Anthropogenic Sulfur Effects on Marshland Sulfate Sources

Abstract

Human activity can have measurable impacts on sulfur levels in the world's water bodies. Atmospheric sulfur dioxide pollution and the resulting acid rain increases freshwater sulfate levels, and individual pollution sources deposit organic sulfur compounds in river sediments. Since the affected water bodies can be the primary sources of sulfur in adjacent marsh environments, anthropogenic pollution may influence the sulfur cycling of nearby marshes. Appropriate levels of plant-available sulfur are necessary for plant growth in marshes, though too much sulfur can damage plants. Saline marshes are often high-sulfur environments due to the steady sulfur inputs that come from seawater present in saline estuaries. Sulfur content is more variable in less saline environments, where primary inputs are rainfall and freshwater runoff. The link between human activity and sulfur levels in marsh soils has not yet been established, since research has not clearly demonstrated the effects of human activity on sulfur in saline water bodies and has generally not sought to link water-body sulfur levels to plant-available sulfur levels or area marsh health.