The Influence of Forest Type, Topographic Location and Season on the Levels of Al, Fe, Zn, Cd and Hg in Some Plants in Southern Finland

1988

S. 365-370

3 Abb., 1 Tab., 32 Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

200026234

Metal analyses performed with atomic absorption spectrophotometry revealed no differences in Vaccinium myrtillus growing in Myrtillus-type forest in the catchment areas of an acidified and nonacidified lake in Espoo, southern Finland. Earlier, higher contents of Al, Zn and Cd were found in plants collected over the whole catchment area of the acidified lake (where barrenforest types predominate). This suggests that the proportions of different veg etation types in the catchment area determine the degree of lake acidification.This conclusion was supported by the observation that the contents of Cd were significantly higher in plants growing in the more barren forest site types. Nosignificant differences were found for Al. The plant nutrients Fe and Zn showe d the highest levels in the most fertile forest type. The contents of Al and Fein V. myrtillus leaves increased with decreasing distance from the shoreline o f the lakes, but no such increase was noted for Zn, Cd or Hg. Clearly higher contents of Al, Fe and Hg were observed in V. myrtillus leaves in autumn thanin spring, whereas Zn showed higher levels in the spring. In future work, atte ntion should be paid to seasonal changes in the contents of metals in plants.