Predominant contributions through lichen and fine litter to litterfall mercury deposition in a subalpine forest

Litterfall, typically referring to needles/leaves, may stand for >50% of the total mercury (Hg) deposition in forest ecosystems. By detailed categorisation, we reveal for the first time that the contributions through lichens and fine litter, together 9.98 μg Hg m−2 yr−1, could be as high as that...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental research 2023-07, Vol.229, p.116005-116005, Article 116005
Main Authors: Huang, Jen-How, Berg, Björn, Chen, Chaoyue, Thimonier, Anne, Schmitt, Maria, Osterwalder, Stefan, Alewell, Christine, Rinklebe, Jörg, Feng, Xinbin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ecosystem
Environmental Monitoring
Fine litter
Forests
Lichen
Lichens
Mercury - analysis
Mercury deposition
Non-needle litterfall
Seasonal dynamics
Trees
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Summary:Litterfall, typically referring to needles/leaves, may stand for >50% of the total mercury (Hg) deposition in forest ecosystems. By detailed categorisation, we reveal for the first time that the contributions through lichens and fine litter, together 9.98 μg Hg m−2 yr−1, could be as high as that in needle litter (9.96 μg m−2 yr−1) to the annual total Hg deposition (44.6 μg m−2 yr−1) in a subalpine forest in Switzerland. Noticeably, needle litter had the highest contribution (53%) to total Hg in the autumn litterfall but lichens and fine litter together predominated in other seasons (47–59%). Such a seasonal pattern is caused by the high ability of lichens and fine litter to accumulate Hg and the high needle litterfall in autumn, which is related to a good rainfall in summer followed by a dry period in autumn. The constantly higher Hg levels in lichens and fine litter than in needle litter together with similar seasonal patterns of litterfall during 2009–2019 and rainfall during 1980–2019 suggest that our finding can be generally valid. Here, we highlight not only the considerable role of non-needle litterfall in Hg deposition but also the association with weather for seasonal Hg dynamics in different litterfall components. [Display omitted] •Non-needle litterfall may account for up to 86% of total Hg litterfall•A considerable role of lichens and fine litter in Hg deposition•Weather conditions impact Hg deposition pattern among different litterfall fractions
ISSN:0013-9351
1096-0953
DOI:10.1016/j.envres.2023.116005