Total mercury and methylmercury accumulation in periphyton of Boreal Shield Lakes: Influence of watershed physiographic characteristics

Little is known about Hg accumulation in littoral communities, especially in periphyton biofilm of unperturbed lakes. The objectives of this study were to investigate and establish relationships between total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in periphyton communities of Boreal lakes and watershed physiographic and lake morphometric characteristics. This study was carried out on 23 Boreal Canadian Shield lakes located between 47–50°N and 73–77°W. Periphyton was sampled on rocks, the dominant periphyton substrate in the littoral zone of these lakes. Periphyton algal biomass (Chla) ranged from 12 to 164 mg m−2 whereas THg concentrations varied from 42 to 271 ng g−1 DW and MeHg levels varied from 3 to 55 ng Hg g−1 DW. Periphyton biomass was positively correlated to latitude, watershed wetland area and negatively correlated to watershed slope and depth of the lake. THg concentrations in periphyton were negatively correlated to watershed wetland area whereas MeHg concentrations were negatively correlated to latitude and positively correlated to watershed slope, dissolved sulfate concentration and the presence of beavers in the lake. This study confirms that periphyton can accumulate large amounts of Hg and the accumulation is strongly influenced by watershed characteristics and periphyton biomass.