Neil Kamman | Geology Reports

USGS2012

MERGANSER: an empirical model to predict fish and loon mercury in New England lakes

MERGANSER (MERcury Geo-spatial AssessmeNtS for the New England Region) is an empirical least-squares multiple regression model using mercury (Hg) deposition and readily obtainable lake and watershed features to predict fish (fillet) and common loon (blood) Hg in New England lakes. We modeled lakes larger than 8 ha (4404 lakes), using 3470 fish (12 species) and 253 loon Hg concentrations from 420 lakes. MERGANSER predictor variables included Hg deposition, watershed alkalinity, percent wetlands, percent forest canopy, percent agriculture, drainage area, population density, mean annual air temperature, and watershed slope. The model returns fish or loon Hg for user-entered species and fish length. MERGANSER explained 63% of the variance in fish and loon Hg concentrations. MERGANSER predicted that 32-cm smallmouth bass had a median Hg concentration of 0.53 μg g -1 (root-mean-square error 0.27 μg g -1 ) and exceeded EPA's recommended fish Hg criterion of 0.3 μg g -1 in 90% of New England lakes. Common loon had a median Hg concentration of 1.07 μg g -1 and was in the moderate or higher risk category of >1 μg g -1 Hg in 58% of New England lakes. MERGANSER can be applied to target fish advisories to specific unmonitored lakes, and for scenario evaluation, such as the effect of changes in Hg deposition, land use, or warmer climate on fish and loon mercury.

New England↗

USGS2005

Distribution patterns of mercury in Lakes and Rivers of northeastern North America

We assembled 831 data points for total mercury (Hg t ) and 277 overlapping points for methyl mercury (CH 3 Hg + ) in surface waters from Massachussetts, USA to the Island of Newfoundland, Canada from State, Provincial, and Federal government databases. These geographically indexed values were used to determine: (a) if large-scale spatial distribution patterns existed and (b) whether there were significant relationships between the two main forms of aquatic Hg as well as with total organic carbon (TOC), a well know complexer of metals. We analyzed the catchments where samples were collected using a Geographical Information System (GIS) approach, calculating catchment sizes, mean slope, and mean wetness index. Our results show two main spatial distribution patterns. We detected loci of high Hg t values near urbanized regions of Boston MA and Portland ME. However, except for one unexplained exception, the highest Hg t and CH 3 Hg + concentrations were located in regions far from obvious point sources. These correlated to topographically flat (and thus wet) areas that we relate to wetland abundances. We show that aquatic Hg t and CH 3 Hg + concentrations are generally well correlated with TOC and with each other. Over the region, CH 3 Hg + concentrations are typically approximately 15% of Hg t . There is an exception in the Boston region where CH 3 Hg + is low compared to the high Hg t values. This is probably due to the proximity of point sources of inorganic Hg and a lack of wetlands. We also attempted to predict Hg concentrations in water with statistical models using catchment features as variables. We were only able to produce statistically significant predictive models in some parts of regions due to the lack of suitable digital information, and because data ranges in some regions were too narrow for meaningful regression analyses.

Maine, Massachusetts, New Brunswick, New Hampshire↗