Articles | Volume 18, issue 23
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-6313-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-6313-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
09 Dec 2021
Research article |
| 09 Dec 2021
| 09 Dec 2021
Mercury accumulation in leaves of different plant types – the significance of tissue age and specific leaf area
Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, P.O.
Box 461, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
Jenny Klingberg
Gothenburg Botanical Garden, Carl Skottsbergs Gata 22A, 41319
Gothenburg, Sweden
Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Carl Skottsbergs Gata 22B, 41319 Gothenburg, Sweden
Michelle Nerentorp
IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute Inc., P.O. Box 53021,
40014 Gothenburg, Sweden
Malin C. Broberg
Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, P.O.
Box 461, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
Brigitte Nyirambangutse
University of Rwanda, KK 737 Street, Gikondo, Kigali, P.O. Box 4285,
Kigali, Rwanda
Global Green Growth Institute, 19F Jeongdong Building, 21-15
Jeongdon-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul 04518, Republic of Korea
John Munthe
IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute Inc., P.O. Box 53021,
40014 Gothenburg, Sweden
Göran Wallin
Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, P.O.
Box 461, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
Related authors
Jo Cook, Clare Brewster, Felicity Hayes, Nathan Booth, Sam Bland, Pritha Pande, Samarthia Thankappan, Håkan Pleijel, and Lisa Emberson
Biogeosciences, 21, 4809–4835, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4809-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4809-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
At ground level, the air pollutant ozone (O3) damages wheat yield and quality. We modified the DO3SE-Crop model to simulate O3 effects on wheat quality and identified onset of leaf death as the key process affecting wheat quality upon O3 exposure. This aligns with expectations, as the onset of leaf death aids nutrient transfer from leaves to grains. Breeders should prioritize wheat varieties resistant to protein loss from delayed leaf death, to maintain yield and quality under O3 exposure.
Fredrik Lagergren, Robert G. Björk, Camilla Andersson, Danijel Belušić, Mats P. Björkman, Erik Kjellström, Petter Lind, David Lindstedt, Tinja Olenius, Håkan Pleijel, Gunhild Rosqvist, and Paul A. Miller
Biogeosciences, 21, 1093–1116, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-1093-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-1093-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The Fennoscandian boreal and mountain regions harbour a wide range of ecosystems sensitive to climate change. A new, highly resolved high-emission climate scenario enabled modelling of the vegetation development in this region at high resolution for the 21st century. The results show dramatic south to north and low- to high-altitude shifts of vegetation zones, especially for the open tundra environments, which will have large implications for nature conservation, reindeer husbandry and forestry.
Hans-Martin Heyn and Michelle Nerentorp Mastromonaco
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4511, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4511, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).
Short summary
Short summary
We studied how environmental factors influence the release of mercury from seawater to the atmosphere. We applied a novel approach in which prior knowledge about cause-and-effect is captured as graphical models and then used to estimate effect sizes. Results showed that sunlight affects mercury both directly and indirectly, with about 33 % of the effect explained by temperature increase. Thus, causal models can improve our understanding of pollution processes and the effect policies.
Jo Cook, Clare Brewster, Felicity Hayes, Nathan Booth, Sam Bland, Pritha Pande, Samarthia Thankappan, Håkan Pleijel, and Lisa Emberson
Biogeosciences, 21, 4809–4835, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4809-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4809-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
At ground level, the air pollutant ozone (O3) damages wheat yield and quality. We modified the DO3SE-Crop model to simulate O3 effects on wheat quality and identified onset of leaf death as the key process affecting wheat quality upon O3 exposure. This aligns with expectations, as the onset of leaf death aids nutrient transfer from leaves to grains. Breeders should prioritize wheat varieties resistant to protein loss from delayed leaf death, to maintain yield and quality under O3 exposure.
Fredrik Lagergren, Robert G. Björk, Camilla Andersson, Danijel Belušić, Mats P. Björkman, Erik Kjellström, Petter Lind, David Lindstedt, Tinja Olenius, Håkan Pleijel, Gunhild Rosqvist, and Paul A. Miller
Biogeosciences, 21, 1093–1116, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-1093-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-1093-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The Fennoscandian boreal and mountain regions harbour a wide range of ecosystems sensitive to climate change. A new, highly resolved high-emission climate scenario enabled modelling of the vegetation development in this region at high resolution for the 21st century. The results show dramatic south to north and low- to high-altitude shifts of vegetation zones, especially for the open tundra environments, which will have large implications for nature conservation, reindeer husbandry and forestry.
