Boundary‐Crossing Field Research Marks the Way to Evidence‐Based Management of Mercury in Forest Landscapes

The atmospheric deposition of long-range mercury pollution presents forest managers with a “wicked” problem—forestry operations run the risk mobilizing this legacy. Management that would benefit from process-based understanding how management influences cycle. This commentary highlights value for building such an comprehensive Before-After-Control-Impact study reported by McCarter et al. (2022), https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JG006826 on Marcel Experimental Forest in north-central continental US. That looked at different types harvest influenced movement through landscape. results place it minimal end range impacts Hg mobilization resulting harvest. What makes paper, together companion papers study, particularly valuable improving forestry is number system boundaries crossed: between land and atmosphere, forested hillslope down into wetland, finally up biota wetland.