Distinct dynamics in mountain watersheds: Exploring mercury and microplastic pollution-Unraveling the influence of atmospheric deposition, human activities, and hydrology.

The intensification of human activities all around the globe has led to the spread of micropollutants in high-mountain freshwater environments. We therefore aimed to assess the geospatial distribution and determine the potential sources of (total-) mercury (THg) and microplastics (MPs) in mountain freshwater ecosystems. To do so, we analyzed THg and MP concentrations in brown trout, biofilm, and sediments from lotic and lentic ecosystems in the Pyrenees - all subjected to different types of human pressure.

Direct and Indirect Linkages Between Trace Element Status and Health Indicators - a Multi-tissue Case-Study of Two Deer Species in Denmark.

Measuring trace element concentrations in tissue can be a valuable approach to monitor animal health status. Temporal variation in the absorption, transport, and storage of elements between different tissues can, however, complicate the assessment of element-health relationships. Here, we measured concentrations of selected essential (copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se)) and non-essential (arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb)) trace elements within blood, liver, kidney, and hair of fallow deer (Dama dama; N=20) and red deer (Cervus elaphus; N=21).

Geochemical landscapes as drivers of wildlife reproductive success: Insights from a high-Arctic ecosystem.

The bioavailability of essential and non-essential elements in vegetation is expected to influence the performance of free-ranging terrestrial herbivores. However, attempts to relate the use of geochemical landscapes by animal populations directly to reproductive output are currently lacking. Here we measured concentrations of 14 essential and non-essential elements in soil and vegetation samples collected in the Zackenberg valley, northeast Greenland, and linked these to environmental conditions to spatially predict and map geochemical landscapes.

Metal Contaminants in Fish: Blood as a Potential Non-lethal Monitoring Tool.

The use of fish to monitor metal contamination is well established, but existing studies often focus on internal tissues that require the sacrifice of organisms. Developing non-lethal methods is thus a scientific challenge to enable large scale biomonitoring of wildlife health. We explored blood as a potential non-lethal monitoring tool for metal contamination in brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) as a model species.

Estimating parasite-condition relationships and potential health effects for fallow deer () and red deer () in Denmark.

Parasites can exert a substantial influence on the ecology of wildlife populations by altering host condition. Our objectives were to estimate single and multiparasite-condition relationships for fallow deer () and red deer () in Denmark and to assess potential health effects along the parasite burden gradient. Fallow deer hosted on average two endoparasite taxa per individual (min = 0, max = 5) while red deer carried on average five parasite taxa per individual (min = 2, max = 9).

Bioaccumulation of mining derived metals in blood, liver, muscle and otoliths of two Arctic predatory fish species (Gadus ogac and Myoxocephalus scorpius).

Mining activities can cause adverse and long-lasting environmental impacts and detailed monitoring is therefore essential to assess the pollution status of mining impacted areas. Here we evaluated the efficacy of two predatory fish species (Gadus ogac i.e.

Smooth or smothering? The self-cleaning potential and photosynthetic effects of oil spill on arctic macro-algae Fucus distichus.

Due to increased sea transport and offshore gas and oil exploration, the Arctic is facing an unprecedented risk of marine oil spills. Although beached oil spills can lead to acute and chronic impacts on intertidal ecosystems, the effects of oil spills on macro-algae in Arctic ecosystems is lacking. Here, we assessed the effect and response of the tidal macro-algae Fucus distichus to oiling, i.

Green sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) as potential biomonitors of metal pollution near a former lead-zinc mine in West Greenland.

In this study, metal accumulation in green sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) was investigated near the former Black Angel lead-zinc mine in Maarmorilik, West Greenland. Sea urchins (n = 9-11; 31-59 mm in diameter) were collected from three stations located at < 1 km, 5 km, and 12 km (reference site) away from the former mine site, respectively. After collection, tissue of the sea urchins was divided into gonads and remaining soft parts (viscera) before subjected to chemical analyses.

Japans commercial whaling is a threat to public health.

Japans' decision to withdraw from the International Whaling Commission and reinstate commercial hunting on minke, sei and Bryde's whales has recently been discussed in several journals. Here we discuss mercury exposure to the public eating baleen whales, toothed whales and tuna in relation to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) tolerable weekly intake (TWI).

Mucous cell responses to contaminants and parasites in shorthorn sculpins (Myoxocephalus scorpius) from a former lead‑zinc mine in West Greenland.

Previous studies of sculpins from the former lead (Pb) - zinc (Zn) mine near Maarmorilik, West Greenland, have shown that these fish are affected by heavy metal exposure from the mine. In this study, we applied mucosal mapping (a stereological method for mucosal quantification in fish) to uncover interactions between the host, parasites and heavy metal exposure (Pb and Zn) in shorthorn sculpins from the Maarmorilik mining site at a gradient of 3 stations. Skin and gill mucosal epithelia of shorthorn sculpins were significantly affected and reflected the exposure to environmental heavy metals and parasites.

Mineral dust as a driver of carbon accumulation in northern latitudes.

Peatlands in northern latitudes sequester one third of the world's soil organic carbon. Mineral dusts can affect the primary productivity of terrestrial systems through nutrient transport but this process has not yet been documented in these peat-rich regions. Here we analysed organic and inorganic fractions of an 8900-year-old sequence from Store Mosse (the "Great Bog") in southern Sweden.

People, pollution and pathogens - Global change impacts in mountain freshwater ecosystems.

Mountain catchments provide for the livelihood of more than half of humankind, and have become a key destination for tourist and recreation activities globally. Mountain ecosystems are generally considered to be less complex and less species diverse due to the harsh environmental conditions. As such, they are also more sensitive to the various impacts of the Anthropocene.

Transfer of marine mercury to mountain lakes.

Stocking is a worldwide activity on geographical and historical scales. The rate of non-native fish introductions have more than doubled over the last decades yet the effect on natural ecosystems, in the scope of biologically mediated transport and biomagnification of Hg and Hg-isotopes, is unknown. Using geochemistry (THg) and stable isotopes (N, Sr and Hg), we evaluate natal origin and trophic position of brown trout (Salmo trutta fario), as well as mercury biomagnification trends and potential pollution sources to three high-altitude lakes.

Downwash of atmospherically deposited trace metals in peat and the influence of rainfall intensity: an experimental test.

Accumulation records of pollutant metals in peat have been frequently used to reconstruct past atmospheric deposition rates. While there is good support for peat as a record of relative changes in metal deposition over time, questions remain whether peat archives represent a quantitative or a qualitative record. Several processes can potentially influence the quantitative record of which downwashing is particularly pertinent as it would have a direct influence on how and where atmospherically deposited metals are accumulated in peat.

Incorporation of radiometric tracers in peat and implications for estimating accumulation rates.

Accurate dating of peat accumulation is essential for quantitatively reconstructing past changes in atmospheric metal deposition and carbon burial. By analyzing fallout radionuclides (210)Pb, (137)Cs, (241)Am, and (7)Be, and total Pb and Hg in 5 cores from two Swedish peatlands we addressed the consequence of estimating accumulation rates due to downwashing of atmospherically supplied elements within peat. The detection of (7)Be down to 18-20 cm for some cores, and the broad vertical distribution of (241)Am without a well-defined peak, suggest some downward transport by percolating rainwater and smearing of atmospherically deposited elements in the uppermost peat layers.