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Burke S, Muir DCG, Kirk J, Barst BD, Iqaluk D, Wang X, Pope M, Lamoureux SF, Lafrenière MJ. Divergent Temporal Trends of Mercury in Arctic Char from Paired Lakes Influenced by Climate-Related Drivers. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023; 42:2712-2725. [PMID: 37712511 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Climate-driven changes including rising air temperatures, enhanced permafrost degradation, and altered precipitation patterns can have profound effects on contaminants, such as mercury (Hg), in High Arctic lakes. Two physically similar lakes, East Lake and West Lake at the Cape Bounty Arctic Watershed Observatory on Melville Island, Nunavut, Canada are being affected by climate change differently. Both lakes have experienced permafrost degradation in their catchments; however, West Lake has also undergone multiple underwater Mass Movement Events (MMEs; beginning in fall 2008), leading to a sustained 50-fold increase in turbidity. This provided the unique opportunity to understand the potential impacts of permafrost degradation and other climate-related effects on Hg concentrations and body condition of landlocked Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus), an important sentinel species across the Circum-Arctic. Our objectives were to assess temporal trends in char Hg concentrations and to determine potential mechanisms driving the trends. There was a significant decrease in Hg concentrations in East Lake char, averaging 6.5%/year and 3.8%/year for length-adjusted and age-adjusted means, respectively, from 2008 to 2019. Conversely, in West Lake there was a significant increase, averaging 7.9%/year and 8.0%/year for length-adjusted and age-adjusted mean Hg concentrations, respectively, for 2009 to 2017 (the last year with sufficient sample size). The best predictors of length-adjusted Hg concentrations in West Lake were carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios, indicating a shift in diet including possible dietary starvation brought on by the profound increase in lake turbidity. Our study provides an example of how increasing lake turbidity, a likely consequence of climate warming in Arctic lakes, may influence fish condition and Hg concentrations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2712-2725. © 2023 His Majesty the King in Right of Canada and The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Burke
- Minnow Environmental, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment & Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
| | - Derek C G Muir
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment & Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jane Kirk
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment & Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
| | - Benjamin D Barst
- Water and Environmental Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
| | - Debbie Iqaluk
- Water and Environmental Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
| | - Xiaowa Wang
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment & Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mike Pope
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Scott F Lamoureux
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melissa J Lafrenière
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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Beel CR, Heslop JK, Orwin JF, Pope MA, Schevers AJ, Hung JKY, Lafrenière MJ, Lamoureux SF. Emerging dominance of summer rainfall driving High Arctic terrestrial-aquatic connectivity. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1448. [PMID: 33664252 PMCID: PMC7933336 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21759-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrological transformations induced by climate warming are causing Arctic annual fluvial energy to shift from skewed (snowmelt-dominated) to multimodal (snowmelt- and rainfall-dominated) distributions. We integrated decade-long hydrometeorological and biogeochemical data from the High Arctic to show that shifts in the timing and magnitude of annual discharge patterns and stream power budgets are causing Arctic material transfer regimes to undergo fundamental changes. Increased late summer rainfall enhanced terrestrial-aquatic connectivity for dissolved and particulate material fluxes. Permafrost disturbances (<3% of the watersheds’ areal extent) reduced watershed-scale dissolved organic carbon export, offsetting concurrent increased export in undisturbed watersheds. To overcome the watersheds’ buffering capacity for transferring particulate material (30 ± 9 Watt), rainfall events had to increase by an order of magnitude, indicating the landscape is primed for accelerated geomorphological change when future rainfall magnitudes and consequent pluvial responses exceed the current buffering capacity of the terrestrial-aquatic continuum. Climate warming is causing annual Arctic fluvial energy budgets to shift seasonality from snowmelt-dominated to snowmelt- and rainfall-dominated hydrological regimes, enhancing late summer and fall terrestrial-aquatic connectivity and higher material fluxes.
