Lee, Fang-Jing DeborahFang-Jing DeborahLeeTseng, JieJieTsengHuang, Zi-YunZi-YunHuangTseng, HaoHaoTsengWang, Pei-LingPei-LingWangTseng, Chun-MaoChun-MaoTseng2025-12-312025-12-312026-01https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105021592587https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/734911This study examines total mercury (THg) concentrations and stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) in 49 specimens from 12 pelagic and mesopelagic species collected from Taiwanese fisheries. THg levels ranged from 0.01 to 0.17 μg g−1 wet weight (w.w.; 0.05 ± 0.04 μg g−1), with δ15N values from 8.5 to 12.9 ‰ (10.9 ± 1.2 ‰), and δ13C from −19.1 to −15.4 ‰ (−16.7 ± 0.9 ‰). Most species exhibited strong positive correlations between body length and THg, indicating size-dependent bioaccumulation, whereas Cephalopods (e.g., Uroteuthis edulis) and Cutlassfish (e.g. Trichiurus japonicas) showed weaker trends, reflecting distinct life histories. THg also increased with δ15N, supporting trophic-level biomagnification and species with higher δ15N values tended to occupy deeper habitats, indicating depth-related enrichment. Biomagnification slopes and trophic magnification factor (TMF) were slightly higher in the western (WNPO) than in the eastern (ENPO), suggesting more efficient Hg transfer through food webs beside Hg pollution. Strong THg-δ15N relationships (R2 = 0.8) across regions highlight the combined influence of trophic dynamics and oceanographic conditions on Hg accumulation, with important implications for ecosystem-based fishery management and seafood safety.BioaccumulationEcological riskEnvironmental monitoringMercuryStable isotopesjournal article10.1016/j.envres.2025.123328