Tree Rings Mercury Controlled by Atmospheric Gaseous Elemental Mercury and Tree Physiology.

Tree rings are an emerging atmospheric mercury (Hg) archive. Questions have arisen, though, regarding their mechanistic controls and reliability. Here, we report contrasting tree-ring Hg records in three collocated conifer species: Norway spruce (Picea abies), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), and European larch (Larix decidua), which are from a remote boreal forest. Centennial atmospheric Hg trends at the site, derived from varved lake sediments, peats, and atmospheric monitoring, indicated a steady rise from the 1800s, peaking in the 1970s, and then declining. Prior to ca. 2005, larch and spruce tree rings reproduced the peak in the atmospheric Hg trend, while pine tree rings peaked in the 1930s, likely due to the prolonged sapwood period and ambiguity in the heartwood-sapwood boundary of pine. Since ca. 2005, tree rings from all species showed increasing Hg concentrations in the physiologically active outer rings despite declining atmospheric Hg concentrations. The good agreement between Hg and nitrogen concentrations in active tree-ring cells indicates a similar transport mechanism and cautions against their applicability as atmospheric Hg archives. Our results suggest that tree-ring Hg records are controlled by atmospheric Hg and tree physiology. We provide recommendations for using tree-ring Hg archives that take tree physiology into account.

Fine-grained image classification on bats using VGG16-CBAM: a practical example with 7 horseshoe bats taxa (CHIROPTERA: Rhinolophidae: Rhinolophus) from Southern China.

BACKGROUND: Rapid identification and classification of bats are critical for practical applications. However, species identification of bats is a typically detrimental and time-consuming manual task that depends on taxonomists and well-trained experts. Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (DCNNs) provide a practical approach for the extraction of the visual features and classification of objects, with potential application for bat classification. RESULTS: In this study, we investigated the capability of deep learning models to classify 7 horseshoe bat taxa (CHIROPTERA: Rhinolophus) from Southern China. We constructed an image dataset of 879 front, oblique, and lateral targeted facial images of live individuals collected during surveys between 2012 and 2021. All images were taken using a standard photograph protocol and setting aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the DCNNs classification. The results demonstrated that our customized VGG16-CBAM model achieved up to 92.15% classification accuracy with better performance than other mainstream models. Furthermore, the Grad-CAM visualization reveals that the model pays more attention to the taxonomic key regions in the decision-making process, and these regions are often preferred by bat taxonomists for the classification of horseshoe bats, corroborating the validity of our methods. CONCLUSION: Our finding will inspire further research on image-based automatic classification of chiropteran species for early detection and potential application in taxonomy.

Mercury deposition and redox transformation processes in peatland constrained by mercury stable isotopes.

Peatland vegetation takes up mercury (Hg) from the atmosphere, typically contributing to net production and export of neurotoxic methyl-Hg to downstream ecosystems. Chemical reduction processes can slow down methyl-Hg production by releasing Hg from peat back to the atmosphere. The extent of these processes remains, however, unclear. Here we present results from a comprehensive study covering concentrations and isotopic signatures of Hg in an open boreal peatland system to identify post-depositional Hg redox transformation processes. Isotope mass balances suggest photoreduction of HgII is the predominant process by which 30% of annually deposited Hg is emitted back to the atmosphere. Isotopic analyses indicate that above the water table, dark abiotic oxidation decreases peat soil gaseous Hg0 concentrations. Below the water table, supersaturation of gaseous Hg is likely created more by direct photoreduction of rainfall rather than by reduction and release of Hg from the peat soil. Identification and quantification of these light-driven and dark redox processes advance our understanding of the fate of Hg in peatlands, including the potential for mobilization and methylation of HgII.

A fast and accurate identification model for Rhinolophus bats based on fine-grained information.

Bats are a crucial component within ecosystems, providing valuable ecosystem services such as pollination and pest control. In practical conservation efforts, the classification and identification of bats are essential in order to develop effective conservation management programs for bats and their habitats. Traditionally, the identification of bats has been a manual and time-consuming process. With the development of artificial intelligence technology, the accuracy and speed of identification work of such fine-grained images as bats identification can be greatly improved. Bats identification relies on the fine features of their beaks and faces, so mining the fine-grained information in images is crucial to improve the accuracy of bats identification. This paper presents a deep learning-based model designed for the rapid and precise identification of common horseshoe bats (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae: Rhinolophus) from Southern China. The model was developed by utilizing a comprehensive dataset of 883 high-resolution images of seven distinct Rhinolophus species which were collected during surveys conducted between 2010 and 2022. An improved EfficientNet model with an attention mechanism module is architected to mine the fine-grained appearance of these Rhinolophus. The performance of the model beat other classical models, including SqueezeNet, AlexNet, VGG16_BN, ShuffleNetV2, GoogleNet, ResNet50 and EfficientNet_B0, according to the predicting precision, recall, accuracy, F1-score. Our model achieved the highest identification accuracy of 94.22% and an F1-score of 0.948 with low computational complexity. Heat maps obtained with Grad-CAM show that our model meets the identification criteria of the morphology of Rhinolophus. Our study highlights the potential of artificial intelligence technology for the identification of small mammals, and facilitating fast species identification in the future.

