Sources and Cycling of Mercury in Freshwaters of Andean Patagonia

DIEGUEZ, MARÍA DEL CARMEN; SOTO CÁRDENAS, CAROLINA; CLAUDIA, QUEIMALIÑOS; RIZZO, ANDREA; ARCAGNI, MARINA; RIBEIRO GUEVARA, SERGIO

Conferencia; 15th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant; 2022

Andean Patagonia is located in the Southern Volcanic Zone, under the influence of active volcanoes that continuously reshape the landscape and have a great influence on biogeochemical processes at different environmental scales. Most mercury (Hg) studies in Patagonia have been conducted in catchments of Nahuel Huapi National Park (NHNP, Argentina), a protected area characterized by sharp west-to-east bioclimatic gradients (increase/decrease in precipitation/temperature and vegetation grading from humid forests to xeric steppes) and contrasting impacts of deposition. In this study we integrate data on Hg in different environmental compartments including biota and delineate key processes in Hg cycling in catchments of NHNP. Atmospheric mercury levels in NHNP are within background concentrations (