Earthworm impacts on trace metal (Al, Fe, Mo, Cu, Zn, Pb) exchangeability and uptake by young Acer saccharum and Polystichum acrostichoides

Abstract

Non-native earthworms are a continued source of environmental change in the northeastern United States that may affect trace metals in the plant-soil system, with largely unknown effects. We assessed earthworm impacts on exchangeable and strong acid extractable (total) concentrations and pools of Al, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mo, Pb in non-point source polluted, forest soil horizons (Organic, A, and B) and foliar metals concentrations in young (< 3 years) Acer saccharum and Polystichum acrostichoides at four proximal forests in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. We observed decreasing total trace metal Organic horizon pools and increasing total trace metal A horizon concentrations as a function of increasing earthworm biomass. Earthworms had limited effects on exchangeable concentrations in A and B horizons and total metal concentrations in the B horizon. Foliar trace metal concentrations in Acer were better explained by earthworm biomass than soil concentrations but foliar concentrations for Polystichum were poorly predicted by both earthworm biomass and soil metal concentrations. Our results suggest that earthworms can affect trace metal uptake by some plants, but not by increasing soil trace metal exchangeability or from changing soil properties (pH, %SOM, or cation exchange capacity). Instead, non-native earthworms may indirectly alter understory plant uptake of trace metals.