BE/CBC: Atmospheric Deposition, Transport, Transformations and Bioavailability of Mercury across a Northern Forest Landscape

该奖项调查了纽约州阿迪朗达克地区一个受汞影响的湖泊中的汞循环，该地区是一个酸敏感的森林地区，相对于北美东部的其他湖区，鱼类中的汞浓度较高。汞的迁移和转化以及甲基汞向水生生物群的供应受沉积途径、氧化还原控制的微生物转化和景观特征（例如，植被、湿地、地表沃茨）。大气中汞在森林生态系统中的沉积因树冠层内的过程而增强。汞主要通过穿透雨和凋落物进入森林地面，可能是湿沉降的两倍或两倍以上。汞在沉积后会经历一系列复杂的路径和转化，这些路径和转化与其他元素循环相互关联，并最终控制甲基汞向水生生物群的供应，这项关于环境中生物复杂性的研究的具体目标是量化北方高地阔叶林中汞物种的输入、转化和损失;确定控制汞的络合、固定和净甲基化的条件;并评估整个阿迪朗达克地区大气汞沉积的归宿、迁移和生物利用度。就更广泛的影响而言，该项目涉及汞在环境中的循环，这是一种被确定为在某些浓度和某些环境条件下对人类健康构成风险的元素。该研究将为研究支持的本科生和研究生提供独特的学习体验。此外，调查人员设想了一个广泛的教育公众宣传工作，利用一个成功的计划正在运行与阿迪朗达克生态中心和阿迪朗达克博物馆。

This award investigates mercury cycling in a mercury-impacted lake in the Adirondacks of New York, an acid-sensitive forested area with high concentrations of mercury in fish relative to other lake districts in eastern North America.The experimental premise of this research is that canopy processes enhance atmospheric mercury deposition to northern forest ecosystems. The transport and transformation of mercury and the supply of methyl mercury to aquatic biota is controlled by the pathway of deposition, redox-controlled microbial transformations, and landscape characteristics (e.g., vegetation, wetlands, surface waters). Atmospheric deposition of mercury to forest ecosystems is enhanced by processes within the canopy. Mercury entering the forest floor, largely via throughfall and litterfall, may be a factor of two or more greater than wet deposition. Following deposition, mercury undergoes a series of complex pathways and transformations, which interconnect with other element cycles and ultimately control the supply of methyl mercury to aquatic biota.The specific objectives of this study of Biocomplexity in the Environment are to quantify the inputs, transformations and losses of mercury species in an upland northern hardwood forest; determine conditions controlling the complexation, immobilization and net methylation of mercury; and assess the fate, transport and bioavailability of atmospheric mercury deposition across the Adirondack landscape.In terms of broader impacts, this project addresses the cycling of mercury in the environment, an element identified as being of risk to human health in certain concentrations and under certain environmental conditions. The research will provide a unique learning experience for undergraduate and graduate students supported by the research. Also, the investigators envision a wide ranging educational public outreach effort that takes advantage of a successful program being run in conjunction with the Adirondack Ecological Center and the Adirondack Museum.