Bonaventure Ntirugulirwa, Etienne Zibera, Nkuba Epaphrodite, Aloysie Manishimwe, Donat Nsabimana, Johan Uddling, and Göran Wallin
Biogeosciences, 20, 5125–5149, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-5125-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-5125-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Twenty tropical tree species native to Africa were planted along an elevation gradient (1100 m, 5.4 °C difference). We found that early-successional (ES) species, especially from lower elevations, grew faster at warmer sites, while several of the late-successional (LS) species, especially from higher elevations, did not respond or grew slower. Moreover, a warmer climate increased tree mortality in LS species, but not much in ES species.
Attilio Naccarato, Antonella Tassone, Maria Martino, Sacha Moretti, Antonella Macagnano, Emiliano Zampetti, Paolo Papa, Joshua Avossa, Nicola Pirrone, Michelle Nerentorp, John Munthe, Ingvar Wängberg, Geoff W. Stupple, Carl P. J. Mitchell, Adam R. Martin, Alexandra Steffen, Diana Babi, Eric M. Prestbo, Francesca Sprovieri, and Frank Wania
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 3657–3672, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-3657-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-3657-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Mercury monitoring in support of the Minamata Convention requires effective and reliable analytical tools. Passive sampling is a promising approach for creating a sustainable long-term network for atmospheric mercury with improved spatial resolution and global coverage. In this study the analytical performance of three passive air samplers (CNR-PAS, IVL-PAS, and MerPAS) was assessed over extended deployment periods and the accuracy of concentrations was judged by comparison with active sampling.
Cited articles
Assad, M., Parelle, J., Cazaux, D., Gimbert, F., Chalot, M., and Tatit-Froux,
F.: Mercury uptake into poplar leaves, Chemosphere, 146, 1–7,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.11.103, 2016.
Barghigiani, C., Ristori, T., and Bauleo, R.: Pinus as an atmospheric Hg
biomonitor, Environ. Technol., 12, 1175–1181, https://doi.org/10.1080/09593339109385118,
1991.
Bertolotti, G. and Gialanella, S.: Review: use of conifer needles as passive
samplers of inorganic pollutants in air quality monitoring, Anal. Methods,
6, 6208–6222, https://doi.org/10.1039/c4ay00172a, 2014.
Bishop, K., Shanley, J. B., Riscassi, A., de Wit, H. A., Eklöf, K.,
Meng, B., Mitchell, C., Osterwalder, S., Schuster, P. F., Webster, J., and
Zhu, W.: Recent advances in understanding and measurement of mercury in the
environment: Terrestrial Hg cycling, Sci. Total Environ., 721, 137647,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137647, 2020.
Browne, C. L. and Fang, S. C.: Uptake of mercury vapor by wheat, Plant
Physiol., 61, 430–433, 1978.
Bushey, J. T., Nallana, A. G., Montesdeoca, M. R., and Driscoll, C. T.:
Mercury dynamics of a northern hardwood canopy, Atmos. Environ., 42,
6905–6914, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2008.05.043, 2008.
De Temmerman, L., Waegeneers, N., Claeys, N., and Roeckens, E.: Comparison of
concentrations of mercury in ambient air to its accumulation by leafy
vegetables: An important step in terrestiral food chain analysis, Environ.
Pollut., 157, 1337–1341, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2008.11.035, 2009.
Demers, J. D., Blum, J. D., and Zak, D. R.: Mercury isotopes in a forested
ecosystem: Implications for air-surface exchange dynamics and the global
mercury cycle, Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 27, 222–238,
https://doi.org/10.1002/gbc.20021, 2013.
Du, S. H. and Fang, S. C.: Catalase activity of C3 and C4 species and its
relationship to mercury vapour uptake, Environ. Exp. Bot., 23, 347–353,
1983.
