Partitioning of Hg Between Solid and Dissolved Organic Matter in the Humus Layer of Boreal Forests

The mobility of mercury (Hg) deposited on soils controls the concentration and toxicity of Hg within soils and in nearby streams and lakes, but has rarely been quantified under field conditions. We studied the in situ partitioning of Hg in the organic top layer (mor) of podsols at two boreal forest sites differing in Hg deposition and climatic regime (S. and N. Sweden, with pollution declining to the north). Soil solution leaching from the mor layer was repeatedly sampled using zero-tension lysimeters over 2 years, partly in parallel with tension lysimeters. Concentrations of Hg and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were higher while pH was lower at the southern site (means ± SD: Hg?=?44?±?15 ng L^?1, DOC?=?63.0?±?31.3 mg L^?1, pH?=?4.05?±?0.53) than at the northern site (Hg?=?22?±?6 ng L^?1, DOC?=?41.8?±?12.1 mg L^?1, pH?=?4.28?±?0.43). There was a positive correlation over time between dissolved Hg and DOC at both sites, even though the DOC concentration peaked during autumn at both sites, while the Hg concentration remained more constant. This correlation is consistent with the expected strong association of Hg with organic matter and supports the use of Hg/C ratios in assessments of Hg mobility. In the solid phase of the overlying O_f layer, both Hg concentrations and Hg/C ratios were higher at the southern site (means ± SD: 0.34?±?0.06 μg g^?1 dw and 0.76?±?0.14 μg g^?1 C, respectively) than at the northern site (0.31?±?0.05 μg g^?1 dw and 0.70?±?0.12 μg g^?1 C, respectively). However, concentrations in the solid phase differed less than might be expected from the difference in current atmospheric input, suggesting that the fraction of natural Hg is still substantial. At both sites, Hg/C ratios in the upper half of the mor layer were only about two thirds of those in the lower half, suggesting that the recent decrease in anthropogenic Hg deposition onto the soil is offset by a natural downward enrichment of Hg due to soil decomposition or other processes. Most interestingly, comparison with soil leachate showed that the average Hg/C ratios in the dissolved phase of the mor layers at both sites did not differ from the average Hg/C ratios in the overlying solid organic matter. These results indicate a simple mobilisation with negligible fractionation, despite differences in Hg deposition patterns, soil chemistry and climatic regimes. Such a straight-forward linkage between Hg and organic matter greatly facilitates the parameterisation of watershed models for assessing the biogeochemical fate, toxic effect and critical level of atmospheric Hg input to forest soils.     

Modification of IgE binding during heat processing of the cow's milk allergen beta-lactoglobulin

The effect of heat treatment on the IgE binding ability of beta-lactoglobulin, as pure protein or in whole milk, was studied by inhibition of IgE antibody binding using FEIA-CAP inhibition. A slight but significant decreased IgE binding was seen between unheated and heat-treated beta-lactoglobulin solution at 74 degrees C (IC(50) = 2.03 and 3.59 microg/mL, respectively, p = 0.032). A more pronounced decrease was found at 90 degrees C with an IC(50) of 8.45 microg/mL (p = 0.014). The inhibition of IgE binding of milk after heat treatment at 90 degrees C was also significantly decreased (p = 0.007). However, at all heat treatments, a similar total amount of IgE antibodies could be inhibited at a sufficiently high concentration of beta-lactoglobulin. The inhibiting ability of beta-lactoglobulin was significantly impaired in some fermented acidified milk products such as yogurt as compared to that in nonfermented milk (p < 0.001). There was only a small difference of IgE binding between the native forms of genetic variants A and B.     

A forest of grazing and logging: Deforestation and reforestation history of a boreal landscape in central Sweden

Detailed spatial changes in foreststructure in a central Swedish landscape were examinedusing geographic information system techniques. First,the influence of grazing and burning on forest densityand structure in the 19th century landscape wereanalyzed. Then, the development of the landscapeduring the 20th century, together with the impactof modern forest management methods on foreststructure, were analyzed using historical sources. In1907, over 20% of the 2200 hectare study site wassparsely-wooded (12 m³ ha^–1) with old trees.These areas have been reforested with single-storiedmiddle-aged and old pine stands (66 m³ ha^–1in 1989) during the 20th century. Firesuppression and changes in land use from subsistence-to-industrialforestry, facilitated Norway spruceregeneration as undergrowth in open Scots pine standsafter logging. This natural regeneration has, to alarge extent, been cut down and replaced by pineafforestation. During the second half of the 20thcentury, the standing timber volume has steadilyincreased, while the mean age of the forest hasdecreased. Today's young dense forests will result inhigher timber values in the coming decades, but theforest has lost a range of ecological niches.     

Effects of Wood Ash Dose and Formulation on Soil Chemistry at Two Coniferous Forest Sites

Harvesting stem biomass from the forest inevitably involves exporting nutrients from the ecosystem. The amount exported is increased when the logging residues are also removed for use as fuel. Recycling of the resulting wood ash has been advocated as a measure to compensate for the nutrient losses and to sustain future forest production. The physical formulation of the wood ash may have an important influence on its effects on soil properties. In this paper, we report effects of two different types of wood ash (one self-hardened and crushed, the other pelleted), with differences in solubility, on soil chemistry in the humus layer and upper 15 cm of the mineral soil, at two coniferous sites in south-central Sweden, 5 yr after their application. The crushed ash was applied at three doses (3, 6 and 9 ton ha^–1), while the pelleted ash was applied at only one dose (3 ton ha^–1). At both sites the soil was podzolized. The two sites differed with respect to soil conditions, despite being situated only a few kilometers apart. The application of wood ash increased both soil pH and base-cation content in the humus layer at both sites. In the mineral soil, the effects were less pronounced. Treatment effects on soil chemistry did not differ between the two ash formulations. The retention (i.e. the extractable amount of nutrients found in the soil that could be attributed to the ash application) of nutrients varied strongly between the two sites, and K retention (ca. 10%) was generally lower than that of Ca and Mg.     

