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Calcium and aluminum cycling in a temperate broadleaved deciduous forest of the eastern USA: relative impacts of tree species, canopy state, and flux type

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Abstract

Ca/Al molar ratios are commonly used to assess the extent of aluminum stress in forests. This is among the first studies to quantify Ca/Al molar ratios for stemflow. Ca/Al molar ratios in bulk precipitation, throughfall, stemflow, litter leachate, near-trunk soil solution, and soil water were quantified for a deciduous forest in northeastern MD, USA. Data were collected over a 3-year period. The Ca/Al molar ratios in this study were above the threshold for aluminum stress (<1). Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. (American beech) had a median annual stemflow Ca/Al molar ratio of 15.7, with the leafed and leafless values of 12.4 and 19.2, respectively. The corresponding Ca/Al molar ratios for Liriodendron tulipifera L. (yellow poplar) were 11.9 at the annual time scale and 11.9 and 13.6 for leafed and leafless periods, respectively. Bayesian statistical analysis showed no significant effect of canopy state (leafed, leafless) on Ca/Al molar ratios. DOC was consistently an important predictor of calcium, aluminum, and Ca/Al ratios. pH was occasionally an important predictor of calcium and aluminum concentrations, but was not a good predictor of Ca/Al ratio in any of the best-fit models (of >500 examined). This study supplies new data on Ca/Al molar ratios for stemflow from two common deciduous tree species. Future work should examine Ca/Al molar ratios in stemflow of other species and examine both inorganic and organic aluminum species to better gauge the potential for, and understand the dynamics of, aluminum toxicity in the proximal area around tree boles.

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Acknowledgments

The US National Science Foundation is formally and gratefully acknowledged for two grant awards that made this work possible (EAR-0809205 and BCS-1003047). Dr. Carl Rosier is thanked for his assistance with the quantification of the chemical properties of near-trunk soils. The administration, staff, and volunteers at the Fair Hill Natural Resource Management Area are thanked for site access, site security, and interest in our research.

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Author notes

  1. Alexey N. Shiklomanov

    Present address: Department of Earth and Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Geography and Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA

    Delphis F. Levia

  2. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA

    Alexey N. Shiklomanov

  3. Department of Geology and Geography, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA

    John T. Van Stan II

  4. Department of Geography, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA

    Carrie E. Scheick

  5. Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA

    Shreeram P. Inamdar

  6. College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA

    Myron J. Mitchell & Patrick J. McHale

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  1. Delphis F. Levia
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Correspondence to Delphis F. Levia.

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Levia, D.F., Shiklomanov, A.N., Van Stan, J.T. et al. Calcium and aluminum cycling in a temperate broadleaved deciduous forest of the eastern USA: relative impacts of tree species, canopy state, and flux type. Environ Monit Assess 187, 458 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4675-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4675-3

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