Project Title: Impacts of Forest Biomass Harvesting on the Mobility and Bioaccumulation of Mercury in the Western Great Lakes Region

Chemicals Studied: Mercury

Geographic Areas: Western Great Lakes Region

Project Start Date: August 2010

Project Status: Ongoing

Synopsis: This is a realistically scaled, field-based manipulative approach to investigate how intensification of biomass harvesting for “advanced biofuel” (specifically cellulosic-based ethanol) production will affect the mobility of mercury between forest and susceptible low-lying wetland systems or whether these practices will augment the bioaccumulation of mercury by susceptible organisms. Three established upland forest-peatland field plots (<1 hectare) at the Marcell Experimental Forest in northern Minnesota have been intensively hydrologically instrumented: one of the plots will be clearcut without biomass removal, one will be clearcut with intensive biomass removal, and the third will be unaltered for control comparison. Prior to and following forest harvesting, an enriched stable isotope of mercury will be added to the plots so that the movement of contemporary mercury deposition can be traced throughout all ecological compartments in relation to the experimental treatments. Changes in mercury mobility, mercury methylation, and bioaccumulation will be examined by hydrological sampling, stable isotope incubations of soils, and sampling of peatland invertebrates.

Potential Results and Implications: Results from this study will be important for informing northern biomass harvesting forestry operations in the Great Lakes region about the Best Management Practices. All relevant findings will be disseminated expeditiously to relevant industry and governmental organizations.

Project Contact:
Dr. Carl Mitchell, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Dept. Physical and Environmental Sciences
University of Toronto – Scarborough
Phone: (416) 208-2744
Email: carl.mitchell@utoronto.ca