This study investigated the influence of soil and air mercury (Hg) concentrations on Hg accumulation in plant components for
three plant species,
Robinia pseudoacacia (Black locust),
Juniperous scopulorum (Juniper), and
Artemisia tridentata (Sagebrush), grown in environmentally controlled growth chambers. Exposures included ambient and elevated air (3.1 ± 0.4
and 30.1 ± 3.5 ng m
−3) and soil (0.06 ± 0.02 and 27.7 ± 6.3 μg g
−1) Hg concentrations. In addition, foliar Hg fluxes were measured, as was Hg accumulated directly on the leaf surface. Air
Hg concentrations were found to be the dominant factor associated with foliar Hg concentrations. Foliar MeHg concentrations
of deciduous plant species were greater than evergreen species. Trunk Hg concentrations were influenced by air and soil Hg
concentrations. Root Hg concentrations were directly correlated with soil Hg concentrations. Foliar Hg fluxes for
R. pseudoacacia were predominantly deposition. For
A. tridentata foliar Hg fluxes were bi-directional, and foliar fluxes measured for
J. scopulorum were not statistically different from the blank chamber fluxes. Measured fluxes did not correspond well with predicted uptake
based on foliar Hg concentrations.
Keywords mercury - foliar flux -
R. pseudoacacia
-
J. scopulorum
-
A. tridentate
- methyl mercury