Analysing heavy metal concentrations in the different parts of Elodea canadensis and surface sediment with pca in two boreal lakes in Southern Finland

The concentrations of six heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr) were studied in the roots, shoots and leaves of Elodea canadensis and in the surface sediment collected in four different parts in the eutrophic L. Vesijärvi and in the oligotrophic L. Pääjärvi in Southern Finland. Principal component analysis was performed on the data set. The heavy metal concentrations of Elodea canadensis depend on the part of the plant and do not indicate the heavy metal concentrations in the growing place. Elodea canadensis accumulates Fe and Cu in the roots and Ni, Mn and Cr in the leaves. The concentrations of these five metals were lowest in the shoots, indicating the uptake route and transport of these metals in the macrophyte. Zn is mobile in Elodea canadensis, since itʹs concentration was nearly as high in the roots, shoots and leaves. The order of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Fe concentrations in the sediment were the same between different sampling places. Only Mn differed slightly from this order.