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Forestry operations can increase the export of mercury (both total and methyl) to surface waters. However, little is known about the relative contribution of different forestry practices. We address this question using a paired-catchment study that distinguishes the effects of site preparation from the antecedent logging. Runoff water from three catchments, two harvested and one untreated control, was sampled biweekly during one year prior to logging, two years after logging, and three years after site preparation. The logging alone did not significantly increase the concentrations of either total or methyl-mercury in runoff, but export increased by 50-70% in one of the harvested catchments as a consequence of increased runoff volume. The combined effects of logging and site preparation increased total and methyl-mercury concentrations by 30-50% relative to preharvest conditions in both treated catchments. The more pronounced concentration effect after site preparation compared to logging could be related to site preparation being conducted during summer. This caused more soil disturbance than logging, which was done during winter with snow covering the ground. The results suggest that the cumulative impact of forest harvest on catchment mercury outputs depends on when and how forestry operations are implemented.

Publicerad i

Environmental Science and Technology
2014, volym: 48, nummer: 9, sidor: 4690-4698
Utgivare: AMER CHEMICAL SOC

SLU författare

Associerade SLU-program

SLU Future Forests

Globala målen (SDG)

SDG3 God hälsa och välbefinnande
SDG6 Rent vatten och sanitet för alla

UKÄ forskningsämne

Skogsvetenskap

Publikationens identifierare

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/es404879p

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/56438