Mercury Bioaccumulation and Prediction in Terrestrial Insects from Soil in Huludao City, Northeast China

Mercury accumulation was investigated by constructing and testing empirical equations based on mercury in soil (C (s)) and in 10 terrestrial insects (C (i)). C (s) ranged from 0.13 to 41.01 mg/kg. C (i) differed with species and the highest was found in dragonfly. C (s) and C (i) showed a good linear fit, and a simple equation was used in predicting C (i) when insects were classified into one Insecta group (r = 0.3399, p = 0.0037). The taxonomy can affect validities of empirical equations, which fit field data well when insects were grouped by feeding habits, and when grouped by species, empirical equations were suitable only for certain insects.