Discrimination of two geographically distinct populations of sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax, using stable isotopic signatures of mercury (δ202Hg, Δ199Hg)

Despite the reduction of mercury (Hg) emissions in Europe in the last decades, Hg emissions are increasing worldwide and concentrations found in some marine predators remain high. This raises questions on mercury's biogeochemical cycle at both local and global scale. In the present work, we investigate the possibility to use mercury isotopic signature in fish as a tool to discriminate different polluted areas and potential pollution sources. Indeed, Hg can exhibit both mass-dependent (MDF) and mass-independent fractionation (MIF). While MDF may occur during biological cycling inter alia and could be used to understand bioaccumulation processes, MIF provides a unique fingerprint of specific chemical pathways, such as photochemical transformations. In this context, information provided by Hg isotopes would help to improve environmental management strategies. A preliminary set of four and ten juvenile common sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax were collected from the North Sea and the Aegean Sea respectively. T-Hg was analysed by direct mercury analyser (DMA), speciation by gas chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (GC-ICP-MS) and Hg isotope analysis were performed using cold vapour generation with multicollector ICP-MS. Total Hg concentrations in all tissues were higher in individuals from the North Sea ( Hgtot muscle=1,14 ± 0,48 mg.kg-1 dw) than from Greece (0,60 ± 0,06 mg.kg-1 dw). Speciation analysis shows that MeHg is the predominant form of Hg in muscle (89% MeHg on average) but not in liver (51% MeHg on average). Isotopic mass dependent values (δ202Hg) values were always higher in muscle than in liver and related to Hg species distribution. For mass independent isotopic signature, sea bass from the Aegean Sea had a systematically higher Δ199Hg value than individuals from the North sea (e.g.: 0,56 ± 0,05‰ and 0,32 ± 0,06‰ respectively in muscle). While mass dependent isotopic signature probably reflects some internal Hg metabolism, mass independent isotopic signature seems definitely site dependent. Such isotopic discrimination might be in agreement with difference in both mercury sources and cycling in the North and Aegean Seas. These preliminary results indicate that Hg isotopes may thus help to discriminate fish from different areas. This promising outcome must be further confirmed by extending the number of individuals and locations to be investigated.