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Affiliation(s)
- C R Beel
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada. .,Water Management and Monitoring, Environment and Natural Resources, Government of Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT, Canada.
| | - J K Heslop
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.,Section 3.7 Geomicrobiology, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| | - J F Orwin
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.,Resource Stewardship Division, Alberta Environment and Parks, Government of Alberta, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - M A Pope
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - A J Schevers
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - J K Y Hung
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - M J Lafrenière
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - S F Lamoureux
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
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Beel CR, Lamoureux SF, Orwin JF, Pope MA, Lafrenière MJ, Scott NA. Differential impact of thermal and physical permafrost disturbances on High Arctic dissolved and particulate fluvial fluxes. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11836. [PMID: 32678255 PMCID: PMC7366920 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68824-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate warming and changing precipitation patterns have thermally (active layer deepening) and physically (permafrost-thaw related mass movements) disturbed permafrost-underlain watersheds across much of the Arctic, increasing the transfer of dissolved and particulate material from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems. We examined the multiyear (2006–2017) impact of thermal and physical permafrost disturbances on all of the major components of fluvial flux. Thermal disturbances increased the flux of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), but localized physical disturbances decreased multiyear DOC flux. Physical disturbances increased major ion and suspended sediment flux, which remained elevated a decade after disturbance, and changed carbon export from a DOC to a particulate organic carbon (POC) dominated system. As the magnitude and frequency of physical permafrost disturbance intensifies in response to Arctic climate change, disturbances will become an increasingly important mechanism to deliver POC from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems. Although nival runoff remained the primary hydrological driver, the importance of pluvial runoff as driver of fluvial flux increased following both thermal and physical permafrost disturbance. We conclude the transition from a nival-dominated fluvial regime to a regime where rainfall runoff is proportionately more important will be a likely tipping point to accelerated High Arctic change.
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Affiliation(s)
- C R Beel
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada. .,Yellowknife Research Office, Wilfrid Laurier University, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2P8, Canada.
| | - S F Lamoureux
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - J F Orwin
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada.,Resource Stewardship Division, Alberta Environment and Parks, Government of Alberta, Calgary, AB, T2L 2K8, Canada
| | - M A Pope
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - M J Lafrenière
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - N A Scott
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
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Cabrerizo A, Muir DCG, De Silva AO, Wang X, Lamoureux SF, Lafrenière MJ. Legacy and Emerging Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Terrestrial Compartments in the High Arctic: Sorption and Secondary Sources. Environ Sci Technol 2018; 52:14187-14197. [PMID: 30521332 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b05011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and emerging perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were measured in vegetation and soil samples collected at remote lakes in the Canadian High Arctic. Field studies were carried out in 2015 and 2016 to assess concentrations of POPs, study the relevant sorbing phases, and determine whether Arctic soils were sinks or sources of legacy POPs to the atmosphere and to neighboring lakes. The patterns of legacy POPs in vegetation and soils were dominated by low molecular weight PCB congeners along with OCPs, confirming the importance of long-range atmospheric transport. Lipid and non-lipid organic matter was a key determinant of legacy POPs in Arctic vegetation. Soil organic matter was the main descriptor of hydrophobic PCBs and OCPs in soils, while soil inorganic carbon content, was an important driver of the sorption of PFASs in soils. While contaminant concentrations were low in soil and vegetation, higher PCBs and PFOS organic and inorganic carbon-normalized concentrations were found at Resolute Lake indicating the presence of local sources of contamination. Comparison of fugacities of PCBs in soil and air from Resolute Lake indicated soils as net sources of PCBs to the atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cabrerizo
