Metal distribution in the Arctic ecosystems of the Chukotka Peninsula, Russia

The goal of this work was to determine the background levels of metals in the arctic ecosystems of Chukotka. We investigated the degree of natural variation in metals found in plants and soils, related to the underlying rock type. We determined Ca, Mg, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Co, and Pb concentrations in plants and soils on acidic, carbonate, and ultrabasic rocks in different regions of Chukotka, and compared the main soil characteristics, total element content, and mobile forms of elements in substrates of different basicity. We also investigated correlations between the element concentrations in plants and the element content available to plants in the corresponding soils. The study of 200 plant species from 37 families revealed genotypical taxonomic differences in mineral composition at the species and family level. The taxa characterized by high metal accumulation are given.