Inorganic versus organic fertilizers: How do they lead to methylmercury accumulation in rice grains.

Both inorganic and organic fertilizers are widely used to increase rice yield. However, these fertilizers are also found to aggravate mercury methylation and methylmercury (MeHg) accumulation in paddy fields. The aim of this study was to reveal the mechanisms of inorganic and organic fertilizers on MeHg accumulation in rice grains, which are not yet well understood. Potting cultures were conducted in which different fertilizers were applied to a paddy soil. The results showed that both inorganic and organic fertilizers increased MeHg concentrations rather than biological accumulation factors (BAFs) of MeHg in mature rice grains. Inorganic fertilizers, especially nitrogen fertilizer, enhanced the bioavailability of mercury and the relative amount Hg-methylating microbes and therefore intensified mercury methylation in paddy soil and MeHg accumulation in rice grains. Unlike inorganic fertilizers, organic matter (OM) in organic fertilizers was the main reason for the increase of MeHg concentrations in rice grains, and it also could immobilize Hg in soil when it was deeply degraded. The enhancement of MeHg concentrations in rice grains induced by inorganic fertilizers (5.18-41.69%) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that induced by organic fertilizers (80.49-106.86%). Inorganic fertilizers led to a larger increase (50.39-99.28%) in thousand-kernel weight than MeHg concentrations (5.18-41.69%), resulting in a dilution of MeHg concentrations in mature rice grains. Given the improvement of soil properties by organic fertilizer, increasing the proportion of inorganic fertilizer application may be a better option to alleviate MeHg accumulation in rice grains and guarantee the rice yield in the agricultural production.

Use smaller size of straw to alleviate mercury methylation and accumulation induced by straw incorporation in paddy field.

Straw sizes were found to affect the methylmercury (MeHg) accumulation in rice grains induced by straw incorporation. The mechanism behind, however, still remains unclear. Here, we incorporated rice straw in different sizes (powder, 2 cm and 5 cm) into a Hg-contaminated paddy soil. Our results showed that straw sizes regulated the release of different fractions of organic matter (OM) in straw residues and further Hg methylation in paddy soil. The easily degradable OM (EDOM) was a key driving factor that facilitated net Hg methylation, though it only occupied a small fraction (1.12-3.12%) of the soil OM. Powdered straw reduced the duration of net Hg methylation by 74.39% compared to 5 cm straw, resulting in a strong and rapid net Hg methylation in paddy soil before the rice flowering. After the release of EDOM, the humified OM dominated in paddy soil and bound to MeHg, leading to less MeHg being transported to rice grains during the grain filling. Powdered straw decreased MeHg accumulation by 25.32% in the mature rice grains compared with 5 cm straw. Our study suggests that straw powdering before incorporation provides a feasible pathway for reducing MeHg accumulation in rice grains induced by straw incorporation.

Eurasian river spring flood observations support net Arctic Ocean mercury export to the atmosphere and Atlantic Ocean.

Midlatitude anthropogenic mercury (Hg) emissions and discharge reach the Arctic Ocean (AO) by atmospheric and oceanic transport. Recent studies suggest that Arctic river Hg inputs have been a potentially overlooked source of Hg to the AO. Observations on Hg in Eurasian rivers, which represent 80% of freshwater inputs to the AO, are quasi-inexistent, however, putting firm understanding of the Arctic Hg cycle on hold. Here, we present comprehensive seasonal observations on dissolved Hg (DHg) and particulate Hg (PHg) concentrations and fluxes for two large Eurasian rivers, the Yenisei and the Severnaya Dvina. We find large DHg and PHg fluxes during the spring flood, followed by a second pulse during the fall flood. We observe well-defined water vs. Hg runoff relationships for Eurasian and North American Hg fluxes to the AO and for Canadian Hg fluxes into the larger Hudson Bay area. Extrapolation to pan-Arctic rivers and watersheds gives a total Hg river flux to the AO of 44 ± 4 Mg per year (1σ), in agreement with the recent model-based estimates of 16 to 46 Mg per year and Hg/dissolved organic carbon (DOC) observation-based estimate of 50 Mg per year. The river Hg budget, together with recent observations on tundra Hg uptake and AO Hg dynamics, provide a consistent view of the Arctic Hg cycle in which continental ecosystems traffic anthropogenic Hg emissions to the AO via rivers, and the AO exports Hg to the atmosphere, to the Atlantic Ocean, and to AO marine sediments.

