Skip to main content
Log in

Presence and significance of naturally occurring chemical elements of the periodic system in the plant organism and consequences for future investigations on inorganic environmental chemistry in ecosystems

  • Published:
Vegetatio Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

After acceptance of the “Element Concentration Cadasters in Ecosystems” (ECCE) programme as an international project sponsored by the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) at the 24th General Assembly of IUBS in Amsterdam in Sept 1991, the present status of “Biological Trace Element Research” (BTER) is presented here from the biological point of view. Especially information on occurrence, essentially, toxicity and uptake form of all 88 naturally occurring chemical elements is presented. In addition an estimated annual production of each element in the year 2000 and examples of their technical application is given. A scientific proposal for further research work on a local, regional and global scale has been discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adriano D. C. 1986. Trace elements in the terrestrial environment. Springer Verlag, New York, 533 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anke, M., Baumann, W., Bräunlich, H. & Brückner, C. (eds.) 1989a. 6th International Trace Element Symposium, Karl-Marx-Universität, Leipzig, Vol. 1–5.

  • Anke, M., Brückner, C., Gürtler, H. & Grün, M. (eds.) 1989b. Mengen-und Spurenelemente, Arbeitstagung, Karl-Marx-Universität, Leipzig, 383 pp.

  • Baumeister W. & Ernst W. 1978. Mineralstoffe und Pflanzenwachstum. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, New York, 416 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bazilevich N. I. & Rodin L. E. 1966. The biological cycle of nitrogen and ash elements in plant communities of the tropical and subtropical zones. Forestry Abstr. 27: 357–368.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berrow M. L. & Burridge J. C. 1984. Aufnahme, Verteilung und Wirkungen bei Pflanzen. In: Merian E. (eds.), Metalle in der Umwelt. VCH Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Weinheim, 125–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowen H. J. M. 1979. Environmental chemistry of the elements. Academic Press, London, 333 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bodek I., Lyman W. J., Reehl W. F. & Rosenblatt D. H. (eds.) 1988. Environmental inorganic chemistry, properties, processes, and estimation methods. Pergamon Press, New York, 1067 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brümmer G. W. 1986. Heavy metal species, mobility and availability in soils. In: Bernhard M., Brinckman F. E. und Sadler P. J. (eds.), The importance of chemical ‘speciation” in environmental processes. Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 169–192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie (ed.) 1988. Umweltprobenbank. Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 158 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caroli, S., Iyengar, G. V. & Muntau, H. (eds.) 1989. Bioelements: health aspects. Annali Dell'Instituto Superiori Di Sanita, 25, 373–378.

  • Clüsener Godt M. 1990. The content of Mg, Ca and K in plant tissues and their relationship to soils in natural ecosystems. In: Lieth H. und Markert B. (eds.), Element Concentration Cadasters in Ecosystems, VCH Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Weiheim, 345–356.

    Google Scholar 

  • Council on Environmental Quality (ed.) 1980. The global 2000 report to the president. U.S. Government printing Office, Washington, 1509 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, B. E. 1990. Trace metals in the environment: retrospect and prospect, Keynote lecture given at the International Conference on Metals in Soils, Waters, Plants and Animals, April 30-May 3, 1990, Grenelefe Resort and Conference center, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.