- Environment and Climate Change Canada , Aquatic Contaminant Research Division , Burlington , Ontario L7S 1A1 , Canada
| | - Derek C G Muir
- Environment and Climate Change Canada , Aquatic Contaminant Research Division , Burlington , Ontario L7S 1A1 , Canada
| | - Amila O De Silva
- Environment and Climate Change Canada , Aquatic Contaminant Research Division , Burlington , Ontario L7S 1A1 , Canada
| | - Xiaowa Wang
- Environment and Climate Change Canada , Aquatic Contaminant Research Division , Burlington , Ontario L7S 1A1 , Canada
| | - Scott F Lamoureux
- Department of Geography and Planning , Queen's University , Kingston , Ontario K7L 3N6 , Canada
| | - Melissa J Lafrenière
- Department of Geography and Planning , Queen's University , Kingston , Ontario K7L 3N6 , Canada
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Wang JJ, Lafrenière MJ, Lamoureux SF, Simpson AJ, Gélinas Y, Simpson MJ. Differences in Riverine and Pond Water Dissolved Organic Matter Composition and Sources in Canadian High Arctic Watersheds Affected by Active Layer Detachments. Environ Sci Technol 2018; 52:1062-1071. [PMID: 29301070 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b05506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Regional warming has caused permafrost thermokarst and disturbances, such as active layer detachments (ALDs), which may alter carbon feedback in Arctic ecosystems. However, it is currently unclear how these disturbances alter DOM biogeochemistry in rivers and ponds in Arctic ecosystems. Water samples from the main river channel, ALD-disturbed/undisturbed tributaries, and disturbed/undisturbed ponds within a catchment in the Canadian High Arctic were collected and analyzed using carbon isotopes and spectroscopic methods. Both river and pond samples had large variations in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations. Ponds, particularly ALD-disturbed ponds, had much older 14C DOC ages than rivers. Results from δ13C and absorption and fluorescence analyses indicate higher autochthonous contributions in ponds than rivers and increasing autochthonous contributions from upper to lower reaches of the main channel. The disturbed samples had less carbohydrates but more carboxyl-rich alicyclic molecules in 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra than undisturbed samples. These ALD-impacted samples also contained less terrestrial-humic-like but more oxidized-quinone-like components in the fluorescence spectra. Interestingly, the disturbed pond DOM displayed the greatest DOM oxidation with ALDs compared to undisturbed areas. Compared to Arctic rivers, small Arctic ponds have DOM predominantly from permafrost and microbial sources and may have a disproportionally stronger positive feedback on climate warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Jian Wang
- Environmental NMR Centre and Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough , 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Melissa J Lafrenière
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University , 68 University Ave., Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Scott F Lamoureux
- Department of Geography and Planning, Queen's University , 68 University Ave., Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - André J Simpson
- Environmental NMR Centre and Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough , 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Yves Gélinas
- GEOTOP and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Concordia University , 7141 Sherbrooke West, Montréal, Quebec H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Myrna J Simpson
- Environmental NMR Centre and Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough , 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada
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Lafrenière MJ, Blais JM, Sharp MJ, Schindler DW. Organochlorine pesticide and polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in snow, snowmelt, and runoff at Bow Lake, Alberta. Environ Sci Technol 2006; 40:4909-15. [PMID: 16955885 DOI: 10.1021/es060237g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
We present analyses of the concentrations of organochlorine (OC) contaminants (including organochlorine pesticides and PCBs) in snow, snowmelt, and runoff in glacier and snowmelt fed streams at Bow Lake, Alberta in two contrasting hydrological years (1997 and 1998). The study investigates the variability in OC burdens in snow across the catchment, the elution of OCs from the snowpack, and the relationship between OC concentrations in streams and the annual snowpack. Snowpacks in forested sites were thinner and had lower OC concentrations than snowpacks in open or sparsely vegetated sites. The first snowmelt samples exhibited very high contaminant concentrations relative to the snowpack, and even the more hydrophobic compounds (Dieldrin, DDTs, and PCBs) were highly concentrated in meltwater. Interannual changes in the mean OC concentrations in streams did not reflect year-to-year changes in the snowpack contaminant concentrations. The results indicate that the extent of glacial ice melt may be more important than mean snowpack burdens as a control on OC concentrations in runoff in glacial catchments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J Lafrenière
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
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