Ericksen, J. A., Gustin, M. S., Schoran, D. E., Johnson, D. W., Lindberg, S.
E., and Coleman, J. S.: Accumulation of atmospheric mercury in forest
foliage, Atmos. Environ., 37, 1613–1622, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1352-2310(03)00008-6,
2003.
Feng, Z., Pang, J., Kobayashi, K., Zhu, J., and Ort, D.R.: Differential
responses in two varieties of winter wheat to elevated ozone concentration
under fully open-air field conditions, Glob. Change Biol. 17, 580-591, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2010.02184.x, 2010.
Fleck, J. A., Grigal, D. F., and Nater, E. A.: Mercury uptake by trees: an
observational experiment, Water Air Soil Pollut., 115, 513–523,
https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005194608598, 1999.
Frescholtz, T., Gustin, M. S., Schorran, D. E., and Fernandez, C. J.:
Assessing the source of mercury in foliar tissue of quaking aspen, Environ.
Toxicol. Chem., 22, 2114–2119, https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620220922, 2003.
Fuhrer, J., Skärby, L., and Ashmore, M. R.: Critical levels for ozone
effect on vegetation in Europe, Environ. Pollut., 97, 91–106,
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0269-7491(97)00067-5, 1997.
Gelang, J., Pleijel, H., Sild, E., Danielsson, H., Younis, S., and Sellden,
G.: Rate and duration of grain filling in relation to flag leaf senescence
and grain yield in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) exposed to different
concentrations of ozone, Physiol. Plant., 110, 366–375,
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3054.2000.1100311.x, 2000.
Graydon, J. A., St. Louis, V. L., Hintelmann, H., Lindberg, S. E.,
Sandilands, K. A., Rudd, J. W., Kelly, C. A., Hall, B. D., and Mowat, L. D.:
Long-term wet and dry deposition of total and methyl mercury in the remote
boreal ecoregion of Canada, Environ. Sci. Technol., 42, 8345–8351,
https://doi.org/10.1021/es801056j, 2008.
Grigal, D. F.: Inputs and outputs of mercury from terrestrial watersheds: a
review, Environ. Rev., 10, 1–39, https://doi.org/10.1139/A01-013, 2002.
Hanson, P. J., Lindberg, S. E., Tabberer, T. A., Owens, J. G., and Kim, K.
H.: Foliar exchange of mercury vapor: evidence for a compensation point,
Water Air Soil Pollut., 80, 373–382, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01189687, 1995.
Hutnik, R. J., McClenahen, J. R., Long, R. P., and Davis, D. D.: Mercury
Accumulation in Pinus nigra (Austrian Pine), Northeast. Nat., 21, 529–540,
https://doi.org/10.1656/045.021.0402, 2014.
Jiskra, M., Sonke, J. E., Obrist, D., Bieser, J., Ebinghaus, R., Myhre, C.
L., Pfaffhuber, K. A., Wängberg, I., Kyllönen, K., Worthy, D.,
Martin, L. G., Labuschagne, C., Mkololo, T., Ramonet, M., Magand, O., and
Dommergue, A.: A vegetation control on seasonal variations in global
atmospheric mercury concentrations, Nat. Geosci., 11, 244–250,
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-018-0078-8, 2018.
Johansson, J., Watne, Å. K., Karlsson, P. E., Pihl Karlsson, G.,
Danielsson, H., Andersson, C., and Pleijel, H.: The European heat wave of
2018 and its promotion of the ozone climate penalty in southwest Sweden,
Boreal Env. Res., 25, 39–50, 2020.
Laacouri, A., Nater, E. A., and Kolka, R. K.: Distribution and uptake
dynamics of mercury in leaves of common deciduous tree species in Minnesota,
USA, Environ. Sci. Technol., 47, 10462–10470,
https://doi.org/10.1021/es401357z, 2013.
Larcher, W.: Physiological Plant Ecology, Ecophysiology and Stress
Physiology of Functional Groups, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York,
2003.
Li, R., Wu, H., Ding, J., Fu, W., Gan, L., and Li, Y.: Mercury pollution in
vegetables, grains and soils from areas surrounding coal-fired power plants,
Sci. Rep., 7, 46545, https://doi.org/10.1038/srep46545, 2017.
