Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Litterfall Mercury in Two Forested Watersheds at Acadia National Park, Maine, USA

  • Published:
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Litterfall can be an important flux of mercury (Hg) to soils in forested landscapes, yet typically the only available data to evaluate Hg deposition is from precipitation Hg monitoring. Litterfall was collected at 39 sampling sites in two small research watersheds, in 2003 and 2004, and analyzed for total Hg. Four vegetation classes were designated in this study as hardwoods, softwoods, mixed and scrub. The mean litter Hg concentration in softwoods (58.8 ± 3.3 ng Hg g−1 was significantly greater than in mixed (41.7 ± 2.8 ng Hg g−1 and scrub (40.6 ± 2.7 ng Hg g−1, and significantly lower than in hardwoods (31.6 ± 2.6 ng Hg g−1. In contrast, the mean weighted litter Hg flux was not significantly different among vegetation classes. The lack of a significant difference in litter Hg flux between hardwoods and softwoods was attributable to the large autumnal hardwood litter Hg flux being balanced by the higher softwood litter Hg concentrations, along with the higher chronic litterfall flux throughout the winter and spring in softwoods. The estimated annual deposition of Hg via litterfall in Hadlock Brook watershed (10.1 μg m−2 and Cadillac Brook watershed (10.0 μg m−2 was greater than precipitation Hg deposition and similar to or greater than the magnitude of Hg deposition via throughfall. These results demonstrate that litterfall Hg flux to forested landscapes can be at least as important as precipitation Hg inputs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amirbahman, A., Ruck, P. L., Fernandez, I. J., Haines, T. A. and Kahl, J. S.: 2004, ‘The effect of fire on mercury cycling in the soils of forested watersheds: Acadia National Park, Maine, U.S.A.’, Water Air Soil Pollut. 152, 313–331.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop, K. H., Lee, Y., Munthe, J. and Dambrine, E.: 1998, ‘Xylem sap as a pathway for total mercury and methylmercury transport from soils to tree canopy in the boreal forest’, Biogeochemistry 40, 101–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Du, S.-H. and Fang, S. C.: 1982, ‘Uptake of elemental mercury vapor by C3 and C4 species’, Environ. Exp. Bot. 22, 437–443.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EPA: 2004, Factsheet, “National Listing of Fish Advisories”, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water and Office of Science and Technology (4305). EPA-823-F-04-016.

  • Ericksen, J. A., Gustin, M. S., Schorran, D. E., Johnson, D. W., Lindberg, S. E. and Coleman, J. S.: 2003, ‘Accumulation of atmospheric mercury in forest foliage’, Atmos. Environ. 37, 1613–1622.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frescholtz, T. F., Gustin, M. S., Schorran, D. E. and Fernandez, G. C. J.: 2003, ‘Assessing the source of mercury in foliar tissue of Quaking Aspen’, Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 22, 2114–2119.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Greger, M., Wang, Y. and Neuschütz, C.: 2004, ‘Absence of Hg transpiration by shoot after Hg uptake by roots of six terrestrial plant species’, Environmental Pollution 134, 201–208.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grigal, D. F.: 2002, ‘Inputs and outputs of mercury from terrestrial watersheds: A review’, Environ. Rev. 10, 1–39.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grigal, D. F.: 2003, ‘Mercury sequestration in forests and peatlands: A review’, J. Environ. Qual. 32, 393–405.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hanson, P. J., Lindberg, S. E., Tabberer, T. A., Owens, J. G. and Kim, K. H.: 1995, ‘Foliar exchange of mercury vapor: Evidence for a compensation point’, Water Air Soil Pollut. 80, 373–382.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heath, R., Kahl, J., Norton, S. and Brutsaert, W.: 1993, ‘Elemental mass balances, and episodic and ten-year changes in the chemistry of surface waters, Acadia National Park’, Final Report, National Park Service, North Atlantic Region, Boston, MA. 111 pp.

