Figure 4: Conceptual model of MeHg sources for lake sediments.
From: Molecular composition of organic matter controls methylmercury formation in boreal lakes
(a) Lakes with high occurrence of planktonic blooms are enriched in fresh chlorophylls and proteins that enhance bacterial activity and MeHg formation; (b) increased runoff of terrigenous OM brings large amounts of Hg and MeHg but hampers in situ MeHg formation. MeHg in eutrophic lakes is the result of in situ production whereas runoff is the main source of MeHg for lakes dominated by terrigenous OM.
