Mercury is a problem in freshwater ecosystems due to bioaccumulation. When inorganic mercury is in the food chain it changes to methylmercury which is a toxin that causes neurological damage. Inorganic mercury levels don't correlate with those of methylmercury. It was extremely hard to evaluate and monitor wildlife risk to mercury until researchers found that dragonfly larvae act as a bio nanosatellite for toxic mercury. This development allows scientists to predict the mercury concentration in fish and other wildlife.
Remmel, A. (2020, July 30). Dragonfly larvae serve as biosentinels for mercury pollution. Retrieved December 29, 2020, from https://cen.acs.org/environment/pollution/Dragonfly-larvae-serve-biosentinels-mercury/98/i30
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