THE EFFECTS OF WATERSHED LIMING ON THE TISSUE CHEMISTRY OF 3 COOCCURRING POOR FEN SPECIES

We investigated the impact of watershed liming on elemental concentrat ions in the shrubs Myrica gale and Chamaedaphne calculata and the sedg e Carer stricta. We analyzed tissues from plants co-occurring in 1-m(2 ) plots in limed and unlimed portions bf an Adirondack poor fen for Al , B, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, N, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Se, V, a nd Zn. Within 2 years of liming, we found higher concentrations of Ca, Ni, and Zn and lower N, Na, and Mn in Chamaedaphne foliage; higher Fe , K, Mg, Ni, Pb, and Zn and lower Co and Mn in Chamaedaphne twigs; hig her Mo and lower Al, B, Mn, and Ni in Myrica foliage; higher Al, Cr, a nd Mo and lower Cd, Mn, and Se in Myrica twigs; and higher Al and lowe r Co and Cir in Carer foliage. Clearly, each species was unique in its uptake and allocation of elements, which will influence the rate thes e elements cycle in this watershed after liming. Elements in Carer fol iage changed the least after watershed liming, while those in Chamaeda phne twigs changed the most. However, the slow decay of Chamaedaphne l itter will likely inhibit the release of accumulated elements, includi ng Ca.