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Behnke MI, Tank SE, McClelland JW, Holmes RM, Haghipour N, Eglinton TI, Raymond PA, Suslova A, Zhulidov AV, Gurtovaya T, Zimov N, Zimov S, Mutter EA, Amos E, Spencer RGM. Aquatic biomass is a major source to particulate organic matter export in large Arctic rivers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2209883120. [PMID: 36913572 PMCID: PMC10041151 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2209883120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Arctic rivers provide an integrated signature of the changing landscape and transmit signals of change to the ocean. Here, we use a decade of particulate organic matter (POM) compositional data to deconvolute multiple allochthonous and autochthonous pan-Arctic and watershed-specific sources. Constraints from carbon-to-nitrogen ratios (C:N), δ13C, and Δ14C signatures reveal a large, hitherto overlooked contribution from aquatic biomass. Separation in Δ14C age is enhanced by splitting soil sources into shallow and deep pools (mean ± SD: -228 ± 211 vs. -492 ± 173‰) rather than traditional active layer and permafrost pools (-300 ± 236 vs. -441 ± 215‰) that do not represent permafrost-free Arctic regions. We estimate that 39 to 60% (5 to 95% credible interval) of the annual pan-Arctic POM flux (averaging 4,391 Gg/y particulate organic carbon from 2012 to 2019) comes from aquatic biomass. The remainder is sourced from yedoma, deep soils, shallow soils, petrogenic inputs, and fresh terrestrial production. Climate change-induced warming and increasing CO2 concentrations may enhance both soil destabilization and Arctic river aquatic biomass production, increasing fluxes of POM to the ocean. Younger, autochthonous, and older soil-derived POM likely have different destinies (preferential microbial uptake and processing vs. significant sediment burial, respectively). A small (~7%) increase in aquatic biomass POM flux with warming would be equivalent to a ~30% increase in deep soil POM flux. There is a clear need to better quantify how the balance of endmember fluxes may shift with different ramifications for different endmembers and how this will impact the Arctic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan I. Behnke
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory Geochemistry Group, Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL32306
| | - Suzanne E. Tank
- Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, ABT6G 2R3, Canada
| | | | | | - Negar Haghipour
- Department of Earth Sciences, Geological Institute, ETH Zurich, Zurich8092, Switzerland
- Laboratory for Ion Beam Physics, ETH Zurich, Zurich8093, Switzerland
| | - Timothy I. Eglinton
- Department of Earth Sciences, Geological Institute, ETH Zurich, Zurich8092, Switzerland
| | - Peter A. Raymond
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT06520
| | - Anya Suslova
- Woodwell Climate Research Center, Falmouth, MA02540
| | - Alexander V. Zhulidov
- South Russia Centre for Preparation and Implementation of International Projects, Rostov-on-Don344090, Russia
| | - Tatiana Gurtovaya
- South Russia Centre for Preparation and Implementation of International Projects, Rostov-on-Don344090, Russia
| | - Nikita Zimov
- Pacific Geographical Institute, Far East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Cherskii678830, Russia
| | - Sergey Zimov
- Pacific Geographical Institute, Far East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Cherskii678830, Russia
| | - Edda A. Mutter
- Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council, Anchorage, AK99501
| | - Edwin Amos
- Western Arctic Research Centre, Inuvik, NTX0E 0T0, Canada
| | - Robert G. M. Spencer
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory Geochemistry Group, Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL32306
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Houde M, Krümmel EM, Mustonen T, Brammer J, Brown TM, Chételat J, Dahl PE, Dietz R, Evans M, Gamberg M, Gauthier MJ, Gérin-Lajoie J, Hauptmann AL, Heath JP, Henri DA, Kirk J, Laird B, Lemire M, Lennert AE, Letcher RJ, Lord S, Loseto L, MacMillan GA, Mikaelsson S, Mutter EA, O'Hara T, Ostertag S, Robards M, Shadrin V, Smith M, Stimmelmayr R, Sudlovenick E, Swanson H, Thomas PJ, Walker VK, Whiting A. Contributions and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples to the study of mercury in the Arctic. Sci Total Environ 2022; 841:156566. [PMID: 35697218 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Arctic Indigenous Peoples are among the most exposed humans when it comes to foodborne mercury (Hg). In response, Hg monitoring and research have been on-going in the circumpolar Arctic since about 1991; this work has been mainly possible through the involvement of Arctic Indigenous Peoples. The present overview was initially conducted in the context of a broader assessment of Hg research organized by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme. This article provides examples of Indigenous Peoples' contributions to Hg monitoring and research in the Arctic, and discusses approaches that could be used, and improved upon, when carrying out future activities. Over 40 mercury projects conducted with/by Indigenous Peoples are identified for different circumpolar regions including the U.S., Canada, Greenland, Sweden, Finland, and Russia as well as instances where Indigenous Knowledge contributed to the understanding of Hg contamination in the Arctic. Perspectives and visions of future Hg research as well as recommendations are presented. The establishment of collaborative processes and partnership/co-production approaches with scientists and Indigenous Peoples, using good communication practices and transparency in research activities, are key to the success of research and monitoring activities in the Arctic. Sustainable funding for community-driven monitoring and research programs in Arctic countries would be beneficial and assist in developing more research/monitoring capacity and would promote a more holistic approach to understanding Hg in the Arctic. These activities should be well connected to circumpolar/international initiatives to ensure broader availability of the information and uptake in policy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magali Houde
