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Dragonflies reveal surprising insights about mercury pollution
Public participation enables monitoring of unknown locations
Public participation enables monitoring of unknown locations
A new study reveals a surprising finding about mercury pollution: Where the mercury comes from and how it moves through the environment varies greatly from one ecosystem to another.
In drier areas, most of the mercury is deposited via rain and snow. In wetter forested areas, mercury in the air becomes trapped in leaves, which then drop the toxin into the ground.
Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Park Service, the Appalachian Mountain Club, and public participants made the discovery by studying an unexpected indicator: dragonflies. It was published today in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Mercury pollution is a global concern. Both from natural sources and from human activitiesMercury accumulates in organisms, reaching higher concentrations as it moves up the food chain from small to large animals. The toxin can harm humans and animals, impairing brain development in young animals, affecting the health of adults, and interfering with reproduction.
This study used Dragonfly Mercury Projecta nationwide program that works with the public to collect dragonfly larvae for mercury analysis. Citizen scientists and community volunteers in 150 national parks helped collect and measure dragonfly larvae from more than 750 sites, turning a fun outdoor activity into valuable scientific data.
The researchers analyzed the samples using state-of-the-art equipment capable of detecting different types of mercury in dragonfly larvae. The chemical signatures of mercury from different sources are as unique as fingerprints and can be used to reveal how the mercury arrived in the area. This collaborative effort helps inform resource management decisions while raising public awareness of environmental issues.
“These groundbreaking findings reshape our understanding of mercury transport within protected areas, particularly in arid ecosystems. By using cutting-edge technology and working with public participants, we were able to uncover surprising results that have the potential to change the way mercury is monitored and managed on a global scale.”
Dragonfly Larvae Testing Sites and U.S. Mercury Emissions
The map above shows the locations where dragonfly larvae were collected for the Janssen et al. 2024 paper. Dragonfly larvae were collected at three types of sites, including wetlands, flowing water systems (such as streams or rivers), and still water systems (such as lakes or ponds). These sampling sites cover different regions of the United States and can be found in Emissions of different amounts of mercury to the atmosphereThese sites are just a small part of the larger Dragonfly Mercury Project.
While previous studies have focused on measuring mercury levels in fish and birds, A recent study The study showed that dragonfly larvae are a more cost-effective, convenient, widespread and accurate indicator of mercury pollution. Dragonfly larvae are found in nearly all aquatic habitats, including areas where fish are scarce, such as deserts. Understanding how mercury moves through different ecosystems is critical to predicting how mercury concentrations in organisms will respond to declines in mercury emissions.
“This study significantly enhances our understanding of how various ecosystems receive atmospheric mercury. It provides new insights for resource management agencies to better tailor and optimize their monitoring approaches based on the dominant sources and pathways of mercury in a specific location.”
The research has implications beyond U.S. borders, as the findings could inform global efforts to combat mercury pollution. Minamata ConventionThis international treaty seeks to protect human health and the environment from the harmful effects of mercury and could benefit from knowledge of ecosystem-specific mercury deposition and the use of dragonflies as a global monitoring tool.
“National parks are not only iconic symbols of our natural heritage, they are also critical refuges for biodiversity. By engaging the public in data collection for this new study of parks, we gained valuable insights into the impacts of mercury pollution on these ecosystems and the tools to protect them. This is a shining example of how citizen science can drive meaningful conservation outcomes and inform park management.”
As scientists continue to uncover the complexities of mercury contamination in the environment, the unexpected insights provided by dragonflies highlight the importance of collaborative research and public engagement to protect Earth’s ecosystems.
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