Abstract

Forest harvest is hypothesized to increase the mercury (Hg) load in aquatic ecosystems. The Balsjo¨ paired catchment study examined the outputs of methylmercury (MeHg) and total mercury (Hgtot) from two boreal catchments during the 2 y following forest harvest but prior to site preparation. This enabled us to separate the effect of the two operations that followed best management practices. Hgtot concentrations increased by approximately 15%, and fluxes by 20–30%. The MeHg concentrations and fluxes either declined or increased by up to 60%, depending on whether annual MeHg peaks during summer low flows were considered to have been influenced by forest harvest. The lack of a severalfold increase in Hg outputs after forest harvest, as reported from other sites, may be the result of minimal soil disturbance during the winter forest harvest operations. If so, there may be a greater Hg response after soil scarification to prepare for planting

Keywords

forestry; harvest; clear-cut; mercury; methylmercury

Published in

AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment
2009, Volume: 38, number: 7, pages: 364-372

SLU Authors

• Sörensen, Rasmus

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• von Brömssen, Claudia

  • Department of Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Bishop, Kevin

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

Non-toxic environment
Lakes and watercourses
Forest


Sustainable Development Goals

SDG14 Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development


UKÄ Subject classification

Fish and Aquacultural Science
Forest Science
Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1579/0044-7447-38.7.364

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/28108