  • Duvigneaud P & Denaeyer-De Smet S. 1968a. Biomass, productivity and mineral cycling in deciduous mixed forests in Belgium. In: H. E. Young, (ed.), Symposium on primary productivity and mineral cycling in natural ecosystems, Univ. Maine Press, Orono, 167–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duvigneaud P & Denaeyer-De Smet S. 1968b. Essai de classification chimique (éléments minéraux) des plants gypsicoles du bassin de l'Ebre. Bull. Soc. Roy. Bot. Belg. 101: 279–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duvigneaud P & Denaeyer-De Smet S. 1973. Biological cycling of minerals in temperate deciduous forests. In: Reichle D. E., (ed.), 1973: Analysis of temperate forest ecosystems, Ecological Studies 1. Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 199–225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstein E. 1972. Mineral nutrition of plants, principles and perspectives. Wiley, New York, 412 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ernst W. H. O. 1974. Schwermetallvegetation der Erde. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, 194 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ernst W. H. O. & Joosse Van Damme E. N. G. 1983.Umweltbelastung durch Mineralstoffe. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, 234 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ernst W. H. O. 1990. Element allocation and (re)translocation in plants and its impact on representative sampling. In: Lieth H. und Markert B. (eds.), Element concentration cadasters in ecosystems, VCH Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Weinheim, 17–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiedler H. J. & Rösler H. J. (eds.) 1988. Spurenelemente in der Umwelt. Ferdinand Enke Verlag, Stuttgart, 278 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fortescue J. A. C. 1980. Environmental Geochemistry. Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 347 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fränzle O. 1990. Representative sampling of soils in the Federal Republic of Germany and the EC Countries. In: Lieth H. und Markert B. (eds.), Element concentration cadasters in ecosystems. VCH Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Weinheim, 63–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freedman B. 1989. Environmental ecology, the impact of pollution and other stress on ecosystem structure and function. Academic Press, San Diego, 454 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Golley F. B., Richardson T. & Clements R. G. 1978. Elemental concentrations in tropical forests and soils of northwestern Columbia. Biotropica 10: 144–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton E. I. 1979. The chemical elements and man. John Wiley, New York, 578 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, E. I. 1980. The need for trace element analyses of biological materials in the environmental sciences. In: International Atomic Energy Agency, (ed.), Element analysis of biological materials-current problems and techniques with special reference to trace elements. Technical Report Series No. 197, Wien, 39–54.

  • Heinrichs H. & Mayer R. 1980. The role of forest vegetation in the biogeochemical cycle of heavy metals. J. Environ. Qual. 9: 111–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horovitz C. T. 1988. Is the major part of the periodic system really inessential for life? J. Trace Elem. Electrolytes Health Dis. 2: 135–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Irgolic K. J. & Martell A. E. (eds.) 1985. Environmental inorganic chemistry. VCH Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Weinheim, 654 S.

    Google Scholar 

  • Isermann K. 1979. Neuere Erkenntnisse der Pflanzenernährung. Chemie in unserer Zeit 13: 97–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iyengar G. V., Kollmer W. E. & Bowen H. J. M. 1978. The elemental composition of human tissues and body fluids, a compilation of values for adults. VCH Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Weinheim, 151 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iyengar G. V. 1988. Biological trace element research: A multidisciplinary science. Sci. Total Environ. 71: 1–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iyengar G. V. 1989. Elemental analysis of biological systems, biological, medical, environmental, compositional and methodological aspects. CRC Press, Boca Raton, 430 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jayasekera, R. 1987. Growth characteristics and uptake of minerals of the two mangrove species Rhizophora mangle L. and Rhizophora mucronata Lamk. under different environmental conditions. Diss., Univ. Osnabrück, 216 pp.

  • Kabata-Pendias A. & Pendias H. 1984. Trace elements in soils and plants. CRC Press, Boca Raton, 315 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiem, J. & Feinendegen, L. E. 1985. Essentielle Spurenelemente in der Medizin. In: KFA Jürlich, (ed.), Umweltforschung 1985: 9–17.

