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Mercury cycling in boreal ecosystems: The long‐term effect of acid rain constituents on peatland pore water methylmercury concentrations
Author(s) -
Branfireun Brian A.,
Bishop Kevin,
Roulet Nigel T.,
Granberg Gunnar,
Nilsson Mats
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2000gl011867
Subject(s) - peat , methylmercury , mesocosm , environmental chemistry , mercury (programming language) , environmental science , boreal , deposition (geology) , taiga , cycling , hydrology (agriculture) , ecosystem , chemistry , ecology , sediment , geology , bioaccumulation , geotechnical engineering , computer science , biology , programming language , history , paleontology , archaeology
Sulphate‐reducing bacteria have been identified as primary methylators of mercury (Hg) in the laboratory and in field investigations. However, no studies have investigated the effect of long‐term deposition of sulphate on methylmercury (MeHg) dynamics in peatlands, which are known to be significant sources of MeHg to downstream waters in the boreal forest zone. As an ancillary experiment to a larger project investigating the effects of acid rain constituents on peatland carbon dynamics, the influence of experimentally elevated Na 2 SO 4 and/or NH 4 NO 3 deposition on peat pore water MeHg concentrations was determined using a simple mesocosm experimental design. After three years, additions of S in amounts equivalent to the 1980s dry and wet deposition in Southern Sweden resulted in peat pore water MeHg concentrations up to six times above background levels. Elevated N loads had no effect on pore water MeHg concentrations.