High Methylmercury in Arctic and Subarctic Ponds is Related to Nutrient Levels in the Warming Eastern Canadian Arctic.
Permafrost thaw ponds are ubiquitous in the eastern Canadian Arctic, yet little information exists on their potential as sources of methylmercury (MeHg) to freshwaters. They are microbially-active and conducive to methylation of inorganic mercury, and are also affected by Arctic warming. This multi-...
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Online Access: | https://espace.inrs.ca/id/eprint/3879/ https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b00763 |
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ftinrsquebec:oai:espace.inrs.ca:3879 2023-05-15T14:22:43+02:00 High Methylmercury in Arctic and Subarctic Ponds is Related to Nutrient Levels in the Warming Eastern Canadian Arctic. MacMillan, Gwyneth A. Girard, Catherine Chételat, John Laurion, Isabelle Amyot, Marc 2015 https://espace.inrs.ca/id/eprint/3879/ https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b00763 unknown MacMillan, Gwyneth A., Girard, Catherine, Chételat, John, Laurion, Isabelle et Amyot, Marc (2015). High Methylmercury in Arctic and Subarctic Ponds is Related to Nutrient Levels in the Warming Eastern Canadian Arctic. Environmental Science & Technology , vol. 49 , nº 13. p. 7743-7753. DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5b00763 <https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b00763>. doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b00763 alkylation aquatic ecosystems carbon ecology ecosystems nutrients organic carbon permafrost ponds thawing water Arctic Article Évalué par les pairs 2015 ftinrsquebec https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b00763 2023-02-10T11:42:42Z Permafrost thaw ponds are ubiquitous in the eastern Canadian Arctic, yet little information exists on their potential as sources of methylmercury (MeHg) to freshwaters. They are microbially-active and conducive to methylation of inorganic mercury, and are also affected by Arctic warming. This multi-year study investigates thaw ponds in a discontinuous permafrost region in the Subarctic taiga (Kuujjuarapik-Whapmagoostui, QC) and a continuous permafrost region in the Arctic tundra (Bylot Island, NU). MeHg concentrations in thaw ponds were well above levels measured in most freshwater ecosystems in the Canadian Arctic (> 0.1 ng L⁻¹). On Bylot, ice-wedge trough ponds showed significantly higher MeHg (0.3 - 2.2 ng L⁻¹) than polygonal ponds (0.1 - 0.3 ng L⁻¹) or lakes (< 0.1 ng L⁻¹). High MeHg were measured in the bottom waters of Subarctic thaw ponds near Kuujjuarapik (0.1 - 3.1 ngL⁻¹). High water MeHg concentrations in thaw ponds were strongly correlated with variables associated with high inputs of organic matter (DOC, a₃₂₀, Fe), nutrients (TP, TN), and microbial activity (dissolved CO₂ and CH₄). Thawing permafrost due to Arctic warming will continue to release nutrients and organic carbon into these systems and increase ponding in some regions, likely stimulating higher water concentrations of MeHg. Greater hydrological connectivity from permafrost thawing may potentially increase transport of MeHg from thaw ponds to neighbouring aquatic ecosystems. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Arctic Bylot Island Ice Kuujjuarapik permafrost Subarctic taiga Tundra wedge* Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Québec: Espace INRS Arctic Bylot Island Kuujjuarapik ENVELOPE(-77.762,-77.762,55.276,55.276) Whapmagoostui ENVELOPE(-77.750,-77.750,55.250,55.250) Environmental Science & Technology 49 13 7743 7753 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Québec: Espace INRS |
op_collection_id |
ftinrsquebec |
language |
unknown |
topic |
alkylation aquatic ecosystems carbon ecology ecosystems nutrients organic carbon permafrost ponds thawing water Arctic |
spellingShingle |
alkylation aquatic ecosystems carbon ecology ecosystems nutrients organic carbon permafrost ponds thawing water Arctic MacMillan, Gwyneth A. Girard, Catherine Chételat, John Laurion, Isabelle Amyot, Marc High Methylmercury in Arctic and Subarctic Ponds is Related to Nutrient Levels in the Warming Eastern Canadian Arctic. |
