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Multi-element composition of soils of seasonal wetlands across North Dakota, USA

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Abstract

The main goal of this study was to assess if the soils of wetlands of different condition varied in terms of element composition. The rationale was that compared to wetlands of good condition, wetlands of poor condition—which in the region have typically been disturbed by agricultural activities, are lower in biodiversity and have fewer native species—would have been altered in their physical and chemical soil characteristics. This in turn would have altered the element composition of the soils. The concentrations of about 50 elements in the topsoil of 43 seasonal wetlands of varying condition, as measured by plant community based assessments, across North Dakota were determined. Organic matter content of the soils increased as condition increased, and it was the most important variable explaining 40 % of variation in the concentrations of elements. This can be partly explained by binding of elements to organic matter (S, Se) and for most other elements (that bind mostly to the inorganic fraction) by displacement by organic matter. The biogeochemistry of S is further implicated in the distribution of Ca, most likely via formation of insoluble gypsum (calcium sulfate).

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Acknowledgements

This project was supported by grants from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA/ND Department of Health Wetland Program Development Grant, National Center for Research Resources (5P20RR016471-1), from the North Dakota Agriculture Experiment Station/NDSU College of Science and Mathematics small grants program, and from an NIH grant (number P20 RR016471) from the INBRE program of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Thanks to Steph Longstaff Hummel for help with Fig. 1. Special thanks also to reviewers for their very helpful advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wet Ecosystem Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58108, USA

    A. H. Yellick, D. L. Jacob, L. T. Kissoon-Charles & M. L. Otte

  2. School of Natural Resource Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58108, USA

    E. S. DeKeyser & C. L. M. Hargiss

  3. URS Corporation, Bismarck, ND, 58503, USA

    L. M. Meyers

  4. North Dakota Department of Health, Division of Water Quality, Bismarck, ND, 58501, USA

    M. Ell

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  1. A. H. Yellick
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Yellick, A.H., Jacob, D.L., DeKeyser, E.S. et al. Multi-element composition of soils of seasonal wetlands across North Dakota, USA. Environ Monit Assess 188, 17 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-5013-5

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