Lowest Effect Levels of Lead and Mercury on Decomposition of Mor Layer Samples in a Long-Term Experiment

Indications of possible negative effects of lead (Pb) and mercury(Hg) on microbial respiration in Southern Swedish forest humus layers led to experiments on dose-response relationships by additions of metal salts in the laboratory. Respiration rates andweight loss due to decomposition of organic material were measured. For relevance to field situations metal doses were low,the time span was long, 550 days including freeze storage, and microbial activity was kept up by plant litter additions. We looked for effects of Pb and Hg at levels moderately elevated above the Southern Swedish reference, as well as combined effectsof Pb + Hg. A reduction in respiration and decomposition of10% was found at about 225–245 g g^-1 of total Pb, i.e. ata Pb level elevated 3.5 times. Although small effects of Hg werefound even at the lowest dose level, 10% inhibition of microbialactivity appeared temporarily at about 2–3 g g^-1 of total Hg, i. e. at 6–8 times the reference level. There were nolong-term additive effects of Pb and Hg on decomposition. Type of anion had a strong influence on the test, chlorides of Pbbeing more toxic than nitrates. Long-term monitoring and maintenance of microbial activity during the experiment were prerequisites for the occurrence of effects at low metal levels.     

Recovery of Soil Water,Groundwater, and Streamwater From Acidification at the Swedish Integrated Monitoring Catchments

Recovery from anthropogenic acidification in streams and lakes is well documented across the northern hemisphere. In this study, we use 1996–2009 data from the four Swedish Integrated Monitoring catchments to evaluate how the declining sulfur deposition has affected sulfate, pH, acid neutralizing capacity, ionic strength, aluminum, and dissolved organic carbon in soil water, groundwater and runoff. Differences in recovery rates between catchments, between recharge and discharge areas and between soil water and groundwater are assessed. At the IM sites, atmospheric deposition is the main human impact. The chemical trends were weakly correlated to the sulfur deposition decline. Other factors, such as marine influence and catchment features, seem to be as important. Except for pH and DOC, soil water and groundwater showed similar trends. Discharge areas acted as buffers, dampening the trends in streamwater. Further monitoring and modeling of these hydraulically active sites should be encouraged.     

Long-Term Monitoring of Scots Pine Litter Decomposition Rates Throughout Sweden Indicates Formation of a More Recalcitrant Litter in the South

Decomposition studies were carried out at sites throughout Sweden, including the four Integrated Monitoring sites. Scots pine needle litterbag weight loss measurements over 3 or 5 years were determined at 26 sites and repeated up to 27 times, depending on the site. Humus layer respiration rates were determined for 20 sites in 1987–1989 and repeated in 2007–2008. Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression was used to elucidate the relative importance of climatic and soil factors. Annual needle weight losses decreased only slowly (20–10%) over 3–5 years for all northern (>60°N) sites but decreased sharply from 30 to 10% in the third year in southern (<60°N) sites. Respiration rates of southern sites were less (40% on average) than those of northern sites. Humus layer N was positively correlated to needle weight loss during the first and the second years, but negatively correlated in the third year and to respiration rates. The results indicated that litter formed in southern Sweden became more recalcitrant in later stages of decomposition compared to litter produced in northern Sweden.     

Modeling the Effect of Liming on Calcium Concentration in Swedish Lakes

To abate the severe acidification of Swedish lakes are about 7% directly limed (AL-lakes). These are important to include when assessing acidification. Consequently, we need to estimate their chemical status as if they were not lime-affected. We hypothesize that there is a spatial dependence for calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations. Spatial variation is determined using variograms. We study lakes within two 150 ∗ 150 km quadrates (EMEP150-grid) in the middle and southern parts of Sweden. We model Ca in AL-lakes using the Ca and Mg concentrations in nearby, unaffected lakes (UL-lakes). The mean Ca/Mg for the three or seven closest UL-lakes is used. We assume that Ca/Mg is constant for UL-lakes and that Mg unaltered by liming. For UL-lakes, Ca and Mg are spatially dependent. For AL-lakes, there is a spatial dependence for Mg, but, as anticipated, not for Ca. The modeled Ca for UL-lakes show a good correspondence with measured Ca; r ² > 0.6; slopes close to 1 and intercepts almost 0. Using three or seven nearby lakes when modeling Ca give similar results. Modeled Ca was higher than measured Ca for 36% (three closest lakes) and 38% (seven closest) of the modeled AL-lakes in the middle part of Sweden. The corresponding results for the southern part were 10% and 9%, respectively. This model is an acceptable estimator of Ca in limed lakes and for estimating critical loads and acidification status on an EMEP-scale.     

