The impact of microbal processes on Hg biomagnification in food webs of the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic sea)

The proposed research is important because of the well known toxicity of mercury (Hg) and especially methylmercury (MeHg), its accumulation in organisms, biomagnification in food webs and consequently input in humans. The knowledge of concentration levels, transport and dynamics in aquatic ecosystems is important for impact assessment on edible aquatic organisms and humans. The goal of the project is to study microbial processes of MeHg formation in the Gulf of Trieste using microbiological and genetic techniques, and linking them with biaccumulation (biomagnification) in pelagic and benthic food webs used as a food by local population. The potential bioremediation, in oder to reduce the formation of toxic MeHg in the Gulf, will be also studied. These results will permit to indentify those ecosystem factors which govern the production, degradation, transport and biaccumulation of one of the most persistent and toxic (noxius) pollutant in the environment.