Experimentally induced effects of heavy metal on microbial activity and community structure of forest mor layers

This study compared the toxic effects of adding chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), and cadmium (Cd) at three dose levels to mor layer samples in laboratory experiments. Microbial activity in the form of soil respiration was monitored for 64 days. At the end of the experimental period, the composition of the soil microbial community structure was analysed by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. The metals added induced changes in the microbial community structure and affected respiration negatively, indicating toxicity. The microbial community structure (principal component analysis of the PLFA pattern) for all metals was significantly related to microbial activity (cumulative respiration), indicating intimate links between microbial community structure and activity. The most striking result in this study was that the shift in the microbial community because of metal stress was similar for all metals. Thus, the PLFA i16:0 increased most in relative abundance in metal-polluted soils, followed by other PLFAs indicative of Gram-positive bacteria (10Me16:0, 10Me17:0, 10Me18:0, a17:0 and br18:0). The PLFA 16:1ω5 was consistently negatively affected by metal stress, as were the PLFAs 18:1, 18:1ω7 and 19:1a. However, a significant separation between Cr- and Cd-polluted soils was observed in the response of the PLFA cy19:0, which decreased in abundance with Cr stress, and increased with Cd stress. Furthermore, the PLFA 18:2w6, indicating fungi, only increased with Cr and Zn stress. The effective doses of the metals, ranked with regard to background metal concentrations, decreased in the order: Zn > Cr > Pb > Mo > Ni > Cd. We concluded that interpretation of results of microbial activity from experiments of metal toxicity should include microbial structural patterns and background metal concentrations.     

Can predicted mountain pine beetle net production be used to improve stand prioritization for management?

Stand-level planning of lodgepole pine management can benefit from the use of mountain pine beetle susceptibility-risk model analyses to assign treatment priority. Priority is currently assigned based solely on relative levels of expected volume loss in the event of a mountain pine beetle outbreak. We evaluated the possibility to predict the relative contribution of brood beetles, by infested stands, to the next beetle generation. Existing data were used to develop generalized parameters for inclusion in predictive models of stand-level mortality and brood production. Model output for independent stands achieved a highly significant relationship with measured outcomes of brood productivity, indicating that relative levels of brood production can be predicted and incorporated into decision-models.     

Is tree growth in boreal coniferous stands on mineral soils affected by the addition of wood ash?

Increasing use of forest fuels for energy production is generating greater quantities of wood ash. In Sweden, it is recommended that this ash should be returned to the forest to counter soil acidification and avoid potential future nutrient deficiencies, but the effects on tree growth require clarification. Thus, 10 field experiments were established in Sweden in 1990–2006 to study the effects of adding wood ash of various origins, doses and combinations of both ash and nitrogen on stem growth in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) stands on mineral soil. Observations after 5–15 years show that growth responses were strongest when N was added, either alone or with wood ash. Growth responses to additions of wood ash without N were small and variable and statistically insignificant at all study sites. However, there were indications that adding wood ash may increase stem-wood growth at fertile sites and decrease it at less fertile sites. Hence, at fertile sites, it may compensate for the growth reductions that normally follow whole-tree harvests, at least temporarily, presumably due to its effects on soil N turnover. At less fertile sites, adding N is probably essential to counteract these growth reductions.     

Delayed harvest of reed canary grass translocates more nutrients in rhizomes

Abstract

Two field experiments, one in large plots and the other in small framed plots, were conducted in Umeå, northern Sweden. The objectives were (1) to examine the seasonal patterns of rhizome growth and nutrient dynamics of the energy crop reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) in ley I and II, and (2) to evaluate the roles of soil type (mineral vs. organic), fertilisation level (0, 50, and 100 kg N ha^?1s), and season/harvest time (Oct-96, May-97, and Aug-97) on the rhizome growth and nutrient dynamics by means of a factorially designed experiment. The general pattern of rhizome growth was that biomass was low in June during initiation of shoot growth, but increased steadily during the growing season, reached a peak in late autumn, and remained high until next spring. The N and P accumulation in rhizomes followed a similar pattern. During ley years I and II, reed canary grass rhizome growth was less dependent on soil type, and more dependent on fertilisation and season, with fertilisation being the most important predictor of growth. The season/harvest time, followed by soil type, was the most important factor for both concentrations and therefore total uptake of N, P, and K in rhizomes. Soil type affected N content in rhizomes significantly, and also interacted with season and enhanced the effect on N, P, and K content in rhizomes. The seasonal dynamics of the nutrient content in rhizomes indicate a remobilisation of the nutrients from rhizomes to the regrowth of shoots and roots in spring and relocation/storage from aboveground shoots to rhizomes during late summer and autumn. The results of this study suggest that delaying the harvest to later than October would result in considerably more energy and nutrient resources being translocated from aboveground shoots to rhizomes for growth in the next season.