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 multiy...
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Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1866/19008 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b00763 |
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ftunivmontreal:oai:papyrus.bib.umontreal.ca:1866/19008 2023-05-15T14:34:19+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 Université de Montréal. Faculté des arts et des sciences. Département de sciences biologiques 2015-06 http://hdl.handle.net/1866/19008 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b00763 eng eng http://hdl.handle.net/1866/19008 doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b00763 Mercury Methylmercury Thaw Pond Arctic Subarctic Lake journal article article 2015 ftunivmontreal https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b00763 2020-12-27T14:10:09Z 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 multiyear study investigated 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 was measured in the bottom waters of Subarctic thaw ponds near Kuujjuarapik (0.1−3.1 ng L−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 neighboring aquatic ecosystems. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Bylot Island Ice Kuujjuarapik permafrost Subarctic taiga Tundra wedge* Université de Montréal (UdeM): Papyrus 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 |
Université de Montréal (UdeM): Papyrus |
op_collection_id |
ftunivmontreal |
language |
English |
topic |
Mercury Methylmercury Thaw Pond Arctic Subarctic Lake |
spellingShingle |
Mercury Methylmercury Thaw Pond Arctic Subarctic Lake 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 |
Mercury Methylmercury Thaw Pond Arctic Subarctic Lake |
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 multiyear study investigated 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 was measured in the bottom waters of Subarctic thaw ponds near Kuujjuarapik (0.1−3.1 ng L−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 neighboring aquatic ecosystems. |
author2 |
Université de Montréal. Faculté des arts et des sciences. Département de sciences biologiques |
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 |
http://hdl.handle.net/1866/19008 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 Bylot Island Ice Kuujjuarapik permafrost Subarctic taiga Tundra wedge* |
genre_facet |
Arctic Bylot Island Ice Kuujjuarapik permafrost Subarctic taiga Tundra wedge* |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/1866/19008 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_ |
1766307384457691136 |