Abstract
The organic horizons of forest soils in eleven stands along an elevational gradient on Camels Hump Mountain, Vermont, were analyzed for Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, organic matter and organic C. Lead concentration and amount increased with elevation. Vertical profiles of forest floor in the boreal forest showed that highest concentrations for most metals occurred in the upper F horizon. Comparison with 1966 and 1977 samples from the same stands showed that concentrations of Pb, Cu, and Zn and percent organic matter increased by as much as 148% in the intervening 14 yr. Estimates of 1966 amounts of Pb, Cu, and Zn indicated that increases in trace metal amounts over the 14 yr period are consistent with annual deposition rates reported in the literature.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andresen, A. M., Johnson, A. H., and Siccama, T. G.: 1980, J. of Environ. Qual. 9, 293.
Babich, H. and Stotzky, G.: 1979, Appl. Environ. Microb. 338, 506.
Black, C. A. (ed.): 1965, Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 1, Academic Press, N.Y., 772 p.
Bollag, J. M. and Barabasz, W.: 1979, J. of Environ. Qual. 8, 196.
Buchauer, M. J.: 1973, Environ. Sci. Technol. 7, 131.
Coughtrey, P. J., Jones, C. H., Martin, M. H., and Shales, S. W.: 1979, Oecologia 39, 51.
Federer, C. A.: 1982, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 46, 1090.
Gosz, J. R., Likens, G. E., and Borman, F. H.: 1973, Ecol. Monogr. 43, 173.
Groet, S. S.: 1976, Oikos 27, 445.
Hanson, D. W.: 1980, Acid Precipitation-Induced Chemical Changes in Subalpine Fir Forest Organic Soil Layers, Master of Science Thesis, The Graduate School, Univ. of Maine at Orono.
Heinrichs, H. and Mayer, R.: 1977, J. of Environ. Qual. 6, 402.
Heinrichs, H. and Mayer, R.: 1980, J. of Environ. Qual. 9, 111.
Johnson, A. H., Siccama, T. G., and Friedland, A. J.: 1982, J. of Environ. Qual. 11, 577.
Lazrus, A. L., Lorange, E., and Lodge, J. P., Jr.: 1970, Environ. Sci. and Technol. 4, 55.
Little, P. and Martin, M. H.: 1972, Environ. Pollution 3, 241.
Reiners, W. A., Marks, R. H., and Vitousek, P. M.: 1975, Oikos 26.
Ruhling, A. and Tyler, G.: 1973, Oikos 24, 402.
Schlesinger, W. H. and Reiners, W. A.: 1974, Ecology 55, 378.
Schnitzer, M. and Skinner, S. I. M.: 1967, Soil Sci. 103, 247.
Siccama, T. G.: 1974, Ecol. Monogr. 44, 325.
Siecama, T. G., Smith, W. H., and Mader, D. L.: 1980, Environ. Sci. and Technol. 14, 54.
Smith, W. H.: 1976, Jour. Air Poll. Control Assn. 26, 753.
Smith, W. H. and Siccama, T. G.: 1981, J. Environ. Qual. 10, 323.
Tyler, G.: 1972, Ambio 1, 52.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Friedland, A.J., Johnson, A.H. & Siccama, T.G. Trace metal content of the forest floor in the green mountains of Vermont: Spatial and temporal patterns. Water Air Soil Pollut 21, 161–170 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00163621
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00163621