From Deposition to Uptake: Living Labs Addressing Heavy Metal Impacts on Forest Soil Health

Our laboratory has extensive experience in investigating the cycling of mercury and other heavy metals (e.g. Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu) in forest ecosystems, with a strong focus on soil health under long-term environmental change. Building on research conducted within the Czech monitoring network, we study heavy metal pools and fluxes across soil, air, vegetation, and surface waters in forest catchments recovering from acid deposition and increasingly affected by climate change. We have access to well-characterised GEOMON forest catchments that can function as Living Lab pilot and demonstration sites, offering long-term datasets, established infrastructure, and contrasting management and environmental conditions. Our capabilities include field-based sampling of soils, plants, litterfall, and atmospheric deposition; laboratory analysis of heavy metal concentrations and speciation; and assessment of plant uptake and bioaccumulation as indicators of soil health.