  • Kinzl H. 1982. Pflanzenökologie und Mineralstoffwechsel. Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart, 534 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovacs M. 1982. Chemical composition of the lesser reedmace (Typha angustifolia) in lake Balaton. Acta Bot. Acad. Sci. Hung. 28: 297–307.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovacs M., Turcsanyi G., Nagy L., Koltay A., Kaszab L. & Szöke P. 1990. Element concentration cadasters in a Quercetum petraeae-cerris forest. In: Lieth H. und Markert B., (eds.), 1990: Element concentration cadasters in ecosystems, VCH Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Weinheim, 255–265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovalskij V. V. M. 1977. Geochemische Ökologie-Biogeochemie. VEB Deutscher Landwirtschaftsverlag, Berlin, 358 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lieth H. & Markert B. 1985. Concentration cadasters of chemical elements in contrasting ecosystems. Naturwiss. 72: 322–324.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lieth H. & Markert B. 1988a. Aufstellung und Auswertung ökosystemarer Element-Konzentrations-Kataster. Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 193 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lieth H. & Markert B. 1988b. The establishment of element concentration cadasters for ecosystems (ECCE) in the different vegetation zones of the earth. Biology International 16: 7–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lieth, H., Jayasekera, R. & Markert, B. 1989. The application of element concentration cadasters to different ecological and ecophysiological problems. In: Caroli, S., Rossi, G., Sabbioni, E. und Zimmer, K., (eds.), Proceedings of the Third Italo-Hungarian Symposium on Spectrochemistry, CEC, Joint Research Center, Ispra, 8.-12. Juni 1987, 71–86.

  • Lieth H. & Markert B. (eds.) 1990. Element concentration cadasters in ecosystems, Methods of assessment and evaluation. VCH Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Weinheim, 448 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Likens G. E., Bormann F. H., Pierce R. S., Eaton J. S. & Johnson N. M. 1977. Biogeochemistry of a forest ecosystem. Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 205 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loeffler G., Petrides P. E., Weiss L. & Harper H. A. 1979. Physiologische Chemie. Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 940 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markert, B. 1986. Aufstellung von Elementkonzentration-skatastern in unterschiedlichen Pflanzenarten und Bodentypen in Duetschland, Österreich und Schweden. In: Stoeppler, M. und Dürbeck, H. W., (eds.), Beiträge zur Umweltprobenbank, Jül. Spez. 360, 166 pp.

  • Markert B. & Jayasekera R. 1987. Elemental composition of different plant species. Journal of plant nutrition. 10, 7: 783–794.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markert B. 1988. Biorecyling—Biologische Entsorgung schwermetallbelasteter Böden durch Pflanzen. BioEngineering 3: 227–231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markert B. & Weckert V. 1989. Use of Polytrichum formosum (moss) as a passive biomonitor for heavy metal pollution—Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn. Sci. Total Environ. 86: 289–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markert B. & Klausmeyer N. 1990. Variations in the elemental composition of plants and computer aided sampling in ecosystems. Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry 25: 201–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markert B. & Thornton I. 1990. Multi-element analysis of an english peat bog soil. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 49: 113–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markert, B. 1991a. Element concentration cadasters in ecosystem, Research proposal presented and accepted as international project sponsored by the International Union of Biological Sciences at the 24rd General Assembly of IUBS in Sept. 1991 (Amsterdam), 16 pp.

  • Markert B. 1991b. Multi-element analysis in plant material. In: Esser G. and Overdieck D. (eds.): Modern Ecology: Basic and Applied Aspects. Elsevier, Amsterdam-London-New York-Tokio, 275–293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markert B. 1991c. Inorganic chemical investigations in the Forest Biosphere Reserve near Kalinin, Part 1: Mosses and peat profiles as bioindicators for different chemical elements. Vegetatio 95: 127–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markert B. & Zhang De Li 1991. Natural background concentrations of lanthanides in a forest ecosystem. The Science of the Total Environmant 103: 27–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markert B. 1992a. Instrumentelle Multielementanalyse an Pflanzenproben. VCH-Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Weinheim (in press.).

    Google Scholar 

  • Markert B. 1992c. Multi-element analysis in plants-analytical tools and biological questions. In: Adriano D. C. (ed) Biogeochemistry of trace metals, Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton; 401–428.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markert B. (ed.) 1992b. Plants as biomonitors for heavy metal pollution of the terrestrial environment, VCH-Verlagsgesellschaft, Weinheim, New York (in press.).