Simulating Dissolved Organic Carbon Dynamics at the Swedish Integrated Monitoring Sites with the Integrated Catchments Model for Carbon,INCA-C

Surface water concentrations of dissolved organic carbon ([DOC]) are changing throughout the northern hemisphere due to changes in climate, land use and acid deposition. However, the relative importance of these drivers is unclear. Here, we use the Integrated Catchments model for Carbon (INCA-C) to simulate long-term (1996–2008) streamwater [DOC] at the four Swedish integrated monitoring (IM) sites. These are unmanaged headwater catchments with old-growth forests and no major changes in land use. Daily, seasonal and long-term variations in streamwater [DOC] driven by runoff, seasonal temperature and atmospheric sulfate (SO₄ ²⁻) deposition were observed at all sites. Using INCA-C, it was possible to reproduce observed patterns of variability in streamwater [DOC] at the four IM sites. Runoff was found to be the main short-term control on [DOC]. Seasonal patterns in [DOC] were controlled primarily by soil temperature. Measured SO₄ ²⁻ deposition explained some of the long-term [DOC] variability at all sites.     

Microbial Activity in Relation to Small Scale Patterns of Heavy Metals and Substrate Quality in Spruce Mor Layers (Of) in Southern Sweden

The within-site correlations between soil respiration rates,lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations andorganic matter quality variables were investigated at four sites in southern Sweden. The aim was to study whether the within-site variation in heavy metal concentrations could beused to monitor biological effects of regional deposition of heavy metals. Two sites in the south-west, one in the mid-southof the country, and one in south-east were investigated. At the south-eastern, least contaminated, site there were no correlations between soil respiration rate, and either organicmatter quality variables or heavy metal concentrations. At the remaining sites, negative correlations were found between Pb andsoil respiration rate. However, at two of these three sites there was a covariation with cellulose that could account for these correlations. The within-site variation of pH and total nitrogen (N) was low, and did not show any correlative general trends with either respiration rate or heavy metals. Meta analysis showed that negative correlations between Pb or Hg, on the one hand, and cellulose or hemicellulose on the other weregenerally found in within-site investigations. However, this does not necessarily explain the correlation between Pb and soil respiration, as was shown for the southernmost site. A PLS model of soil respiration rates at this site, using allmeasured variables, including heavy metals, explained more variation than a model developed using only mor layer thickness,pH, carbohydrate, ash and nitrogen concentrations, as independent variables. Thus there is a risk of toxic effects from Pb even at the levels found in south-western Sweden today(>120 g Pb * g dw^-1). However, since the correlationsbetween heavy metals and cellulose were not significantly different at the different sites, random sampling variation could not be ruled out as an explanation of the different results for the different sites. The causes of the correlationbetween organic matter quality and heavy metals have not yet been clarified. Analysis of mor samples incubated in thelaboratory for 2 yr with 1200 g Pb * g dw^-1 or 5 gHg * g dw^-1 did not show any differences in carbohydrate composition, compared to control samples. This shows that within-site studies of correlations between respiration rate and heavy metals have to be combined with studies of metal additions to soils and analysis of organic matter quality beforeany valid conclusions can be made.     

Comparison of ordinary and lognormal kriging on skewed data of total cadmium in forest soils of Sweden

Spatial statistical analysis of georeferenced data of total cadmium (TCd) in forest soils of Sweden was assumed to providemore advantageous maps than traditional interpolated maps. However, 264 measurements of TCd in O-horizon of forest soils displayed skewed frequency distribution. Since atypicalobservations affect badly the variogram, outliers wereidentified, different data transformations were tested andordinary (OK) and lognormal kriging (LK) scenarios werecompared based on cross-validation. Results were comparedusing overall measures of predictors, e.g. traditionalmean squared prediction error (MSPE), mean of krigingvariances, variance ratio, median of internallystandardised residuals, and assessments of classificationaccuracy, such as percentage of correctly predictedsamples and within-class MSPE.One outlier was identified based on the absolute value of skewness of value differences less or equal to one in data pairs separated at certain lag classes. Mapping categories characterised by percentage of correct classification and within-class MSPE were found to be essential in comparison of kriging results additionally to the overall measures. In comparison of kriging methods, OK predicted high values moreaccurately and LK was more effective to predict low and mediumvalues. Thus, OK was suggested for mapping high concentration of TCd and other pollutants. Percentage of correctly predictedsamples and within-class MSPE were found to be dependent on kriging method, as well as on the number and limits of categories.     

Soil Respiration in Relation to Small-Scale Patterns of Lead and Mercury in Mor Layers of Southern Swedish Forest Sites

Pollution-related lead (Pb) andmercury (Hg) in mor layers of Southern Swedenmight have effects on soil biology, although inthe literature effect concentrations have beenidentified at much higher levels. Considerablesmall-scale spatial variability in heavy metalcontents and microbial respiration in mor layersof forest sites was used to calculatecorrelations that could reveal toxic effects.Negative correlations were always strongest atsites with high loads of Pb or Hg, which was considered to indicate metal toxicity. The highload sites were found in Southwestern Sweden,locally at a motorway and at a chlorine-alkalifactory. Other factors of possible influence,such as other pollutants, age of organic materialor climatic differences, would affect high andlow load sites alike. Negative correlations withrespiration were found for Pb at sites with 74 g g^-1 of mean Pb content in O_f-layer and for Hg at 0.25 g g^-1.