Sea fog increases the total mercury level in the terrestrial ecosystem (on the example of the tiger Panthera tigris altaica Temminck, 1844)

Abstract

This study discusses one of the aspects of the mercury problem, which is the relationship between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. We indicate that the mercury concentration in the Amur tiger fur (Panthera tigris altaica) is higher in the coastal area than in the inland area because the coastal areas are exposed to the impact of marine atmospheric fog, a potential source of monomethylmercury. The total mercury concentration from the Khasansky District varied from 0.16 to 0.45 mg/kg, on average 0.22 ± 0.04 mg/kg, in tiger fur, from 0.07 to 1.01 mg/kg, on average 0.64 ± 0.05 mg/kg, in leopard fur (P. pardus orientalis) and from 0.055 to 1.233 mg/kg, on average 0.336 ± 0.056 mg/kg, in Himalayan bear fur (Ursus thibetanus). The total mercury concentration in the fur of the last predators from the inland areas is unknown. Further research is needed.