Determination of calcium, magnesium, and aluminum in red spruce (Picea rubens) foliage and surrounding soil from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, and Mount Mitchell State Park using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry
- WCU Author/Contributor (non-WCU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Matthew B. Rosenberg (Creator)
- Institution
- Western Carolina University (WCU )
- Web Site: http://library.wcu.edu/
- Advisor
- David Butcher
Abstract: Red spruce (Picea rubens) trees are medium size conifers found in the
Appalachian Mountains at high elevations (above 4500 ft.). Since the 1970’s, several
reports indicate a decline of spruce-fir forests in the Southern Appalachian Mountains
caused by acid deposition. Acid deposition leaches essential nutrients out of the soil,
such as calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) cations, and increases the availability of
toxic metals to plants, such as aluminum cations (Al3+). Investigation of acid deposition
effects on red spruce forests was achieved by analyzing calcium, magnesium, and
aluminum in foliage and soils of these forests.
Samples were collected from various locations on the Blue Ridge Parkway (NC),
within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (NC/TN) and Mt. Mitchell State Park
(NC). Foliar and soil samples were collected from 30 red spruce trees (each consisted of
10 matures, 10 saplings, and 10 seedlings,) at each sample site. The concentrations of
calcium, magnesium, and aluminum in the foliage and surrounding soils of red spruce trees were determined by using an acid digestion and cation exchange method,
respectively. Foliar and soil samples were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma
Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Statistical (Student's t – test, analysis of
variance, and linear regression analysis) and geospatial analysis were performed on the
results.
There was some correlation in nutrient or toxic metal concentrations found in the
foliage or surrounding soils of red spruce trees with respect to elevation of red spruce
forests located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. In spite of the proximity of coal
burning power plants located in eastern Tennessee, the majority of western samples sites
did not exhibit lower nutrient and higher toxic metal concentrations when compared to
eastern sample sites. Inconclusive evidence suggested that soil pH did not influence the
nutrient or toxic metal concentrations found in the foliage or surrounding soils of red
spruce forests. When foliar nutrient or toxic metal concentrations from red spruce trees
were investigated as a function of soil metal concentrations, the majority of the results
did not follow the hypothesis that the concentration of nutrients or toxic metals found in the surrounding soils of red spruce trees would correlate with the quantity found within the red spruce tree's foliage. The majority of the results indicated that foliar or soil metal concentrations in
mature red spruce, red spruce saplings, and red spruce seedlings were not significantly
different. Soil calcium/aluminum molar ratios taken from red spruce trees located in the
Southern Appalachian Mountains suggested that almost all sample sites are at high risk of
adverse forests health effects. A comparison of previous studies of foliar calcium/aluminum ratios taken from red spruce saplings located at Clingman’s Dome,
NC/TN suggested a possible improvement, since in the 1980's, in red spruce forest
health. A comparison with previous studies, which spanned 40 years, at Richland
Balsam, NC of foliar calcium and magnesium concentrations taken from saplings red
spruce trees, suggested a possible improvement in red spruce health at that site since
1994.
Determination of calcium, magnesium, and aluminum in red spruce (Picea rubens) foliage and surrounding soil from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, and Mount Mitchell State Park using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry
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Created on 5/1/2010
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 2010
- Keywords
- Acid Deposition, Environmental Chemistry, Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), Red Spruce (Picea rubens), Southern Appalachians Mountains
- Subjects
- Red spruce -- Effect of acid deposition on -- Appalachian Region, Southern
- Red spruce decline -- Appalachian Region, Southern
- Red spruce -- Soils -- Appalachian Region, Southern
- Red spruce -- Appalachian Region, Southern -- Composition
- Inductively coupled plasma spectrometry -- Appalachian Region, Southern