Influence of porewater sulfide on methylmercury production and partitioning in sulfate-impacted lake sediments

Bailey, Logan T.; Mitchell, Carl P. J.; Engstrom, Daniel R.; Berndt, Michael; Wasik, Jill K. Coleman; Johnson, Nathan W.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.078

Cited by 37 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Changes to the binding strength of the DOC in heavily S‐impacted mesocosm sediment are possible, as thiol groups on DOC are dominant binding sites for Hg (Skyllberg, ). The dual role of organic carbon and sulfur in driving both the production of MeHg and the transport of MeHg could be responsible for the substantially larger maximum increase in MeHg:DOC ratio relative to the increase in the THg:DOC ratio (an average 206% increase relative to a 63% increase, Figures c and d), as postulated by Bailey et al ().…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

“…In principle, the restricted bioavailability of Hg to methylating bacteria results in a maximum in MeHg production at intermediate concentrations of pore water sulfide. Consistent with previous research in sulfate‐impacted freshwater ecosystems (Gilmour et al, ; Gilmour, Krabbenhoft, et al, , Gilmour, Orem, et al, ; Bailey et al, ), MeHg production was most efficient at intermediate sulfide concentrations. In the control, where average sulfide was 69 μg S L −1 , MeHg averaged only 11% of THg in surface waters.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because it has been observed that low SO 4 additions often increase Hg methylation and higher SO 4 concentrations decrease methylation, it has been proposed that there is a range of SO 4 and sulfide concentrations are optimal for Hg methylation, above which methylation is inhibited (Hsu‐Kim et al, ). There is some debate regarding the underlying mechanism, but there is substantial evidence suggesting that dissolved inorganic sulfide above concentrations of 300–3,000 μg L −1 has an inhibitory effect on Hg methylation (Bailey et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Increase in Nutrients, Mercury, and Methylmercury as a Consequence of Elevated Sulfate Reduction to Sulfide in Experimental Wetland Mesocosms

et al. 2017

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Microbial sulfate reduction (MSR) in both freshwater and marine ecosystems is a pathway for the decomposition of sedimentary organic matter (OM) after oxygen has been consumed. In experimental freshwater wetland mesocosms, sulfate additions allowed MSR to mineralize OM that would not otherwise have been decomposed. The mineralization of OM by MSR increased surface water concentrations of ecologically important constituents of OM: dissolved inorganic carbon, dissolved organic carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, total mercury, and methylmercury. Increases in surface water concentrations, except for methylmercury, were in proportion to cumulative sulfate reduction, which was estimated by sulfate loss from the surface water into the sediments. Stoichiometric analysis shows that the increases were less than would be predicted from ratios with carbon in sediment, indicating that there are processes that limit P, N, and Hg mobilization to, or retention in, surface water. The highest sulfate treatment produced high levels of sulfide that retarded the methylation of mercury but simultaneously mobilized sedimentary inorganic mercury into surface water. As a result, the proportion of mercury in the surface water as methylmercury peaked at intermediate pore water sulfide concentrations. The mesocosms have a relatively high ratio of wall and sediment surfaces to the volume of overlying water, perhaps enhancing the removal of nutrients and mercury to periphyton. The presence of wild rice decreased sediment sulfide concentrations by 30%, which was most likely a result of oxygen release from the wild rice roots. An additional consequence of the enhanced MSR was that sulfate additions produced phytotoxic levels of sulfide in sediment pore water.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Increase in Nutrients, Mercury, and Methylmercury as a Consequence of Elevated Sulfate Reduction to Sulfide in Experimental Wetland Mesocosms

et al. 2017

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“…, Bailey et al . ). However, a definitive threshold has not been established because of site‐specific conditions that contribute to the fate of HS − .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Additionally, the HS − concentration likely assists in increasing the %MeHg. Recent studies showed that concentrations of dissolved HS − above 10-30 μM inhibit MeHg production due to the formation of charged Hg-S species (Hammerschmidt et al 2008, Schartup et al 2014, Bailey et al 2017). However, a definitive threshold has not been established because of sitespecific conditions that contribute to the fate of HS − .…”

Section: Mercury Geochemistrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury geochemistry and microbial diversity in meromictic Glacier Lake, Jamesville, NY

Yoshimura

Todorova

Biddle

2020

Environ Microbiol Rep

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Summary Meromictic lakes are stratified lakes that typically stimulate phototrophic anoxic microbial metabolism, including the transformation of sulphur. Less studied are the transformations of mercury in these environments, and the microorganisms, which mediate these reactions. In order to further an understanding of redox species, mercury and microbial populations in meromictic lakes, we examined the geochemistry and microbiology of Glacier Lake in Jamesville, NY. We found an anoxic transition at a depth of 6 m, followed by active nitrate and sulphate utilization. A chlorophyll a maximum was located at 11 m, coinciding with peaks of several photoautotrophic microbial lineages and total mercury and methyl mercury. Via amplicon sequencing, the microbial population showed pronounced peaks of cyanobacteria at 10 m, Chlorobi at 12 m and Chloroflexi at 14 m. Sulphate‐reducing bacteria were also most abundant between 10 and 14 m depth. A functional gene indicating the potential for the production of methyl mercury, hgcA, was detected at several depths in the lake. Our work suggests that in addition to the sulphur cycle, the cycling of mercury may be indirectly coupled with phototrophic processes in Glacier Lake.

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A Causal Analysis for the Dominant Factor in the Extreme Geographic and Temporal Variability in Mercury Biomagnification in the Everglades

Rumbold

2019

Mercury and the Everglades. A Synthesis and Model for Complex Ecosystem Restoration

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Influence of porewater sulfide on methylmercury production and partitioning in sulfate-impacted lake sediments

Cited by 37 publications

References 58 publications

Increase in Nutrients, Mercury, and Methylmercury as a Consequence of Elevated Sulfate Reduction to Sulfide in Experimental Wetland Mesocosms

Increase in Nutrients, Mercury, and Methylmercury as a Consequence of Elevated Sulfate Reduction to Sulfide in Experimental Wetland Mesocosms

Mercury geochemistry and microbial diversity in meromictic Glacier Lake, Jamesville, NY

A Causal Analysis for the Dominant Factor in the Extreme Geographic and Temporal Variability in Mercury Biomagnification in the Everglades

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