Mercury bioaccumulation in the aquatic plant Elodea nuttallii in the field and in microcosm: Accumulation in shoots from the water might involve copper transporters

► Elodea nuttallii showed a high organic and inorganic Hg accumulation in the field. ► Tolerance and accumulation of Hg in this plant was also high in the microcosm. ► Inorganic Hg in E. nuttallii shoots seems to mainly originate from the water column. ► Methyl-Hg can also be remobilized from the sediments and might enter in the food web. ► Uptake of Hg into the cell sap of shoots was linked to the metabolism and to copper transporters.