The trophodynamics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine food webs: The importance of trophic level span from insights into Liaodong Bay (China)

Jinhao Wu, Yufeng Zhang, Peng Zhang, Edmond Sanganyado, Zhaohui Wang, Shuhui Ma, Jiashen Tian*, Yimin Zhang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The occurrence and trophic transfer of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in aquatic ecosystems is vital to assess ecological risks. PAHs concentrations were analyzed in seawater, sediment, plankton, and marine species (15 fish species, 8 invertebrate species, 3 marine mammals), collected from Liaodong Bay (China). Bioaccumulation and biomagnification were calculated to demonstrate the biotransfer pattern of PAHs from the environmental matrix to high-level predators through the food web. Total PAHs concentrations ranged from 81.2 to 197.6 ng/L in seawater, 51.4–304.8 ng/g (dw) in sediment, and 65.3 to 28,885 ng/g (lw) in all biota samples. Three- and four-ring PAHs constituted major components (>81% in each case) of PAH congener profiles. Lower biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) and bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) values indicated limited bioaccumulation of PAHs within marine organisms. Also, 77% of biomagnification factors (BMFTL) values of PAHs in spotted seal and finless porpoise were >1, whereas opposite transfer patterns of PAHs were observed in food webs with trophic values of 1.5–3.5 and 3.0–4.0; that is, trophic dilution (trophic magnification factor (TMF) < 1) and trophic magnification (TMF >1), respectively. This study provides novel insights into the importance of TL span for trophodynamics of PAHs within food webs.

Original languageEnglish
Article number120202
Pages (from-to)1-9
Number of pages9
JournalEnvironmental Research
Volume263
Early online date20 Oct 2024
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 20 Oct 2024

Keywords

  • Bioaccumulation
  • Liaodong bay
  • Marine mammals
  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
  • Trophic transfer

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