Methylmercury Declines in a Boreal Peatland When Experimental Sulfate Deposition Decreases

Methylmercury Declines in a Boreal Peatland When Experimental Sulfate Deposition Decreases

2012

Between 2001 and 2008 we experimentally manipulated atmospheric sulfate-loading to a small boreal peatland and monitored the resulting short and long-term changes in methylmercury (MeHg) production. MeHg concentrations and %MeHg (fraction of total-Hg (HgT) present as MeHg) in the porewaters of the experimental treatment reached peak values within a week of sulfate addition and then declined as the added sulfate disappeared. MeHg increased cumulatively over time in the solid-phase peat, which acted as a sink for newly produced MeHg. In 2006 a recovery treatment was created by discontinuing sulfate addition to a portion of the experimentally treated section to assess how MeHg production might respond to decreased sulfate loads. Four years after sulfate additions ceased"

Coleman, Wasik
Mitchell, C. P.
Engstrom, Daniel R.
Swain, Edward B.
Monson, Bruce A
Balogh, Steven J.
Jeremiason, J. D.
Branfireun, B. A.
Eggert, S. L.
Kolka, Randall K.
Almendinger, James E.

Also noted as J.K. Wasik Coleman
University of Toronto at Scarborough
St. Croix Watershed Research Station: Science Museum of MN
Also noted as Swain, E. B.. MPCA
MPCA
Also noted as Balogh, S. J.. Metropolitan Council Environmental Services, St. Paul MN
Gustavus Adolphus College
St. Croix Watershed Research Station, Science Museum of Minnesota, Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota 55047

8

Water Education, Outreach & Community Capacity

pore water
pore-water
water biology & aquatic habitat
water biology and aquatic habitat
water biology & aquatic habitats
water biology and aquatic habitats
methyl-mercury
methylmercury
MeHg
methyl mercury

2010-2019

Yes

but remained elevated relative to control levels. Mosquito larvae collected from each treatment at the end of the experiment exhibited HgT concentrations reflective of MeHg levels in the peat and porewaters where they were collected. The proportional responses of invertebrate HgT to sulfate deposition rates demonstrate that further controls on sulfur emissions may represent an additional means of mitigating Hg contamination in fish and wildlife across low-sulfur landscapes.",NULL"

Do Not Have Copyright Permission

Minnesota Water Research Digital Library