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Mercury proxies and mercury dynamics in a forested watershed of the US Northeast

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Abstract

Although many studies focus on mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) dynamics in streams, challenges remain in identifying the relative importance of land cover and seasonality at regulating Hg and MeHg dynamics at the watershed scale. Developing robust proxies for Hg and/or MeHg determination also remains a challenge. Our study used Hg, MeHg, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration measurements and various DOC fluorescence indices to characterize Hg and DOC dynamics in a forested watershed of the US Northeast. Principal component analysis indicated that land cover/landscape position (i.e., headwater vs. wetland-influenced area vs. lake-influenced area) explained 44 % of the variance in Hg, MeHg, DOC concentrations, and DOC quality during the snow-free season, while seasonality (i.e., air temperature and discharge) explained only 21 % of the variance in the results. Furthermore, finding a good proxy for Hg that is valid across a range of landscape positions remains a challenge; however, regression analysis indicated that the fluorescence peak Humic C (excitation = 350 nm; emission = max (420–480)), which corresponds to the presence of melanoidins in water, explained 21 % of the variability in MeHg concentrations across both space and time (p = 0.001), and thus appears to be a possible proxy for MeHg determination in our study watershed. From a management perspective, land cover modifications (lake, reservoir, and wetland) are likely to play more important roles at regulating Hg, MeHg, and DOC exports at the watershed scale than long-term changes in the climate of this region.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by a grant from the US Geological Survey 104B grant program through the New York Water Resources Institute (Award no. 64038-9616) to P. Vidon and M. Mitchell. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USGS. The authors would like to thank Pat McHale and Mario Montesdeoca for help in the field and laboratory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management, The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF), Bray 320, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA

    P. Vidon & W. Carleton

  2. Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF), 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA

    M. J. Mitchell

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  1. P. Vidon
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  2. W. Carleton
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Correspondence to P. Vidon.

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Vidon, P., Carleton, W. & Mitchell, M.J. Mercury proxies and mercury dynamics in a forested watershed of the US Northeast. Environ Monit Assess 186, 7475–7488 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3941-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3941-0

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