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Bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants in the deepest ocean fauna

Nature Ecology & Evolution volume 1, Article number: 0051 (2017) Cite this article

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Abstract

The legacy and reach of anthropogenic influence is most clearly evidenced by its impact on the most remote and inaccessible habitats on Earth. Here we identify extraordinary levels of persistent organic pollutants in the endemic amphipod fauna from two of the deepest ocean trenches (>10,000 metres). Contaminant levels were considerably higher than documented for nearby regions of heavy industrialization, indicating bioaccumulation of anthropogenic contamination and inferring that these pollutants are pervasive across the world’s oceans and to full ocean depth.

The oceans comprise the largest biome on the planet, with the deep ocean operating as a potential sink for the pollutants and litter that are discarded into the seas1. The spatial and bathymetric expanse of the deep sea infers that there are still large areas untouched by anthropogenic activity, although the intrinsic linkages between the deep sea and surface waters2 would suggest this inference is ill-conceived3. The hadal zone (6,000 to 11,000 m deep) is comprised of trenches formed at tectonic subduction zones, and represents the least explored ecosystem on Earth and the last major marine ecological frontier4. Trenches have been considered as pristine environments, but also (given their locations and topography) as likely sinks for contaminants that enter the marine environment2. Of particular concern are the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that are highly detrimental to organismal health through their endocrine disrupting properties5. POPs possess an inherent hydrophobicity that confers a high binding affinity to organic or inorganic particles present in the water column that, through vertical transport, will collect in the deep ocean. They also have inherent lipophilicity, meaning these compounds readily bioaccumulate in organisms, with cumulative increases at each trophic level6.

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Acknowledgements

The Kermadec and Mariana ‘HADES’ expeditions (RV Thomas G. Thompson TN309, and RV Falkor FK141109) were funded through the National Science Foundation (NSF-OCE nos 1130712 and 1140494) and the Schmidt Ocean Institute. S.B.P. was supported by a Fellowship from the Leverhulme Trust. The analytical costs were supported by the Total Foundation (France) and the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology, Scotland (MASTS) through a Deep Sea Forum small grant award.

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Author notes

  1. Alan J. Jamieson

    Present address: †Present address: School of Marine Science and Technology, Newcastle University, Ridley Building, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK.,

Affiliations

  1. Oceanlab, Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Main Street, Newburgh, AB41 6AA, Aberdeenshire, UK

    Alan J. Jamieson & Toyonobu Fujii

  2. Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Zoology Building, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK

    Tamas Malkocs & Stuart B. Piertney

  3. The James Hutton Institute, Environmental and Biochemical Sciences, Craigiebuckler, AB15 8QH, Aberdeen, UK

    Zulin Zhang

Authors
  1. Alan J. Jamieson
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  2. Tamas Malkocs
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  4. Toyonobu Fujii
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  5. Zulin Zhang
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Contributions

A.J.J. conceived the experiment, designed the sampling equipment and was awarded the analytical costs. A.J.J. and S.B.P. performed the sampling at sea. S.B.P identified species, and T.M. performed the laboratory analysis under the supervision of Z.Z. and A.J.J., T.M. and T.F. performed the statistical analyses and the manuscript was written by A.J.J., T.M., S.B.P. and Z.Z.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alan J. Jamieson.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Jamieson, A., Malkocs, T., Piertney, S. et al. Bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants in the deepest ocean fauna. Nat Ecol Evol 1, 0051 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-016-0051

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