Lin, Y. S., Medlyn, B. E., Duursma, R. A., Prentice, I. C., Wang, H., Baig,
S., Eamus, D., de Dios, V. R., Mitchell, P., Ellsworth, D. S., Op de Beeck,
M., Wallin, G., Uddling, J., Tarvainen, L., Linderson, M. L., Cernusak, L.
A., Nippert, J. B:, Ocheltree, T. W., Tissue, D. T., Martin-StPaul, N. K.,
Rogers, A., Warren, J. M., De Angelis, P., Hikosaka, K., Han, Q., Onoda, Y.,
Gimeno, T. E., Barton, C. V. M., Bennie, J., Bonal, D., Bosc, A., Löw,
M., Macinins-Ng, C., Rey, A., Rowland, L., Setterfield, S. A., Tausz-Posch,
S., Zaragoza-Castells, J., Broadmeadow, M. S. J., Drake, J. E., Freeman, M.,
Ghannoum, O., Hutley, L. B., Kelly, J. W., Kikuzawa, K., Kolari, P., Koyama,
K., Limousin, J. M., Meir, P., Lola da Costa, A. C., Mikkelsen, T. N.,
Salinas, N., Sun, W. and Wingate, L.: Optimal stomatal behaviour around the
world, Nature Clim. Change, 5, 459–464, 2015.
Lindberg, S., Bullock, R., Ebinghaus, R., Engstrom, D., Feng, X.,
Fitzgerald, W., Pirrone, N., Prestbo, E., and Seigneur, C.: A synthesis of
progress and uncertainties in attributing the sources of mercury in
deposition, Ambio, 36, 19–32, 2007.
Lodenius, M., Tulisalo, E., and Soltanpour-Gargari, A.: Exchange of mercury
between atmosphere and vegetation under contaminated conditions, Sci. Total
Environ., 304, 169–174, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697(02)00566-1,
2003.
Marschner, P. (Ed): Marschner's Mineral Nutrition of Higher
Plants, Third Edition, Elsevier, London, Waltham, San Diego, 2012.
Millhollen, A. G., Gustin, M. S., and Obrist, D.: Foliar mercury accumulation
and exchange for three tree species, Environ. Sci. Technol., 40, 6001–6006,
https://doi.org/10.1021/es0609194, 2006.
Mulholland, B. J., Craigon, J., Black, C. R., Colls, J., Atherton, J., and
Landon, G.: Impact of elevated atmospheric CO2 and O3 on gas
exchange and chlorophyll content in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), J.
Exp. Bot., 48, 1853–1863, https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/48.10.1853, 1997.
Mulholland, B. J., Craigon, J., Black, C. R., Colls, J., Atherton, J., and
Landon, G.: Growth, light interception and yield responses of spring wheat
(Triticum aestivum L.) grown under elevated CO2 and O3 in open-top
chambers, Glob. Change Biol. 4, 121–130,
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2486.1998.00112.x, 1998.
Muukkonen, P.: Needle biomass turnover rates of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris
L.) derived from the needle-shed dynamics, Trees, 19, 273–279,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-004-0381-4, 2005.
Munthe, J., Hultberg, H., and Iverfeldt, Å.: Mechanisms of deposition of
methylmercury and mercury to coniferous forests, Water Air Soil Pollut., 80,
363–371, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01189686, 1995.
Navrátil, T., Nováková. T., Roll, M., Shanley, J. B.,
Koáček, J., Kaňa, J., and Cudlín, P.: Decreasing litterfall
mercury deposition in central European coniferous forests and effects of
bark beetle infestation, Sci. Total Environ., 682, 213–225,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.093, 2019.
Nebel, B. and Matile, P.: Longevity and senescence of needles in Pinus
cembra L, Trees, 6, 156–161, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00202431, 1992.
Niu, Z., Zhang, X., Wang, Z., and Ci, Z.: Field controlled experiments of
mercury accumulation in crops from air and soil, Environ. Pollut., 159,
2684–2689, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2011.05.029, 2011.