    Google Scholar 

  • Markert B. & Wtorowa W. 1992. Inorganic chemical investigations in the Forest Biosphere Reserve near Kalinin, Part 3: Comparison of the multielement budget with a forest ecosystem in Germany — aspects of rejection, indication and accumulation of chemical elements. Vegetation 98: 43–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marschner, H. 1983. General introduction to the mineral nutrition of plants. In: Läuchli, A. und Bieleski, R. L., (eds.), Encyclopedia of Plant Physiology, New Series, Vol. 15A, 5–60.

  • Marschner H. 1986. Mineral nutrition of higher plants. Academic Press, London, New York, 762 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKenzie H. A. & Smythe L. E. (eds.) 1988. Quantitative trace analysis of biological materials. Elsevier Science Publications, Amsterdam, New York, Oxford, 791 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mengel K. 1984. Ernährung und Stoffwechsel der Pflanze. Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, New York, 431 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merian E. (ed.) 1991. Metals and their Compounds in the Environment. VCH-Verlagsges., Weinheim und New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mertz W. 1981. The essential trace elements. Science 213, 1332–1338.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mertz W. (ed.) 1986–1987. Trace elements in Human and Animal Nutrition. Academic Press, New York, Vol. 1, 525 pp. und Vol. 2, 499 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newbould P. J. 1967. Methods of estimating the primary production of forests. Blackwell Scientific Publication, Oxford und Edinburgh, 730 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nriagu J. O. & Pacyna J. M. 1988. Quantitative assessment of worldwide contamination of air, water and soils by trace metals. Nature 333: 134–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodin L. E. & Bazilevich N. I. 1967. Production and mineral cycling in terrestrial vegetation. Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh and London, 288 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roth-Holzapfel M. 1990. Multi-element analysis of invertebrate animals in a forest ecosystem (Picea abies L.). In: Lieth H. und Markert B., (eds.), Element concentration cadasters in ecosystems. VCH Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Weinheim, 281–296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sansoni, B. & Iyengar, V. 1978. Sampling and sample preparation methods for the analysis of trace elements in biological materials. Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jül. Spez. 13, 77 pp.

  • Sansoni B. (ed.) 1985. Instrumentelle Multielementanalyse. VCH Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Weinheim, 782 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schramel P. & Li-Qiang Xu 1991. Determination of arsenic, antimony, bismuth, selenium, and tin in biological and environmental samples by continuous flow hydride generation ICP/AES without gas-liquid separator, Fresenius J. Anal. Chem. 340: 41–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoeppler M., Dürbeck H. W. & Nürnberg H. W. 1982. Environmental specimen banking, A challenge in trace analysis. Talanta 29: 963–972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Streit B. 1991. Lexikon Ökotoxikologie. VCH-Verlagsgesellschaft, Weinheim, New York, 731 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tölg G. 1989. Analytical chemistry and the quality of life. Kontakte, Darmstadt, 20–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanoeteren C., Cornelis R. & Sabbioni E. 1986. Critical evaluation of normal levels of major and trace elements in human lung tissue, Commission of the European Community, Joint Research Centre, Ispra, EUR 10440 EN, 141 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiersma G. B., Harmon M. E., Baker G. A. & Grenne S. E. 1987. Elemental composition of Hylocomium splendens in the Hoh Rain Forest Olympic National Park Washington, U.S.A. Chemosphere 16: 2631–2645.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeisler R., Stone S. F. & Sanders R. W. 1988. Sequential determination of biological and pollutant elements in marine bivalves. Anal. Chem. 60: 2760–2765.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Markert, B. Presence and significance of naturally occurring chemical elements of the periodic system in the plant organism and consequences for future investigations on inorganic environmental chemistry in ecosystems. Vegetatio 103, 1–30 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00033413

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00033413

Keywords

Navigation