  • Heath, R. A., Kahl, J. S., Norton, S. A. and Fernandez, I. J.: 1992, ‘Episodic acidification caused by atmospheric deposition of seasalts at Acadia National Park, Maine, USA’, Water Resour. Res. 28, 1081–1088.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hylander, L. D. and Meili, M.: 2003, ‘500 years of mercury production: Global annual inventory by region until 2000 and associated emissions’, Sci. Total Environ. 304, 13–27.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iverfeldt, A., Lindberg, S. E., Karamata, S., Anoshin, G. N., Horvat, M., Laperdina, T. G., Obolenskiy, A. A., Osmonbetov, K. O., Ramel, C., Roslyakov, N. A. and Tauson, V. L.: 1996, ‘Working group on terrestrial mercury cycling’, in W. Baeyens, R. Ebinghaus and O. Vasiliev (eds), Global and Regional Mercury Cycles: Sources, Fluxes and Mass Balances, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, MA, USA, pp. 543–546.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jagels, R., Carlisle, J., Cunningham, R. Serreze, S. and Tsai, P.: 1989, ‘Impact of acid fog and ozone on coastal red spruce’, Water Air Soil Pollut. 48, 193–208.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, K. B.: 2002, ‘Fire and its effects on mercury and methylmercury dynamics for two watersheds in Acadia National Park, Maine’, MS Thesis, University of Maine, Orono, Maine.

  • Jordan, G. B.: 1998, ‘Soil survey of Hancock County area, Maine’, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahl, J. S., Manski, D., Flora, M. and Houtman, N.: 2000, Water Resources Management Plan Acadia National Park, 103 pp.

  • Kolka, R. K., Nater, E. A., Grigal, D. F. and Verry, E. S.: 1999, ‘Atmospheric inputs of mercury and organic carbon into a forested upland/bog watershed’, Water Air Soil Pollut. 113, 273–294.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, Y. H., Bishop, K. H., Munthe, J., Iverfeldt, Å., Verta, M., Parkman, H. and Hultberg, H.: 1998, ‘An examination of current Hg deposition and export in Fenno-Scandian catchments’, Biogeochemistry 40, 125–135.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, Y. H., Bishop, K. H. and Munthe, J.: 2000, ‘Do concepts about cycling of methylmercury and mercury in boreal catchments stand the test of time? Six years of atmospheric inputs and runoff exports at Svartberget, northern Sweden’, Sci. Total Environ. 260, 11–20.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leonard, T. L., Taylor, G. E., Jr., Gustin, M. S. and Fernandez, G. C. J.: 1998a, ‘Mercury and plants in contaminated soils: 1. Uptake, partitioning, and emission to the atmosphere’, Environ Toxicol Chem. 17, 2063–2071.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leonard, T. L., Taylor, G. E., Jr., Gustin, M. S. and Fernandez, G. C. J.: 1998b, ‘Mercury and plants in contaminated soils: 2. Environmental and physiological factors governing mercury flux to the atmosphere’, Environ Toxicol Chem. 17, 2072–2079.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lindberg, S. E.: 1996 ‘Forests and the global biogeochemical cycle of mercury: The importance of understanding air/vegetation exchange processes’, in W. Baeyens, R. Ebinghaus and O. Vasiliev (eds), Global and Regional Mercury Cycles: Sources, Fluxes and Mass Balances, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, MA, USA, pp. 359–380.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindberg, S. E., Meyers, T. P., Taylor, G. E. Jr., Turner, R. R. and Schroeder, W. H.: 1992, ‘Atmosphere-surface exchange of mercury in a forest: Results of modeling and gradient approaches’, J. Geophys. Research 97, 2519–2528.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malm, W. C.: 1999, ‘Introduction to visibility’, U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Air Resources Division, Fort Collins, CO. ISSN 0737-5352-40, 70 pp.

  • Mason, R. P., Abbott, M. L., Bodlay, R. A., Bullock, O. R. Jr., Driscoll, C. T., Evers, D., Lindberg, S. E., Murray, M. and Swain, E. B.: 2005, ‘Monitoring the response to changing mercury deposition’, Environ. Sci. Technol. 15A (in press).

  • Miller, E. K., Van Arsdale, A., Keeler, G. J., Chalmers, A., Poissant, L., Kamman, N. and Brulotte, R.: 2005, ‘Estimation and mapping of wet and dry mercury deposition Across Northeastern North America.’, Ecotoxicology. 14, (in press).

