Beaver reservoirs have variable effects on downstream mercury in boreal stream food webs across harvested watersheds

Abstract Beaver reservoirs and forestry are landscape disturbances that can increase the transfer of mercury (Hg) to stream food webs through increased mobilization from forest soils and methylation within the landscape, and through changes to food web structure. Both disturbances are widespread and co-occur throughout Canada’s boreal region, yet their combined effects on Hg bioaccumulation have not been studied. We sampled upstream and …