Abstract
Descriptive statistics were developed for Hg concentration data for 1,103 walleyes (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum Mitchill) from 219 Wisconsin lakes of various ANC. Lake means of Hg concentrations in skin-on fillets of walleyes for various fish total length groups and lake ANC intervals increased as fish length increased and as lake ANC decreased. Lake mean concentrations exceeded the Wisconsin Division of Health standard of 0.5 µg Hg g−1 ww for walleyes ≽40.0 cm in lakes with ANC < 300 µeq L−1, and were similar to the standard for fish 55.0 to 64.9 cm from lakes with ANC ≽900 µeq L−1. A linear regression model predicting walleye Hg from fish length and lake ANC was developed, but only 42% of the variation in Hg concentration was explained by the model. Individual lake relationships of walleye Hg concentration to fish length differed greatly among lakes of similar ANC. A comparison of walleye Hg concentrations in lakes with ANC <300 µeq L−1 in northeastern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and southeastern Ontario indicated that concentrations increase from west to east.
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Lathrop, R.C., Rasmussen, P.W. & Knauer, D.R. Mercury concentrations in walleyes from Wisconsin (USA) Lakes. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 56, 295–307 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342278
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342278