Data from: Arsenic bioaccumulation in subarctic fishes of a mine-impacted bay on Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada

A subarctic fish community in mine-impacted Yellowknife Bay (Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada) was investigated for biological and ecological processes controlling arsenic bioaccumulation. Total concentrations of arsenic, antimony, and metals were measured in over 400 fishes representing 13 species, and primary producers and consumers were included to characterize food web transfer. Yellowknife Bay had slightly more arsenic in surface waters (~3 µg/L) relative to the main body of Great Slave Lake (<1 µg/L), resulting in two-fold higher total arsenic concentrations in muscle of burbot (Lota lota), lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), and northern pike (Esox lucius). Other mining-associated contaminants, specifically antimony, lead, and silver, were typically below analytical detection in those fish species. No evidence was found for enhanced bioaccumulation of arsenic in long-lived, slow-growing subarctic fishes. Food web biodilution of total arsenic occurred between primary producers, aquatic invertebrates, and fish, although trophic position did not explain arsenic concentrations among fishes. Pelagic-feeding species had higher total arsenic concentrations compared to littoral fishes. Arsenic accumulated in subarctic fishes to comparable levels as fishes from lakes around the world with similar water arsenic concentrations. This first comprehensive study for a subarctic freshwater food web identified the importance of water exposure, biodilution, and habitat-specific feeding on arsenic bioaccumulation.

对加拿大西北地区大奴湖（Great Slave Lake）受矿山影响的耶洛奈夫湾（Yellowknife Bay）的亚北极鱼类群落展开研究，旨在探究控制砷生物富集的生物学与生态学过程。研究人员对涵盖13个物种的400余尾鱼类体内的砷、锑及金属总浓度进行了检测，并纳入初级生产者与消费者类群以表征食物网的物质传递特征。相较于大奴湖主体水域（砷浓度<1 μg/L），耶洛奈夫湾表层水中的砷浓度略高（约3 μg/L），这使得江鳕（Lota lota）、湖白鲑（Coregonus clupeaformis）以及白斑狗鱼（Esox lucius）肌肉组织中的总砷浓度升高了一倍。其他与采矿相关的污染物，特别是锑、铅与银，在上述鱼类物种中通常低于分析检测限。未发现亚北极长寿、慢生长鱼类的砷生物富集增强的相关证据。尽管营养级位置无法解释鱼类间的砷浓度差异，但在初级生产者、水生无脊椎动物与鱼类之间存在总砷的食物网生物稀释现象。远洋摄食物种的总砷浓度高于沿岸带鱼类。亚北极鱼类体内的砷累积水平与全球其他水体砷浓度相近的湖泊中的鱼类相当。这项针对亚北极淡水食物网的首次综合性研究，明确了水体暴露、生物稀释以及生境特异性摄食对砷生物富集的重要作用。