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Simulated watershed mercury and nitrate flux responses to multiple land cover conversion scenarios

Water quality and toxic exposure science is transitioning towards analysis of multiple stressors rather than one particular environmental concern (e.g., mercury) or a group of similarly reacting chemicals (e.g., nutrients). However, two of the most important water quality constituents affecting both human and ecosystem health today, reactive nitrogen (Nr) and methylmercury (MeHg), are often assessed separately for their independent effects on water quality. With the continued pressure of landscape modifications on water quality, a challenge remains in understanding the concurrent watershed flux response of both Nr and MeHg to such physical stressors, particularly at the spatial scale (regional watersheds) and within the mixed land cover type systems that most decision‐making processes are conducted. We simulate the annual average and monthly flux responses of Hg (MeHg and total mercury [HgT]), NO3‐N, and runoff to four land cover change scenarios in the Haw River Watershed (NC, USA), a headwater system in the Cape Fear River Basin. Fluxes are simulated using a process‐based, spatially explicit watershed Grid‐Based Mercury Model (GBMM) and a NO3‐N watershed flux model we developed to link to GBMM. Results suggest that annual NO3‐N and Hg fluxes increase and decrease concomitantly to land cover change; however, the magnitude of the changes in NO3‐N, MeHg, HgT, and water fluxes vary considerably between different land cover conversion scenarios. Converting pasture land to a suburbanized landscape elicited the greatest increase in runoff and MeHg, HgT, and NO3‐N fluxes among all four conversion scenarios. Our findings provide insight for multi‐stressor ecological exposure research and management of coastal eutrophication resulting from elevated Nr loadings and exposure risk due to elevated concentrations of MeHg in fish tissue. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011; 30:773–786. © 2010 SETAC