Abstract
The concentrations of 14 elements (Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, N, Na, Ni, Ph, S, Zn) were measured in Sphagnum magellanicum Brid. collected from 61 ombrotrophic bog sites in the Maritime Provinces, Canada. Principal component analysis was used to explain the variability in element concentrations in terms of underlying biological or source variables. Fifty percent of the elements and 77% of the variation measured can be accounted for by six principal components. Components relating to the physiological-nutritional status of the plants, and the sources of inputs for the most important elements were explained. It is suggested that concentration of K in Sphagnum magellanicum can be used as an indicator of plant nutritional status, and that concentrations of Na, Ni and Fe can be used as indicators of atmospheric inputs from sea salt aerosols, fossil fuel combustion, and natural crustal or soil-derived lithophile elements, respectively. Sulphur concentrations in S. magellanicum did not provide an accurate measure of long-range or local anthropogenic input.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aulio, K.: 1980, Ann. Bot. Fenn. 17, 307.
Bremner, J. M.: 1965, Amer. Soc. Agron. Monogr. 9, 65.
Dixon, W. J. (ed.): 1981, BMDP Statistical Software, University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.
E.P.S.: 1976, National Inventory of Sources and Emissions of Managanese, Fluoride, and Vanadium, Environment Canada, Environmental Protection Service. Economic and Technical Review Report, EPS 3-AP76-1.
Ferguson, P. and Lee, J. A.: 1979, New Phytol. 82, 703.
Ferguson, P. and Lee, J. A.: 1980, Environ. Pollut. (Series A) 21, 59.
Ferguson, P., Lee, J. A., and Bell, J. N. B.: 1978, Environ. Pollut. 16, 151.
Furr, A. K., Schofield, C. L., Grandolfo, M. C., Hofstader, R. A., Gutenmann, W. H., St. John, L. E., Jr., and Lisk, D. J.: 1979; Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 8, 335.
Garten, C. T., Jr.: 1978, Amer. Midl. Nat. 112, 533.
Glooschenko, W. A. and Capobianco, J. A.: 1978, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 10, 215.
Gorham, E. and Tilton, D. L.: 1978, Can. J. Bot. 56, 2755.
Helwig, J. T. and Council, K. A. (eds.): 1982, ‘SAS User's Guide, 1982 Edition’, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, N. C.
I.W.D.: 1979, ‘Determination of Metals in Sediments: Total’, in Analytical Methods Manual, 1979, Environment Canada, Inland Waters Directorate, Water Quality Branch, Ottawa.
Nieboer, E., Richardson, D. H. S., and Tomassini, F. D.: 1978, The Bryologist 81, 226.
Pakarinen, P.: 1981a, Ann. Bot. Fenn. 18, 275.
Pakarinen, P.: 1981b, Ann. Bot. Fenn. 18, 281.
Pakarinen, P. and Tolonen, K.: 1976, Ambio 5, 38.
Pakarinen, P. and Tolonen, K.: 1977, Oikos 28, 69.
Percy, K. E.: 1983, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 19, 341.
Puckett, K. J. and Burton, M. A. S.: 1981, In: Effect of Heavy Metal Pollution on Plants Volt. Metals in the Environment, ed. N. W. Lepp 213-238. Applied Science Publishers, London.
Puckett, K. J. and Finegan, E. J.: 1980, Can. J. Bot. 58, 2073.
Rühling, Å. and Tyler, G.: 1971, J. Appl. Ecol. 8, 497.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Percy, K.E., Borland, S.A. A multivariate analysis of element concentrations in Sphagnum magellanicum Brid. in the Maritime Provinces, Canada. Water Air Soil Pollut 25, 331–338 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00208459
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00208459