冰川老鼠是在某些冰川表面发现的特殊滚动或静止的苔藓球。它们可能拥有适应寒冷的无脊椎动物和微生物的生态栖息地,但是对它们积累和传播有害元素和物质的潜力知之甚少。在这项研究中,我们调查了放射性核素(137Cs,238Pu,239Pu,240Pu,210Pb)和重金属(Pb,As,Hg,Cd)在冰川小鼠中,并将结果与邻近冰川生态系统的苔藓植物进行比较。在Austerdalsbreen收集样品,挪威出口冰川,来自Josedalsbreen冰盖。对于137Cs,苔藓植物的最大活性浓度为552±12Bqkg-1,对于210Pb,3485±138Bqkg-1,238Pu的0.0223±0.065Bqkg-1和239240Pu的4.34±0.43Bqkg-1,而Pb的最大重金属浓度为70.5mgkg-1,1.0mgkg-1的As,Hg为1.6mgkg-1,Cd为0.13mgkg-1。137Cs在冰晶石中的最大活性浓度为1973.4±5.0Bqkg-1,对于210Pb,3632±593Bqkg-1,238Pu为0.51±0.11Bqkg-1,239240Pu为13.1±1.4Bqkg-1,Pb的最大重金属浓度为50.4mgkg-1,As为3.4mgkg-1,Hg为1.5mgkg-1,Cd为0.082mgkg-1。我们发现,与冰冻岩相比,冰川小鼠的放射性核素活性浓度较低。钚同位素的主要来源与全球尘埃有关,而检测到的放射性铯可能会受到切尔诺贝利后尘埃的影响,其影响程度未知。冰川表面和邻近冰川生境之间的比较显示,与冰川前场的苔藓植物相比,冰川冰面和内侧冰原上的冰川小鼠中重金属的浓度更高。从退缩的冰川中输出的冰川小鼠可能会影响发育中的前冰川生态系统中放射性和金属污染物的循环。
Glacier mice are peculiar rolling or stationary moss balls found on the surface of some glaciers. They may harbour an ecological habitat for cold-adapted invertebrates and microorganisms, but little is known about their potential to accumulate and disseminate harmful elements and substances. In this study, we investigate the presence of fallout
radionuclides (137Cs, 238Pu, 239Pu, 240Pu, 210Pb) and heavy metals (Pb, As, Hg, Cd) in glacier mice and compare the results to bryophytes from adjacent glacier ecosystems. Samples were collected at Austerdalsbreen, a Norwegian outlet glacier from Jostedalsbreen ice cap. Maximum activity concentrations for bryophytes are 552 ± 12 Bq kg-1 for 137Cs, 3485 ± 138 Bq kg-1 for 210Pb, 0.0223 ± 0.065 Bq kg-1 for 238Pu and 4.34 ± 0.43 Bq kg-1 for 239+240Pu while maximum heavy metals concentrations are 70.5 mg kg-1 for Pb, 1.0 mg kg-1 for As, 1.6 mg kg-1 for Hg and 0.13 mg kg-1 for Cd. Maximum activity concentrations in cryconite are 1973.4 ± 5.0 Bq kg-1 for 137Cs, 3632 ± 593 Bq kg-1 for 210Pb, 0.51 ± 0.11 Bq kg-1 for 238Pu and 13.1 ± 1.4 Bq kg-1 for 239+240Pu and maximum heavy metal concentrations are 50.4 mg kg-1 for Pb, 3.4 mg kg-1 for As, 1.5 mg kg-1 for Hg and 0.082 mg kg-1 for Cd. We find that glacier mice show lower activity concentrations of
radionuclides compared to cryoconite. The major source of plutonium isotopes is related to global fallout, whereas detected radio-cesium may be additionally affected by post-Chernobyl fallout to an unknown extent. Comparison between glacier surface and adjacent glacial habitats shows higher concentrations of heavy metals in glacier mice on the glacier ice surface and medial moraines compared to bryophytes in the glacier forefield. Glacier mice exported from a receding glacier may affect the cycling of radioactive and metal pollutants in developing proglacial ecosystems.