An Analysis of Elemental Concentrations in Vegetation Bordering a Southeastern United States Coastal Plain Stream
1977
Garten, Charels T., Jr | Gentry, John B. | Sharitz, Rebecca R.
Mineral element concentrations were measured in the component parts of different species of plants from a floodplain community along a coastal plain stream in South Carolina, USA. Frequency distributions of concentrations of mineral elements were positively skewed, although distributions of P, K, Ca and B concentrations tended to be less skewed than those of some trace elements (Na, Al, Cs—137). Sources of variation in the elemental compositions of the major natural plant species of the floodplain were examined statistically. In herbaceous species (Scirpus cyperinus and Andropogon sp.), 52—56% of the variation in P, Mg, Mo and Na concentrations was accounted for by differences in the chemical composition of stems, leaves, roots and seeds. Seasonal variation in the mineral element composition of leaves from woody species was greater than that in stems. Concentrations of K, P, Al, Mo and Sr in leaves were significantly different among seasons in 3 woody species (Alnus serrulata, Myrica cerifera, Salix nigra). Mean concentrations of Ca, Na, Al, B, Mo and Sr in leaves tended to increase from spring to autumn, while K, Mg, N, P, Cu, Zn and Cs—137 concentrations declined. For macroelements (P, Mg, K, Ca and N) and some trace elements (B, Sr, Na and Mo), >50% of the variation in concentrations was accounted for by differences among 4 species (Polygonum punctatum, Scirpus cyperinus, Salix nigra, Sagittaria latifolia) while <12% was explained by differences among 7 locations along the creek. Discriminant function analysis showed that K concentrations, which are low in the floodplain soils, contributed more than did concentrations of 11 other elements to species differences. Concentration of elements were significantly correlated across species and locations from the floodplain community. A principal components analysis of elemental concentrations in leaves produced 2 components after varimax rotation. Principal component I was most highly correlated with concentrations of Ca and Sr, but many other elements were loaded on this component.
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