Nyirambangutse, B., Zibera, E., Uwizeye, F. K., Nsabimana, D., Bizuru, E., Pleijel, H., Uddling, J., and Wallin, G.: Carbon stocks and dynamics at different successional stages in an Afromontane tropical forest, Biogeosciences, 14, 1285–1303, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-1285-2017, 2017.
Obrist, D.: Atmospheric mercury pollution due to losses of terrestrial
carbon pools?, Biogeochemistry, 85, 119–123, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-007-9108-0,
2007.
Obrist, D., Kirk, J. L., Zhang, L., Sunderland, E. M., Jiskra, M., and Selin,
N. E.: A review of global environmental mercury processes in response to
human and natural perturbations: Changes of emission, climate, and land use,
Ambio, 47, 116–140, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-017-1004-9, 2018.
Osborne, S., Mills, G., Hayes, F., Harmens, H., Gillies, D., Büker, P.,
and Emberson, L.: New insights into leaf physiological responses to ozone
for use in crop modelling, Plants, 8, 84, https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8040084, 2019.
Pleijel, H., Klingberg, J., Nerentorp, M., Broberg, M., Nyirambangutse, B., Munthe, J., and Wallin, G.: Mercury accumulation in leaves of different plant types – the significance of tissue age and specific leaf area, Dryad, [data set], https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.7wm37pvsq, 2021.
Pokharel, A. K. and Obrist, D.: Fate of mercury in tree litter during decomposition, Biogeosciences, 8, 2507–2521, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-8-2507-2011, 2011.
Poorter, H., Niinemets, Ü., Poorter, L., Wright, I. J., and Villar, R.: Causes
and consequences of variation in leaf mass per area (LMA): a meta-analysis,
New Phytol., 182, 565–588, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02830.x, 2009.
Rasmussen, P. E.: Temporal variation of mercury in vegetation, Water Air
Soil Pollut., 80, 1039–1042, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01189762, 1995.
Rasmussen, P. E., Mierle, G., and Nriagu, J. O.: The analysis of vegetation
for total mercury, Water Air Soil Pollut., 56, 379–390,
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342285, 1991.
Reich, P. B., Uhl, C., Waiters, M. B., and Ellsworth, D. S.: Leaf lifespan as
a determinant of leaf structure and function among 23 Amazonian tree
species, Oecologia, 86, 16–24, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00317383, 1991.
Reich, P. B., Koike, T., Gower, S. T., and Schoettle, A. W.: Causes and
consequences of variation in conifer leaf life-span, in: Ecophysiology of
coniferous forests, edited by: Smith, W. K. and Hinkley, T. M., Academic
press, San Diego, USA, 1995.
Reich, P. B., Oleksyn, J., Modrzynski, J., and Tjoelker, M.: Evidence that
longer needle retention of spruce and pine populations at high elevations
and high latitudes is largely a phenotypic response, Tree Physiol., 16,
643—647, https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/16.7.643, 1996.
Reich, P. B., Richa, R. L., Luc, X., Wang, Y. P., and Oleksynj, J.:
Biogeographic variation in evergreen conifer needle longevity and impacts on
boreal forest carbon cycle projections, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 111, 13703–13708,
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1216054110, 2014.
Risch, M. R., DeWild, J. F., Gay, D. A., Zhang, L., Boyer, E. W., and
Krabbenhoft, D. P.: 747 Atmospheric mercury deposition to forests in the
eastern USA, Environ. Pollut., 228, 8–18, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.05.004,
2017.
Sommar, J., Zhu, W., Shang, L., Lin, C.-J., and Feng, X.: Seasonal variations in metallic mercury (Hg0) vapor exchange over biannual wheat–corn rotation cropland in the North China Plain, Biogeosciences, 13, 2029–2049, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-2029-2016, 2016.
Sommar, J., Osterwalder, S., and Zhu, W.: Recent advances in understanding and
measurement of Hg in the environment: Surface-atmosphere exchange of gaseous
elemental mercury (Hg0), Sci. Total Environ., 721, 137648,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137648, 2020.
