Long-Term Experimental Manipulation of Atmospheric Sulfate Deposition to a Peatland: Response of Methylmercury and Related Solute Export in Streamwater

Changes in sulfate (SO42-) deposition have been linked to changes in mercury (Hg) methylation in peatlands and water quality in freshwater catchments. There is little empirical evidence, however, of how quickly methyl-Hg (MeHg, a bioaccumulative neurotoxin) export from catchments might change with declining SO42- deposition. Here, we present responses in total Hg (THg), MeHg, total organic carbon, pH, and SO42- export from a peatland-dominated catchment as a function of changing SO42- deposition in a long-term (1998-2011), whole-ecosystem, control-impact experiment. Annual SO42- deposition to half of a 2-ha peatland was experimentally increased 6-fold over natural levels and then returned to ambient levels in two phases. Sulfate additions led to a 5-fold increase in monthly flow-weighted MeHg concentrations and yields relative to a reference catchment. Once SO42- additions ceased, MeHg concentrations in the outflow streamwater returned to pre-SO42- addition levels within 2 years. The decline in streamwater MeHg was proportional to the change in the peatland area no longer receiving experimental SO42- inputs. Importantly, net demethylation and increased sorption to peat hastened the return of MeHg to baseline levels beyond purely hydrological flushing. Overall, we present clear empirical evidence of rapid and proportionate declines in MeHg export from a peatland-dominated catchment when SO42- deposition declines.

Automated summary

This study presents empirical evidence of the relationship between declining sulfate deposition and changes in mercury methylation and water quality in peatlands. The results show that when sulfate additions stopped, the export of methylmercury quickly returned to baseline levels in the peatland-dominated catchment.