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Mercury Distribution across 14 U.S. Forests. Part II: Patterns of Methyl Mercury Concentrations and Areal Mass of Total and Methyl Mercury
journal contribution
posted on 2016-02-20, 20:20 authored by Daniel ObristThis study characterized distribution patterns of monomethyl
mercury
(MeHg) and areal mass of total mercury (THg) and MeHg across U.S.
upland forests. MeHg concentrations increased from surface litter
(average: 0.14 μg kg–1) to intermediate (0.47
μg kg–1) and deeper, decomposed litter (1.43
μg kg–1). MeHg concentrations were lower in
soils (0.10 μg kg–1 at 0–20 cm depth;
0.06 μg kg–1 at >20 cm depth). Ratios of
MeHg
to THg were higher in litter compared to soils. In soils, MeHg concentrations
positively correlated with THg across all sites, and MeHg concentrations
also increased with C content and latitude. THg areal mass ranged
from 41.6 g ha–1 to 268.8 g ha–1. Largest THg mass at all sites was sequestered in soils (average
of 91%), followed by litter (8%) and aboveground biomass (<1%).
MeHg mass (litter plus soils only) ranged from 75 to 443 mg ha–1, of which 88% was found in soils. Both THg and MeHg
mass correlated with latitude, with average mass increases of 10.6
g ha–1 (THg) and 20 μg ha–1 (MeHg) per degree latitude, indicating that highest THg and MeHg
accumulation in upland forests are expected in northern sites.