Introduction to Mercury in Watersheds
Our research began in 2008 with teacher and student investigations of mercury biogeochemistry. In the northeastern US, mercury is found at levels of concern in many parts of the environment: lakes, streams, soils, biota – like fish – and even people. Our project today investigates mercury concentrations in these subjects and looks for good indicators of mercury status. We are currently studying mercury in dragonfly larvae, other aquatic invertebrates, earthworms, soils, fish, and people. On this project teachers and students from around New England work with Dr. Sarah Nelson from University of Maine’s George Mitchell Center.
Dr. Nelson is using student dragonfly data to examine , while students have been looking at local differences in mercury concentrations- and factors affecting those differences (see the Poster Gallery for an overview of student work).
This project area is set up to allow partners easy access to:
The data for this project- from the past few years, and this year's data (as it becomes available)
For the 2011-2012 school year we are working with 12 teachers from nine different schools throughout northern New England. If you teach science in Maine, New Hampshire or Vermont and are interested in joining this research and teaching partnership please contact at SERC Institute.
