The macro- and microelements content in Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) Manetti ex Carrière (Pinaceae) needles as an indicator for assessing the environmental status

• Published in: Trees (Berlin, West) Vol. 37; no. 4; pp. 1013 - 1025
• Main Authors: Štrbac, Snežana, Veselinović, Gorica, Antić, Nevena, Mijatović, Nevenka, Stojadinović, Sanja, Jovančićević, Branimir, Kašanin-Grubin, Milica
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-08-2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Accumulation; Agriculture; Aluminum; Antimony; Barium; Bioindicators; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomonitoring; Calcium; Cedrus atlantica; Cesium; Environmental assessment; Forestry; Forests; Indicator species; Iron; Lanthanum; Life Sciences; Magnesium; Original Article; Pine needles; Plant Anatomy/Development; Plant Pathology; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plant species; Silicon; Silver; Soils; Tin; Trace elements; Urban areas; X-ray fluorescence; Zirconium; Bio-indicators; Environmental status; Conifer needles; Urban forests
• ISSN: 0931-1890; 1432-2285
• DOI: 10.1007/s00468-023-02401-9

Key message
This study contributes to increasing the range of tree species studied as bioindicators. This research presents an analysis of 10 macro- and 39 microelements in
Cedrus atlantica
needles.
The main objective of this study was to analyze the capacity of
Cedrus atlantica
(Endl.) Manetti ex Carrière 1855 to accumulate macro- and microelements in order to assess the environmental status. The element concentrations were measured using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The obtained pH values in this study show that the urban soils are neutral to slightly alkaline with low OM content. Macroelements with the highest mean concentrations in soil are Si, Al, Fe, K, Mg, and Ca. The ratio > 2 was determined for mean concentrations of Ca in the soil and Mg in needles from the Zvezdara forest, and for mean concentrations of Cl, Ti, and Fe in needles from the Byford’s forest in relation to the reference site. The accumulation pattern of the macroelements based on the Biological Concentration Factor (BCF) values > 1 for needles is for P, S, Cl, and Ca. Microelements with the highest mean values in soil are Ba, Zr, Ce, Cr, Zn, Rb, Sr, V, and La. Microelements with the highest mean values in Atlas cedar needles are Ce, La, Ba, and Cs. The ratio > 2 was determined for Cr and V concentrations in the needles from the Byford’s and Zvezdara forests and for Cu concentrations in needles from the Byford’s forest in relation to the reference site. The accumulation pattern of the microelements based on the BCF for needles is higher for I, Cs, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, and Tl. Since differences in the concentrations of macro- and microelements in the urban areas and the reference site can be identified
C. atlantica
can be recommended for assessing the environmental status.