Impacts of smelter atmospheric emissions on forest nutrient cycles: Evidence from soils and tree rings

Although the environmental impacts of metal atmospheric emissions from point sources such as smelter have been extensively studied, very fewstudies have attempted to understand the influence of those emissions on nutrient cycles in the surrounding forests. This study investigates nutrient variations in space and time along with trace metals by statistical analysis of tree-ring series combined with the characterization of element concentrations in soil horizons. The research focuses on the Horne smelter (Rouyn Noranda, Quebec, Canada), because it released high atmospheric emissions of metals and gases between 1928 and 1990s. Tree-ring Sr/Mn ratios, and Mn and Sr z-score series reveal that surface soil pH recovered progressively within the 45 km footprint of the smelter since the end of acidic deposition in the late 1970s. The influence of acidic deposition on the current soil pH has become negligible. In other words, element bioavailability and root assimilation have changed through time due to soil acidification at proximal sites. The detrended tree-ring elemental series during the last century also suggest that summer temperatures partly control the elemental bioavailability to trees in soils. Moreover, tree-ring Zn and Mg series appear as key environmental indicators of metal deposition from the smelter. This research confirms previous findings indicating that elemental concentrations in black and white spruce trees may be used to evaluate the potential influence of smelter emissions on nutrient cycles. For a future informed and adaptive management of forests, understanding the potentialmodifications of nutrient regimes caused by anthropogenic contaminations is critical, especially in the context of global warming. Crown Copyright (C) 2020 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigates the impact of a smelter on nutrient cycles in surrounding forests by analyzing tree-ring series and soil element concentrations. It shows that the soil pH within 45 km of the smelter has gradually recovered since the late 1970s, with element bioavailability and root assimilation changing due to soil acidification. The research also suggests that summer temperatures partly control the elemental bioavailability to trees in soils, and identifies Zn and Mg tree-ring series as key environmental indicators of metal deposition from the smelter.