Objective: To determine if riparian spiders have a higher concentration of bioaccumulated methylmercury (MeHg) due to their higher trophic placement than terrestrial spiders.

Both total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in spiders and soils collected on the Island of Hawaii by Dr. Kirk Hillier were analyzed. Spiders are good bio-monitors for mercury (Hg) because they are either predators or prey to a broad range of species. 

Hannah Hayes

Hannah is in her 3^rd year of a BSc Environmental Science (Co-op) and spent the summer working for Dr. O’Driscoll in the Mercury Lab as an Environmental Health Researcher. This summer, she assisted research students with laboratory work and sampling water, mud cores, soil, and marine invertebrates. 

Hannah pursued mercury-related research to learn about the effect of contaminants on the environment and the bioaccumulation of mercury in ecosystems. She says, “In the future, I plan to pursue a career in research because of the great experience I’ve had working in Dr. O’Driscoll’s lab”.

Click here to read more about Hannah’s research.