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Eva M Krümmel
- Inuit Circumpolar Council - Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Tero Mustonen
- Snowchange Cooperative, Selkie, North Karelia, Finland
| | - Jeremy Brammer
- Vuntut Gwitchin Government, Old Crow, YT, Canada; Environment and Climate Chance Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Tanya M Brown
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, West Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - John Chételat
- Environment and Climate Chance Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Rune Dietz
- Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Marlene Evans
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Joel P Heath
- The Arctic Eider Society, Sanikiluaq, NU, Canada
| | | | - Jane Kirk
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada
| | - Brian Laird
- University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Sarah Lord
- Gwich'in Renewable Resources Board, Inuvik, NWT, Canada
| | - Lisa Loseto
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | | | | | - Edda A Mutter
- Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council, Anchorage, AK, United States
| | - Todd O'Hara
- Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | | | - Martin Robards
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Fairbanks, AK, United States
| | | | - Merran Smith
- Council of Yukon First Nations, Whitehorse, YT, Canada
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Zolkos S, Krabbenhoft DP, Suslova A, Tank SE, McClelland JW, Spencer RGM, Shiklomanov A, Zhulidov AV, Gurtovaya T, Zimov N, Zimov S, Mutter EA, Kutny L, Amos E, Holmes RM. Mercury Export from Arctic Great Rivers. Environ Sci Technol 2020; 54:4140-4148. [PMID: 32122125 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b07145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Land-ocean linkages are strong across the circumpolar north, where the Arctic Ocean accounts for 1% of the global ocean volume and receives more than 10% of the global river discharge. Yet estimates of Arctic riverine mercury (Hg) export constrained from direct Hg measurements remain sparse. Here, we report results from a coordinated, year-round sampling program that focused on the six major Arctic rivers to establish a contemporary (2012-2017) benchmark of riverine Hg export. We determine that the six major Arctic rivers exported an average of 20 000 kg y-1 of total Hg (THg, all forms of Hg). Upscaled to the pan-Arctic, we estimate THg flux of 37 000 kg y-1. More than 90% of THg flux occurred during peak river discharge in spring and summer. Normalizing fluxes to watershed area (yield) reveals higher THg yields in regions where greater denudation likely enhances Hg mobilization. River discharge, suspended sediment, and dissolved organic carbon predicted THg concentration with moderate fidelity, while suspended sediment and water yields predicted THg yield with high fidelity. These findings establish a benchmark in the face of rapid Arctic warming and an intensifying hydrologic cycle, which will likely accelerate Hg cycling in tandem with changing inputs from thawing permafrost and industrial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Zolkos
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - David P Krabbenhoft
- Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Mercury Research Laboratory, United States Geological Survey, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562, United States
| | - Anya Suslova
- Woods Hole Research Center, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02540, United States
| | - Suzanne E Tank
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - James W McClelland
- Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, Texas 78373, United States
| | - Robert G M Spencer
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, United States
| | - Alexander Shiklomanov
- Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, United States
| | - Alexander V Zhulidov
- South Russia Centre for Preparation and Implementation of International Projects, Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russia
| | - Tatiana Gurtovaya
- South Russia Centre for Preparation and Implementation of International Projects, Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russia
| | - Nikita Zimov
- Northeast Science Station, Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Chersky 690041, Russia
| | - Sergey Zimov
- Northeast Science Station, Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Chersky 690041, Russia
| | - Edda A Mutter
- Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council, Anchorage, Alaska 99501, United States
| | - Les Kutny
- Les Kutny Consultant, Inuvik, Northwest Territories X0E 0T0, Canada
| | - Edwin Amos
- Western Arctic Research Centre, Inuvik, Northwest Territories X0E 0T0, Canada
| | - Robert M Holmes
- Woods Hole Research Center, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02540, United States
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