MACRO- AND TRACE ELEMENTS COMPOSITION OF THE BLUE HONEYSUCKLE AND ELM-LEAF SPIREA CE-NOPOPULATIONS IN THE GEOCHEMICALLY ABNORMAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE MOUNTAIN ALTAI

Abstract

The specificity of macro- and trace elements accumulation in the leaves and stems of Lonicera caerulea and Spiraea chamaedryfolia cenopopulations growing at the sites with serpentinite inclusions in the Mountain Altai (Russia) was studied. The total content of macro- and trace elements in plants and soil was determined by atomic emission spectrometry, and the mobile forms, extracted by the ammonium acetate solution with pH 4.8, were measured by atomic absorption. The study revealed species-specific accumulation of some chemical elements in plant organs. The elm-leaf spirea plants were found to accumulate Mn and Ni more intensively in comparison with the blue honeysuckle plants, and to concentrate such trace elements as Zn, Cu and Mn, whereas the blue honeysuckle plants concentrated Zn and Cu. Species-specific statistically significant correlations between mobile Ni, Cd, Cr, Pb and Mg soil and phytomass content were also revealed. Negative correlation was found between the total P and Cr content in soil and plants, whereas total Fe, Cd and Ni in soil and plants correlated positively. The leaves of Lonicera caerulea and Spiraea chamaedryfolia, growing at the site with ultra-basic rock outcroppings, had Ni concentrations exceeding the maximum permissible level and decreased Ca concentration.