Understanding heavy metal distribution in timberline vegetations: A case from the Gongga Mountain, eastern Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

To quantify impacts of vegetation and topographic factors on heavy metal accumulation in montane forests, we assessed the spatial distribution and determined the sources of mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in timberline forests of Gongga Mountain. Our results show that vegetation type has little impact on the soil Hg, Cd and Pb concentrations. The soil concentrations of Cr, Cu and Zn are controlled by litter return, moss and lichen biomass, and canopy interception, with the highest concentrations in shrub forest. In contrast to other forests, the soil Hg pool in coniferous forest is significantly high due to the elevated Hg concentration and greater biomass production in litter. However, the soil pool sizes of Cd, Cr, Cu and Zn show a distinct increase along the elevation, which are attributed to the elevated heavy metal inputs from litter and moss, as well as the greater cloud water-induced atmospheric heavy metal depositions. The highest Hg concentrations of the aboveground parts of plant are in the foliage and bark, while the concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu and Zn in the branch and bark are the highest. The decreased biomass density leads to a downward trend in the total vegetation pool sizes of Hg, Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu and Zn by 0.4–4.4 times with increasing elevation. The statistical analysis finally suggests that Hg, Cd and Pb mainly originate from anthropogenic atmospheric deposition, whereas Cr, Cu and Zn are mainly from natural sources. Our results highlight the importance of vegetation types and terrain conditions on distribution patterns of heavy metal in alpine forests.