The influence of tissue morphometry on tissue mercury concentration in male and female virile crayfish (Faxonius virilis).

This study investigated how tissue morphometry influences total mercury concentration (THg) in male and female virile crayfish (Faxonius virilis) collected from Lake Roosevelt and the Spokane River Arm in Washington, USA. In males, tissue THg in the adductor muscle and hepatopancreas showed significant allometric scaling with clawless body mass, and detectable gill THg was positively associated with hepatopancreas THg, suggesting gill uptake contributes to mercury accumulation. In females, despite significant atrophy of storage tissues (adductor muscle and hepatopancreas) during reproductive development, no bioamplification or redistribution of THg was observed in these tissues; maternal transfer of mercury to developing ovaries and eggs occurred but was only partially explained by tissue mercury loss, indicating dietary mercury as a major source. These findings highlight sex- and tissue-specific dynamics of mercury accumulation and transfer in virile crayfish related to size and reproductive status.