Terrestrial organic matter biomarkers as tracers of Hg sources in lake sediments

Teisserenc, Roman; Lucotte, Marc; Houel, Stéphane

doi:10.1007/s10533-010-9458-x

Cited by 38 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 61 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our results are consistent with the concept that the terrestrial OM, mobilized from the catchment by decreased ionic strength of soils as a result of reduced acid precipitation [ Haaland et al , ; Monteith et al , ], may serve as a vector of both OC and Hg from soils to surface waters [ Hongve et al , ] and may leave an imprint in the sediment record [ Teisserenc et al , ] (Figure ). If so, these results may carry further environmental implications because despite the decrease of Hg atmospheric emission, the mobilization of Hg by increased mobilization of terrestrial OM due to lake browning might lead to increased Hg concentrations in boreal lakes of similar characteristics and geographical location.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of lake browning and respiration mode on the burial and fate of carbon and mercury in the sediment of two boreal lakes

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In many northern temperate regions, the water color of lakes has increased over the past decades ("lake browning"), probably caused by an increased export of dissolved organic matter from soils. We investigated if the increase in water color in two lakes in Norway has resulted in increased burial of organic carbon (OC) and mercury (Hg) in the sediments and if the Hg was prone to methylation. Lake Solbergvann experienced a threefold water color increase, and OC burial increased approximately twofold concomitant to the water color increase. This lake had prolonged periods of anoxic bottom water, and anoxic OC mineralization rates were only about half of the oxic OC mineralization rates (7.7 and 17.5 g C m À2 yr À1 , respectively), contributing to an efficient OC burial. In Lake Elvåga, where water color increase was only approximately twofold and bottom water was oxygenated, no recent increase in OC burial could be observed. Hg burial increased strongly in both lakes (threefold and 1.6-fold in Lake Solbergvann and Lake Elvåga, respectively), again concomitant to the recent water color increase. The proportion of methylated Hg (MeHg) in surficial sediment was 1 order of magnitude higher in Lake Elvåga (up to 6% MeHg) than in Lake Solbergvann (0.2-0.6% MeHg), probably related to the different oxygenation regimes. We conclude that lake browning can result in increased OC and Hg burial in lake sediments, but the extent of browning and the dominating mode of sediment respiration (aerobic or anaerobic) strongly affect burial and fate of OC and Hg in sediments.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of lake browning and respiration mode on the burial and fate of carbon and mercury in the sediment of two boreal lakes

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…1), possibly caused by relatively high C/N ratios as discussed above. Previous studies have shown strong links between Hg concentrations and organic matter degradation in soils and lake sediments (Grondin et al, 2005;Teisserenc et al, 2011). Obrist et al (2011) observed increasing Hg accumulation in litter and soils from southern to northern latitudes using data of 14 forest sites, which they attribute in part to potentially slower decomposition rates -and hence longer exposure -of organic carbon pools in northern latitudes.…”

Section: Concentration and Mass Changes Of Hg Plus Stoichiometric Relmentioning

confidence: 94%

Fate of mercury in tree litter during decomposition

Pokharel

Obrist

2011

Biogeosciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. We performed a controlled laboratory litter incubation study to assess changes in dry mass, carbon (C) mass and concentration, mercury (Hg) mass and concentration, and stoichiometric relations between elements during decomposition. Twenty-five surface litter samples each, collected from four forest stands, were placed in incubation jars open to the atmosphere, and were harvested sequentially at 0, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. Using a mass balance approach, we observed significant mass losses of Hg during decomposition (5 to 23 % of initial mass after 18 months), which we attribute to gaseous losses of Hg to the atmosphere through a gas-permeable filter covering incubation jars. Percentage mass losses of Hg generally were less than observed dry mass and C mass losses (48 to 63 % Hg loss per unit dry mass loss), although one litter type showed similar losses. A field control study using the same litter types exposed at the original collection locations for one year showed that field litter samples were enriched in Hg concentrations by 8 to 64 % compared to samples incubated for the same time period in the laboratory, indicating strong additional sorption of Hg in the field likely from atmospheric deposition. Solubility of Hg, assessed by exposure of litter to water upon harvest, was very low (<0.22 ng Hg g −1 dry mass) and decreased with increasing stage of decomposition for all litter types. Our results indicate potentially large gaseous emissions, or re-emissions, of Hg originally associated with plant litter upon decomposition. Results also suggest that Hg accumulation in litter and surface layers in the field is driven mainly by additional sorption of Hg, with minor contributions from "internal" accumulation due to preferential loss of C over Hg. Litter types showed highly species-specific differences in Hg levels during decomposition suggesting that emissions, retention, and sorption of Hg are dependent on litter type.

show abstract

“…Considering that Hg can strongly bind to OM (Ravichandran 2004;Sanei and Goodarzi 2006), OM appears to be a key parameter to fully understand the dynamics of Hg transport in this ecosystem. Previous studies have also documented a relationship between quality of OM and Hg dynamics in different matrices (e.g., sediments, soils, and water column) (Caron et al 2008;Teisserenc et al 2010) through the association between lignin phenols and THg.…”

Section: Mercury Isotope Ratiosmentioning

confidence: 97%

Mercury speciation and Hg stable isotope ratios in sediments from Amazon floodplain lakes—Brazil

Araujo

Hintelmann

Dimock

et al. 2017

Limnology & Oceanography

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Hg concentrations and isotope ratios were measured to better characterize the mercury dynamics related to Hg cycling in Amazon floodplain lakes. We collected sediments, suspended particulate material (SPM), and plankton from floodplain lakes and compared then to sediments from rivers and soils of the central Amazon basin by measuring concentrations of total Hg (THg) and methylmercury (MMHg), and mercury isotope ratios. Concentrations of THg and MMHg in the lake sediments ranged to 69–109 ng g−1 and 0.62–4.78 ng g−1, respectively. A positive correlation between THg and MMHg in soils and sediments suggest that inorganic Hg in this system is highly bioavailable and readily converted to MMHg. δ202Hg values ranged from −1.40‰ to −0.89‰ and Δ199Hg from −0.34‰ to −0.18‰. These values were comparable to those measured in riverine sediments (−2.14‰ to −1.23‰ and −0.51‰ to −0.05‰), suggesting a contribution of riverine sediments to lake sediments, at least during the season of rising waters, during which lake samples were collected. SPM on the other hand was much elevated in THg (590–1066 ng g−1) and showed more negative δ202Hg (−3.00 to −2.15), similar to those found in soils (−2.99‰ to −2.17‰), suggesting that Hg in SPM may originate from erosion of floodplain soils.

show abstract

Terrestrial organic matter biomarkers as tracers of Hg sources in lake sediments

Cited by 38 publications

References 61 publications

The effect of lake browning and respiration mode on the burial and fate of carbon and mercury in the sediment of two boreal lakes

The effect of lake browning and respiration mode on the burial and fate of carbon and mercury in the sediment of two boreal lakes

Fate of mercury in tree litter during decomposition

Mercury speciation and Hg stable isotope ratios in sediments from Amazon floodplain lakes—Brazil

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About