Acta Vet. Brno 2026, 95: 187-194
Assessment of mercury contamination in fish from the rivers Morava and Dyje in relation to river environmental conditions
A total of seven species of fish were caught in the lower reaches of the rivers Morava and Dyje: round goby, white-finned gudgeon, gudgeon, perch, chub, Prussian carp and roach. The total mercury (THg) contents in the muscle tissue and liver were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry with an AMA 254 analyser. The non-native round goby showed no significant difference in mean mercury (Hg) content in muscle tissue compared to a fish species at the same trophic level (gudgeon). Although the age and weight of chub, perch, and round goby were similar, THg concentrations in muscle and liver of chub, perch, and round goby were significantly higher in the river Dyje (Thaya) compared to fish from the river Morava (P < 0.01). Although there is no known source of industrial contamination in the rivers Morava and Dyje, higher values of chemical oxygen demand (CODCr), chloride (Cl−), sulphate (SO42-), orthophosphate as phosphorus (P-PO4−) and total phosphorus (total P), together with oxygen deficits were found in the Dyje, which may lead to greater Hg accumulation in bottom sediments.
Keywords
Total Hg, CODCr, chub, perch, round goby.
Funding
This work was supported by the Internal Creative Agency Project of the University of Veterinary Sciences Brno No. 2024ITA26.
