Elemental composition of Juncus bulbosus in an acidified freshwater reservoir.
Concentrations of the major nutrients (N, P, Mg, K, Na and trace elements (Fe, Mn, Zn) were determined in tissues of the submerged aquatic plant Juncus bulbosus L. collected from the acidified Freshwater Reservoir of Uusikaupunki in SW Finland. The heavy metals showed markedly elevated concentrations, mainly due to the enhanced solubility and availability of metals in the reservoir receiving acidic, sulphate-rich discharges from the catchment area. Tissue analyses of J. bulbosus could be used to reveal specific transport patterns in the reservoir. Multivariate principal components ordination of the data of the elemental analyses demonstrated local differences in the availability of metals.