Temporal and spatial distributions of sediment mercury in restored coastal saltmarshes

In restored sites, physico-chemical sediment characteristics and MeHg concentrations reflect saltmarsh development and MeHg concentrations increase with time following de-embankment. In the first few decades following de-embankment previous land-use has a significant impact on physical sediment characteristics and MeHg concentrations are lower in restored saltmarshes probably due to poor drainage and/or limited vegetation development. However, with time both physico-chemical characteristics and MeHg concentrations in the restored and natural sites converge, suggesting that it may take decades or even centuries before restored sites have similar physical and biogeochemical conditions to their natural counterparts.