  • Morel, F. M. M., Kraepiel, A. M. L. and Amyot, M.: 1998, ‘The chemical cycle and bioaccumulation of mercury’, Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 29, 543–566.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Munthe, J., Hultberg, H. and Iverfeldt, Å.: 1995, ‘Mechanisms of deposition of methylmercury and mercury to coniferous forests’, Water Air Soil Pollut. 80, 363–371.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NRSP-3): 2005, NADP Program Office, Illinois State Water Survey, 2204 Griffith Dr., Champaign, IL 61820.

  • Nelson, S. J.: 2002, ‘Determining atmospheric deposition inputs to two small watersheds at Acadia National Park’, MS Thesis, University of Maine, Orono, Maine.

  • Rasmussen, P. E.: 1995, ‘Temporal variation of mercury in vegetation’, Water Air Soil Pollut. 80, 1039–1042.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen, P. E., Mierle, G. and Nriagu, J. O.: 1991, ‘The analysis of vegetation for total Mercury’, Water Air Soil Pollut. 56, 379–390.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rea, A. W., Keeler, G. J. and Scherbatskoy, T.: 1996, ‘The deposition of mercury in throughfall and litterfall in the Lake Champlain watershed: A short-term study’, Atmos. Environ. 30, 3257–3263.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rea, A. W., Lindberg, S. E. and Keeler, G. J.: 2000, ‘Assessment of dry deposition and foliar leaching of mercury and selected trace elements based on washed foliar and surrogate surfaces’, Environ. Sci. Technol. 34, 2418–2425.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rea, A. W., Lindberg, S. E. and Keeler, G. J.: 2001, ‘Dry deposition and foliar leaching of mercury and selected trace elements in deciduous forest throughfall’, Atmos. Environ. 35, 3453–3462.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rea, A. W., Lindberg, S. E., Scherbatskoy, T. and Keeler, G. J.: 2002, ‘Mercury accumulation in foliage over time in two northern mixed-hardwood forests’, Water Air Soil Pollut. 133, 49–67.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruck, P. L.: 2002, Cycling and Speciation of Mercury in Soils at Cadillac Brook and Hadlock Brook watersheds, Acadia National Park, Maine, MS Thesis, University of Maine, Orono, Maine.

  • Schwesig, D. and Matzner, E.: 2000, ‘Pools and fluxes of mercury and methylmercury in two forested catchments in Germany’, Sci. Total Environ. 260, 213–223.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwesig, D. and Matzner, E.: 2001, ‘Dynamics of mercury and methylmercury in forest floor and runoff of a forested watershed in Central Europe’, Biogeochemistry 53, 181–200.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Skyllberg, U., Xia, K., Bloom, P. R., Nater, E. A. and Bleam, W. F.: 2000, ‘Binding of mercury(II) to reduced sulfur in soil organic matter along upland-peat soil transects’, J. Environ. Qual. 29, 855–865.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • St. Louis, V. L., Rudd, J. W. M., Kelly, C. A., Hall, B. D., Rolfhus, K. R., Scott, K. J., Lindberg, S. E. and Dong, W.: 2001, ‘Importance of the forest canopy to fluxes of methyl mercury and total mercury to boreal ecosystems’, Environ. Sci. Technol. 35, 3089–3098.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tyler, G.: 2005, ‘Changes in the concentrations of major, minor and rare-earth elements during leaf senenscence and decomposition in a Fagus sylvatica forest’, Forest Ecology and Management 206, 167–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • USGS: 2003, ‘Vegetation spatial database coverage for Acadia National Park vegetation mapping project’, U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Biological Informatics, Denver, Colorado.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sen. George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental and Watershed Research, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469-5710

    Katherine D. Sheehan

  2. Department of Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469-5722, USA

    Ivan J. Fernandez

  3. Center for the Environment, Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH, 03264, USA

    J. Stephen Kahl

  4. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA

    Aria Amirbahman

Authors
  1. Katherine D. Sheehan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ivan J. Fernandez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Stephen Kahl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Aria Amirbahman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ivan J. Fernandez.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sheehan, K.D., Fernandez, I.J., Kahl, J.S. et al. Litterfall Mercury in Two Forested Watersheds at Acadia National Park, Maine, USA. Water Air Soil Pollut 170, 249–265 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-006-3034-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-006-3034-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation