Bernd Markert

The pattern of distribution of lanthanide elements in soils and plants

Abstract The concentration of lanthanides (rare earth elements) in plant and soil samples were determined by means of atomic emission spectroscopy with inductively coupled plasma (AES-ICP). The abundance of these elements exhibits the typical distribution pattern reported in geological samples. The total content of the lanthanide elements in plant material seems to be largely independent of the soil substrate.

Fluctuations of element concentrations during the growing season of Polytrichum formosum (Hedw.)

Fourteen elements (Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti, and Zn) were quantitatively determined by AES/ICP in aboveground parts of the endohydric moss Polytrichum formosum (Hedw.) after sampling over regular intervals from 1985 to 1987. With the exception of K, Mg, and Zn all elements showed a large continuous fluctuation (> 30%) during the growing season. Four different patterns of seasonal variation were found: (1) large seasonal variations of element concentrations (∼80%) with maximum concentrations in winter and lowest concentrations in the summer months (Al, Fe, Cr, Mg, Pb, and Ti), (2) smaller seasonal variations (∼50%) with maximum concentrations in winter and lowest concentrations in summer (Ba, Ca, Cd, Cu, Sr), (3) slight seasonal variations (∼30%) with maximum concentrations in the summer (K), and (4) slight seasonal changes (∼30%) with maximum concentrations in the winter (Mg and Zn). The relative biological variance of element concentrations between 9 different stands of Polytrichum formosum decreases in the following sequence: Ti, Al, Pb, Fe, Cr, Ni, Ba, Ca, Cu, Cd, K, Mg, Sr, Zn. The relative biological variance of individual elements is generally lower than the variance in element concentrations caused by seasonal changes. Because of its high biological variance for most elements investigated (seasonal as well as between different stands of Polytrichum formosum) this moss should only be used as a passive bioindicator, if all other environmental parameters are standardized.

Normalization and calculation of lanthanide element concentrations in environmental samples

SummaryA mathematical model for the prediction of lanthanide element concentrations in soil and plant samples is presented. A comparison between pre dicted and measured lanthanide values in soil and plant samples show, that the model produces good results for the elements in the soil samples and for most elements in plant material. The accuracy of prediction worsens with decreasing concentration of the heavier lanthanide elements. The mathematical model presented is not valid on other environmental samples like aerosols, because no data for these matrices are available yet to calibrate our normalized curves.

Elemental composition of different plant species

Abstract Element concentrations in leaves and needles of different plant species (Rhizophora mangle, Aster tri‐polium, Vaccinium vitis—idaea and Pinus sylvestris) are presented in the form of element concentration cadasters with reference to their abundance. The concentration cadasters of the two halophytes (Rhizophora mangle and Aster tripolium) show that the elements Na, Cl, Br and Sr occur at high concentrations in halophytes. The changes in chemical abundances of halophytes can be attributed to the extreme habitat conditions, i. e. physiological drought, under which they grow. Certain elements are preferentially accumulated in specific plants, e. g. Mn in Vaccinium vitis‐idaea.

Interelement correlations in plants

SummaryThe concentration of 25 elements in 4 plant species (Citrus aurantia, Brassica oleracea, Lycopersicon esculentum and Pinus strobus) were linearly correlated. For some element pairs (Ce-Fe, Ce-Ni, Ce-Sb, Ce-Sc, Ce-Zn, Fe-Sb, Fe-Sc, Fe-U, Fe-Zn, K-Cd, La-U, Ni-Sb, Sc-U and Sc-Zn) a high positive correlation coefficient (r = +1) was found. The element pairs Ca-Mg, Hg-U, Ni-Sr and Sr-Zn show a significant negative correlation (r = − 1). Plants seem to possess some constant interelement relations, independent of plant species.

Element concentration cadasters in a Swedish biotope

Summary62 elements were determined in a Swedish and a German peat bog soil. The results are tabulated in Element Concentration Cadasters. An attempt is made to suggest the Swedish peat bog soil as reference standard for inorganic environmental chemistry and to expand this kind of investigations over all vegetation zones of the world.

Multi-element analysis in ecosystems: basic conditions for representative sampling of plant materials

SummaryTo obtain comparable results of multi-element analysis on plant materials by different institutes a harmonized sampling procedure within terrestrial and marine ecosystems is an essential condition. The heterogeneous distribution of chemical elements in living organisms is influenced by different biological parameters. These parameters are mainly characterized by genetic predetermination, seasonal changes, edaphic and climatic conditions, and delocalization processes of chemical substances by metabolic activities. In this article an attempt was made to divide the biological variations of the element content in plants into 5 systematic levels, which are: 1. the plant species, 2. the population, 3. the stand (within an ecosystem), 4. the individual, and 5. the plant compartment. Each of these systematic levels can be related to 1. genetic variabilities, 2. different climatic, edaphic and anthropogenic influences, 3. microclimatic or microedaphic conditions, 4. age of plants (stage of development), exposure to environmental influences (light, wind, pollution etc.), seasonal changes, and 5. transport and deposition of substances within the different plant compartments (organs, tissues, cells, organelles).

Interelement correlations in different reference materials

SummaryA chemical balance of inorganic elements in living organisms is a basic condition for their proper growth and development. Interactions of chemical elements also are of similar importance to defiency and toxicity in the physiology of plants. Interactions between chemical elements may be both antagonistic and synergistic, and their imbalanced reactions may cause a chemical stress in plants. Referring to our previous work, the element concentration data of four plant reference materials (Citrus aurantia, Brassica oleraceae, Lycopersicon esculentum and Pinus strobus) were correlated linearly, logarithmically, exponentially and potentially. For some element pairs, significant negative or positive correlation coefficients (>±0.9) were calculated. Since the data basis is relatively small, it could not be clearly shown whether the interelement relationship between the different element pairs is linearly, logarithmically, exponentially or potentially correlated.

Multielementanalytik: Mögliche Darstellungsweisen von Meßdaten

SummaryIn the present work different kinds of data presentations obtained for environmental samples are presented and discussed. The prerequisites for an efficient presentation of the data are shown. Besides the Element Concentration Cadasters (ECC), the Element Concentration Range Cadasters (ECRC) are particularly suitable for global comparisons with reference to entire vegetation cover and all soil types of the world. Furtheron, concentration data should be given in ppm and ppb.ZusammenfassungUnterschiedliche Darstellungsweisen anorganischer Umweltdaten werden vorgestellt und diskutiert. Die Voraussetzungen für eine sinnvolle Darstellung des Datenmaterials werden erörtert. Für Gesamtbetrachtungen in bezug auf die gesamte Pflanzendecke und sämtliche Bodentypen der Erde eignen sich neben Elementkonzentrationskatastern insbesondere auch Elementkonzentrationsbereichskataster (ECC bzw. ECRC). Als allgemeine Einheit für Elementkonzentrationsangaben sollten weiterhin die Einheiten ppm bzw. ppb verwandt werden.