title: The effect of mercury on trees and their mycorrhizal fungi.
abstract: The Oak Ridge Reservation, established in 1942, was the designated site for the construction of the atomic bomb. During a 20-year period from 1944 to 1963 radioactive and toxic chemical pollutants, especially mercury compounds were released into the surrounding waterways. Tree diversity and mycorrhizal presence and abundance were analyzed in the mercury-contaminated floodplains of East Fork Poplar Creek Oak Ridge (EFPC) (Tennessee). A subsequent greenhouse study was conducted to assess the phytotoxic effects of different mercuric solutions on Platanus occidentalis (American Sycamore), inoculated with soils from EFPC. Total soil mercury in the field had no effect on tree diversity. Organic species of mercury proved to be more toxic than inorganic species of mercury and soil inoculants from EFPC had no protective effects against Hg toxicity in our greenhouse study. Comparison of the effects of mercury contamination in our field and greenhouse studies was difficult due to uncontrolled factors.
authors: Department of Forestry, University of Tennessee, Wildlife and Fisheries, 274 Ellington Plant Science Building, 2431 Joe Johnson Dr, Knoxville, TN 37996-4563, USA. jeanphil@utk.edu
authors: Sharon R
authors: SR
authors: Jean-Philippe
authors: Jennifer A
authors: JA
authors: Franklin
authors: David S
authors: DS
authors: Buckley
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Hughes
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000737:chemistry*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D014197:Trees / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D008628:Mercury