Recent 210Pb, 137Cs and 241Am accumulation in an ombrotrophic peatland from Amsterdam Island (Southern Indian Ocean).

Over the past 50 years, 210Pb, 137Cs and 241Am have been abundantly used in reconstructing recent sediment and peat chronologies. The study of global aerosol-climate interaction is also partially depending on our understanding of 222Rn-210Pb cycling, as radionuclides are useful aerosol tracers. However, in comparison with the Northern Hemisphere, few data are available for these radionuclides in the Southern Hemisphere, especially in the South Indian Ocean. A peat core was collected in an ombrotrophic peatland from the remote Amsterdam Island (AMS) and was analyzed for 210Pb, 137Cs and 241Am radionuclides using an underground ultra-low background gamma spectrometer. The 210Pb Constant Rate of Supply (CRS) model of peat accumulations is validated by peaks of artificial radionuclides (137Cs and 241Am) that are related to nuclear weapon tests. We compared the AMS 210Pb data with an updated 210Pb deposition database. The 210Pb flux of 98 ± 6 Bq·m-2·y-1 derived from the AMS core agrees with data from Madagascar and South Africa. The elevated flux observed at such a remote location may result from the enhanced 222Rn activity and frequent rainfall in AMS. This enhanced 222Rn activity itself may be explained by continental air masses passing over southern Africa and/or Madagascar. The 210Pb flux at AMS is higher than those derived from cores collected in coastal areas in Argentina and Chile, which are areas dominated by marine westerly winds with low 222Rn activities. We report a 137Cs inventory at AMS of 144 ± 13 Bq·m-2 (corrected to 1969). Our data thus contribute to the under-represented data coverage in the mid-latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere.

Characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and relationship with dissolved mercury in Xiaoqing River-Laizhou Bay estuary, Bohai Sea, China.

Because of heterogeneous properties, dissolved organic matter (DOM) is known to control the environmental fate of a variety of organic pollutants and trace metals in aquatic systems. Here we report absorptive and fluorescence properties of DOM, in concurrence with concentrations of dissolved mercury (Hg), along the Xiaoqing River-Laizhou Bay estuary system located in the Bohai Sea of China. A mixing model consisting of the two end-members terrestrial and aquatic DOM demonstrated that terrestrial signatures decreased significantly from the river into the estuary. Quasi-conservative mixing behavior of DOM sources suggests that the variations in the average DOM composition were governed by physical processes (e.g., dilution) rather than by new production and/or degradation processes. In contrast to some previous studies of river-estuary systems, the Xiaoqing River-Laizhou Bay estuary system displayed a non-significant correlation between DOM and Hg quantities. Based on this and the variation of Hg concentration along the salinity gradient, we concluded that Hg showed a non-conservative mixing behavior of suggested end-member sources. Thus, rather than mixing, Hg concentration variations seemed to be controlled by biogeochemical processes.

[Effect of Sediments on Bioaccumulation of Mercury in Fish Body in the Water-Level-Fluctuating Zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area].

Mercury (Hg) in the aquatic environment is easy to accumulate in fish. In order to study the effect of the sediments on Hg accumulation in fish in the water-level-fluctuation zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, we conducted a 90-days simulated flooding experiment by using the sediments with different concentrations of Hg. Our study showed that the concentrations of the total mercury (THg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) in the overlying water increased after flooding, and the concentrations in the muscle of fish kept increasing in the period of experiment, the concentrations in the viscera and head increased in the earlier period but seemingly decreased in the later period. The bioaccumulated Hg content in the fresh was higher than that in the viscera and head, between which there was no significant difference. Compared with the control group (no sediment), the presence of sediments obviously increased the content of Hg bioaccumulated in fish, and the bioaccumulated Hg level increased with the Hg concentrations in sediment. The THg and MeHg in different fish parts presented a similar variation trend with the BCF ranging 1.93×105-8.89×105 for MeHg and 1.3×103-12.8×103 for inorganic mercury, indicating that MeHg was more prone to accumulate in fish. The MeHg in fish was significantly related with THg, and accumulated MeHg occupied about 80.1% (muscle), 79.3% (visceral) and 66.7% (head) of increased THg. After the reflooding of the sediment in the water-level-fluctuating zone, net methylation could occur with MeHg as the product, and then MeHg would diffuse to overlay water, further increasing the Hg bioaccumulation in fish. Therefore, the potential pollution risk of Hg in the water-level-fluctuationg zone with large area of the Three Gorges Reservoir cannot be ignored.

