Climate Change and Cleaner Emissions Decrease Methylmercury Export from
a Headwater Peatland Catchment
Abstract
Peatlands are sources of the bioaccumulating neurotoxin methylmercury
(MeHg) and linked to adverse health outcomes, yet the impact of climate
change and reductions in atmospheric pollutants on mercury (Hg) export
from peatlands are highly uncertain. Here, we present the response in
annual flow-weighted concentrations (FWC) and yields of total-Hg (THg)
and MeHg to cleaner air and climate change using an unprecedented
hydroclimatic (55-years; streamflow, air temperature, precipitation,
regional and peatland water tables), depositional chemistry (21-years;
Hg and major ions concentration and total mass), and streamwater
chemistry (~17-years; THg, MeHg, major ions, total
organic carbon, and pH) datasets from a reference peatland catchment in
the north central USA. Over the hydroclimatic record, annual mean air
temperature increased by ~1.8 ℃, decreasing baseflow
and, subsequently, the efficiency that precipitation was converted to
streamwater runoff (runoff ratio). Concurrently, precipitation-based
deposition of sulfate and Hg declined, where wet Hg deposition rates
declined to near pre-industrial levels. Annual MeHg FWC was positively
correlated mean annual air temperatures (p=0.03, r=0.51), annual runoff
ratio (p<0.0001, r=0.76), and wet Hg deposition concentration
(p<0.0001, r=0.79). Over the study period, decreasing wet Hg
deposition concentration and annual runoff ratios counterbalanced
increased peatland MeHg production due to higher air temperatures,
leading to an overall decline in streamwater MeHg FWC. Climate change
and cleaner air were responsible for 0.51 and 0.32 of the variability in
MeHg FWC, respectively. Streamwater MeHg export may continue to decrease
only if declines in runoff ratio and wet Hg deposition concentration
persistently outpace increased air temperature.