logged lakes (3.4 µg·g-1) than in reference lakes (1.9 µg·g-1). Average Hg concentrations in burned lakes (3.0 µg·g -1) did not differ significantly from those in logged and references lakes. Concentrations of Hg normalized to trophic position determined from isotopic composition yielded similar results. Mercury levels were above the WHO safe consumption limit in all logged lakes. Mercury in northern pike was correlated with methyl mercury in zooplankton (+), total N (+), pH (-), alkalinity (-), sulfate (+), dissolved organic C loading (+), and light attenuation in lake water (+). Stepwise multiple regressions explained 79% of the variability in Hg in fish and included methyl mercury in zooplankton, pH, and sulfate as independent variables. Exp...