[Effect of Nano-TiO2 on Release and Speciation Changes of Heavy Metals in Soil].

The effects of nano-TiO2 on migration and transformation of heavy metals in soil were investigated by outdoor flooding simulation experiments. Cr, Pb, Zn, Cd and Cu contents of different forms were determined in soil of typical fluctuating zone of Three Gorges Reservoir. The results showed that, after flooding months, both addition of 4 g · kg⁻¹ of rutile and anatase particles resulted in the release of about 30% Cr into the water. Nano-TiO2 particles mainly promoted the dissolution of oxidizable residual Cr, and elevated its ecological risk. Thus nano-TiO2promoted the activation of chromium and improved the mobility of chromium in soil. 4 g · kg⁻¹ of rutile particles caused the decrease of acid exchangeable lead by 25.92% and oxidizable lead by 33.09%, and enhanced the mobility of Pb. However, anatase particles caused the increase of oxidizable zinc by 30% in soil, which facilitated fixing of zinc. In addition, two types of nano-TiO2particles had no significant effect on the speciation changes of Cu and Cd. Therefore, the effect of nano-TiO2 on release and transformation of Cr in soil was the largest, followed by Pb and Zn. This needs special attention when using nano-TiO2 to remediate heavy metals contaminated soil and assessing its environmental risk.

[Release of mercury from soil and plant in water-level-fluctuating zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir area and its accumulation in zebrafish].

To investigate the production, distribution and bioavailability of methylmercury (MMHg) in soil and plants of the water-level-fluctuating zone (WLFZ) of the Three Gorges Reservoir area, simulation experiments were conducted in laboratory. Results indicated that the level of total mercury (THg) in soil decreased with the lengthening of submerging time while that in water increased obviously. The level of MMHg in inundated soil and water increased, especially in the water treated by Echinochloa crusgalli and soils. And the MMHg level in that treatment was 2.52 times higher than that treated only by soils for 21 days. This indicated that soil and plants of WLFZ were important sources of mercury in the water of the reservoir. Echinochloa crusgalli as the tested plant was decomposed after being submerged, leading to lower pH and DO and higher DOC, which had little effect on MMHg in soil but significant effect on MMHg in water. The level of THg in the head, viscera and muscle of zebrafish increased obviously, which had a significant correlation with that in water (P < 0.01). MMHg levels accumulated in the head, viscera and muscle of zebrafish differed to some degree, particularly in the head and muscle. After treated in the soils for 21 days, MMHg levels in the head, viscera and muscle of zebrafish were 1.75-6.25, 3.53-8.38 and 2.22-3.36 times higher than those in the control groups, respectively. While for the treatment of Echinochloa crusgalli and soil, MMHg levels in zebrafish's head, viscera and muscle were 3.57, 2.37 and 1.52 times higher than those treated only by soil, respectively. Therefore, submerged soil was the main source of MMHg in fish. And submerged plants changed the water condition and affected the release of mercury to water so as to cause elevated levels of MMHg in fish.

[Effect of nano-TiO2 on the release and activation of mercury in sediment].

To investigate the effects of nano-TiO2 on mercury release and activation in sediment, flooding simulation experiments were conducted. The impacts of nano-TiO2 on total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in overlying water were analyzed. And the influences of nano-TiO2 on the migration and transformation of mercury were discussed based on changes of mercury speciation in sediment. The results indicated that nano-TiO2 promoted the release of mercury in sediment, leading to more mercury released into the water. Compared with the control, 4 g x kg(-1) TiO2 nanoparticles increased the total mercury by 91.32%, when the concentration of total mercury in overlying water was the highest. Release of mercury in soil was increased by approximately 10% finally. The main reason may be that the dissolution of oxidation state mercury was improved by nano-TiO2. It indicated that the risk of mercury contamination in water may increase. Moreover, under the experimental conditions, nano-TiO2 may reduce the formation of methylmercury in sediment in the short-term, but no significant effects in the long-term. Generally, the effects of nano-TiO2 on the release and transformation of mercury in sediment showed concentration dependence. Thus, with increasing nano-TiO2 content in sediment or soil, its impact on the geochemical cycle of mercury may increase.