Fig. 1 Study areas and sample sites (1–5).

Estuaries are important sites for mercury (Hg) methylation, with sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) thought to be the main Hg methylators.  Distributions of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in mangrove sediment and sediment core from Jiulong River Estuary Provincial Mangrove Reserve, China were determined and the possible mechanisms of Hg methylation and their controlling factors in mangrove sediments were investigated.  Microbiological and geochemical parameters were also determined. 

Results showed that SRB constitute a small fraction of total bacteria (TB) in both surface sediments and the profile of sediments.  The content of THg, MeHg, TB, and SRB were (350 +/- 150) ng/g, (0.47 +/- 0.11) ng/g, (1.4 x 10(11) +/- 4.1 x 10(9)) cfu/g dry weight (dw), and (5.0 x 10(6) +/- 2.7 x 10(6)) cfu/g dw in surficial sediments, respectively, and (240 +/- 24) ng/g, (0.30 +/- 0.15) ng/g, (1.9 x 10(11) +/- 4.2 x 10(10)) cfu/g dw, and (1.3 x 10(6) +/- 2.0 x 10(6)) cfu/g dw in sediment core, respectively.  Results showed that THg, MeHg, TB, MeHg/THg, salinity and total sulfur (TS) increased with depth, but total organic matter (TOM), SRB, and pH decreased with depth.  Concentrations of MeHg in sediments showed significant positive correlation with THg, salinity, TS, and MeHg/THg, and significant negative correlation with SRB, TOM, and pH.  It was concluded that other microbes, rather than SRB, may also act as main Hg methylators in mangrove sediments.

Publication name	JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES-CHINA　　Volume: 23　　Issue: 1　　Pages: 14-21　　Published: 2011
Author(s)	Wu, Hao; Ding, Zhenhua; Liu, Yang; Liu, Jinling; Yan, Haiyu; Pan, Jiayong; Li, Liuqiang; Lin, Huina; Lin, Guanghui; Lu, Haoliang
Corresponding author	Ding, Zhenhua  whakyo@gmail.com,dzh@xmu.edu.cn   1. Xiamen Univ, Key Lab, Minist Educ Coastal & Wetland Ecosyst, Xiamen 361005, Peoples R China  2. Xiamen Univ, Sch Life Sci, Xiamen 361005, Peoples R China  3. Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Geochem, State Key Lab Environm Geochem, Guiyang 550002, Peoples R China  4. Minist Educ, E China Inst Technol, Key Lab Nucl Resources & Environm, Nanchang 330013, Peoples R China