Mercury speciation and retention in a salt marsh undergoing long-term fertilization

Carl Lamborg; Tracy Mincer; William Buchanan; Caroline Collins; Gretchen Swarr; Priya M. Ganguli; Kristen Whalen; Michael H. Bothner; Ivan Valiela

doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2018.11.031

Mercury speciation and retention in a salt marsh undergoing long-term fertilization

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

By: Carl Lamborg, Tracy Mincer, William Buchanan, Caroline Collins, Gretchen Swarr, Priya M. Ganguli, Kristen Whalen, Michael H. Bothner, and Ivan Valiela

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2018.11.031

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Abstract

Experimental plots in Great Sippewissett Marsh (Falmouth, MA USA) have been undergoing long-term (>48 years) fertilization through the application of commercial sewage sludge-based fertilizer. The experimental treatment focuses on the effect of added nitrogen on the salt marsh plots, but also supplies mercury (Hg) and other metals. This experiment provides a unique opportunity to test hypotheses regarding the Hg-related response of coastal marine ecosystems to eutrophication as well as assess the efficacy of salt marshes as sinks for increased loadings of Hg to the coastal zone. Hg inventories in sediments of control plots were similar to loadings from atmospheric deposition and inventories in the fertilized plots closely reflected the estimated loadings of Hg contained in the added fertilizer. In both the control and fertilized plots, distribution of Hg appeared somewhat different than the history of loadings, implying some level of Hg mobility. The relative abundance of monomethylmercury (CH₃Hg⁺) within the plots varied with the amount of fertilizer applied with the highest percentage of Hg as CH₃Hg⁺ found in the control plots, and the lowest percentages of CH₃Hg⁺ and S were measured in plots fertilized at the highest dose. The results from this marsh suggest that eutrophication indirectly lowers CH₃Hg⁺ production in this particular ecosystem, but perhaps not as a result of the sequestration of Hg(II) with S.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Mercury speciation and retention in a salt marsh undergoing long-term fertilization
Series title	Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
DOI	10.1016/j.ecss.2018.11.031
Volume	218
Year Published	2019
Language	English
Publisher	Elsevier
Contributing office(s)	Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Description	9 p.
First page	188
Last page	196
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