topic_facet |
alkylation aquatic ecosystems carbon ecology ecosystems nutrients organic carbon permafrost ponds thawing water Arctic |
description |
Permafrost thaw ponds are ubiquitous in the eastern Canadian Arctic, yet little information exists on their potential as sources of methylmercury (MeHg) to freshwaters. They are microbially-active and conducive to methylation of inorganic mercury, and are also affected by Arctic warming. This multi-year study investigates thaw ponds in a discontinuous permafrost region in the Subarctic taiga (Kuujjuarapik-Whapmagoostui, QC) and a continuous permafrost region in the Arctic tundra (Bylot Island, NU). MeHg concentrations in thaw ponds were well above levels measured in most freshwater ecosystems in the Canadian Arctic (> 0.1 ng L⁻¹). On Bylot, ice-wedge trough ponds showed significantly higher MeHg (0.3 - 2.2 ng L⁻¹) than polygonal ponds (0.1 - 0.3 ng L⁻¹) or lakes (< 0.1 ng L⁻¹). High MeHg were measured in the bottom waters of Subarctic thaw ponds near Kuujjuarapik (0.1 - 3.1 ngL⁻¹). High water MeHg concentrations in thaw ponds were strongly correlated with variables associated with high inputs of organic matter (DOC, a₃₂₀, Fe), nutrients (TP, TN), and microbial activity (dissolved CO₂ and CH₄). Thawing permafrost due to Arctic warming will continue to release nutrients and organic carbon into these systems and increase ponding in some regions, likely stimulating higher water concentrations of MeHg. Greater hydrological connectivity from permafrost thawing may potentially increase transport of MeHg from thaw ponds to neighbouring aquatic ecosystems. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
MacMillan, Gwyneth A. Girard, Catherine Chételat, John Laurion, Isabelle Amyot, Marc |
author_facet |
MacMillan, Gwyneth A. Girard, Catherine Chételat, John Laurion, Isabelle Amyot, Marc |
author_sort |
MacMillan, Gwyneth A. |
title |
High Methylmercury in Arctic and Subarctic Ponds is Related to Nutrient Levels in the Warming Eastern Canadian Arctic. |
title_short |
High Methylmercury in Arctic and Subarctic Ponds is Related to Nutrient Levels in the Warming Eastern Canadian Arctic. |
title_full |
High Methylmercury in Arctic and Subarctic Ponds is Related to Nutrient Levels in the Warming Eastern Canadian Arctic. |
title_fullStr |
High Methylmercury in Arctic and Subarctic Ponds is Related to Nutrient Levels in the Warming Eastern Canadian Arctic. |
title_full_unstemmed |
High Methylmercury in Arctic and Subarctic Ponds is Related to Nutrient Levels in the Warming Eastern Canadian Arctic. |
title_sort |
high methylmercury in arctic and subarctic ponds is related to nutrient levels in the warming eastern canadian arctic. |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://espace.inrs.ca/id/eprint/3879/ https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b00763 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-77.762,-77.762,55.276,55.276) ENVELOPE(-77.750,-77.750,55.250,55.250) |
geographic |
Arctic Bylot Island Kuujjuarapik Whapmagoostui |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Bylot Island Kuujjuarapik Whapmagoostui |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Bylot Island Ice Kuujjuarapik permafrost Subarctic taiga Tundra wedge* |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Bylot Island Ice Kuujjuarapik permafrost Subarctic taiga Tundra wedge* |
op_relation |
MacMillan, Gwyneth A., Girard, Catherine, Chételat, John, Laurion, Isabelle et Amyot, Marc (2015). High Methylmercury in Arctic and Subarctic Ponds is Related to Nutrient Levels in the Warming Eastern Canadian Arctic. Environmental Science & Technology , vol. 49 , nº 13. p. 7743-7753. DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5b00763 <https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b00763>. doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b00763 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b00763 |
container_title |
Environmental Science & Technology |
container_volume |
49 |
container_issue |
13 |
container_start_page |
7743 |
op_container_end_page |
7753 |
_version_ |
1766295247355117568 |