Sprovieri, F., Pirrone, N., Bencardino, M., D'Amore, F., Angot, H., Barbante, C., Brunke, E.-G., Arcega-Cabrera, F., Cairns, W., Comero, S., Diéguez, M. D. C., Dommergue, A., Ebinghaus, R., Feng, X. B., Fu, X., Garcia, P. E., Gawlik, B. M., Hageström, U., Hansson, K., Horvat, M., Kotnik, J., Labuschagne, C., Magand, O., Martin, L., Mashyanov, N., Mkololo, T., Munthe, J., Obolkin, V., Ramirez Islas, M., Sena, F., Somerset, V., Spandow, P., Vardè, M., Walters, C., Wängberg, I., Weigelt, A., Yang, X., and Zhang, H.: Five-year records of mercury wet deposition flux at GMOS sites in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 2689–2708, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-2689-2017, 2017.
Stamenkovic, J. and Gustin, M. S.: Nonstomatal versus Stomatal Uptake of
Atmospheric Mercury, Environ. Sci. Technol., 43, 1367–1372,
https://doi.org/10.1021/es801583a, 2009.
St. Louis, V. L., Rudd, J. W. M., Kelly, C. A., Hall, B. D., Rolfhus, K. R.,
Scott, K. J., Lindberg, S. E., and Dong, W.: Importance of the forest canopy
to fluxes of methyl mercury and total mercury to boreal ecosystems, Environ.
Sci. Technol., 35, 3089–3098, https://doi.org/10.1021/es001924p, 2001.
Sun, G., Feng, X., Yin, R., Zhao, H., Zhang, L., Sommar, J., Li, Z., and Zhang,
H.: Corn (Zea mays L.): A low methylmercury staple cereal source and an
important biospheric sink of atmospheric mercury, and health risk
assessment, Environ. Int., 131, 104971, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.104971,
2019.
UN Environment: Global Mercury Assessment Report 2018, UN Environmental
Programme, Chemicals and Health Branch Geneva, Switzerland, ISBN 978-92-807-3744-8, 2019.
Wang, X., Bao, Z., Lin, C.-J., Yuan, W., and Feng, X.: Assessment of global
mercury deposition through litterfall, Environ. Sci. Technol., 50,
8548–8557, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b06351, 2016.
Wohlgemuth, L., Osterwalder, S., Joseph, C., Kahmen, A., Hoch, G., Alewell, C., and Jiskra, M.: A bottom-up quantification of foliar mercury uptake fluxes across Europe, Biogeosciences, 17, 6441–6456, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-6441-2020, 2020.
Wyttenbach, A. and Tobler, L.: The seasonal variation of 20 elements in
1st and 2nd year needles of Norway spruce, Picea abies (L.) Karst,
Trees, 2, 52–64, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01196345, 1988.
Wyttenbach, A. and Tobler, L.: The concentrations of Fe, Zn and Co in
successive needle age classes of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.],
Trees, 14, 198–205, https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00009763, 2000.
Yang, Y., Yanai, R. D., Driscoll, C. T., Montesdeoca, M., and Smith, K. T.:
Concentration and content of mercury in bark, wood, and leaves in hardwoods
and conifers in four forested sites in the northeastern USA, PLoS ONE,
13, e0196293, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0196293, 2018.
Yuan, W., Sommar, J., Lin, C. J., Wang, X., Li, K., Liu, Y., Zhang, H., Lu,
Z., Wu, C., and Feng, X.: Stable isotope evidence shows re-emission of
elemental mercury vapour occurring after reductive loss from foliage,
Environ. Sci. Technol., 53, 651-660, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b04865, 2019.
Zhou, J., Obrist, D., Dastoor, A., Jiskra, M., and Ryjkov, A.: Vegetation
uptake of mercury and impacts on global cycling. Nat. Rev. Earth Environ. 2,
269–284, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-021-00146-y, 2021.
Short summary
Mercury is a problematic metal in the environment. It is crucial to understand the Hg circulation in ecosystems. We explored the mercury concentration in foliage from a diverse set of plants, locations and sampling periods to study the accumulation of Hg in leaves–needles over time. Mercury was always higher in older tissue: in broadleaved trees, conifers and wheat. Specific leaf area, the leaf area per unit leaf mass, turned out to be critical for Hg accumulation in leaves–needles.
Mercury is a problematic metal in the environment. It is crucial to understand the Hg...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint