Tree-ring elemental concentrations in oak do not necessarily passively record changes in bioavailability

Elemental concentrations in tree-rings from red and white oak trees at six sites across Southern Ontario, Canada, were assessed to determine whether they passively record changes in geochemical cycling in the presence of environmental stress. Periods of stress were defined as sustained periods with elevated δ13C values in tree-rings relative to atmospheric CO2 during the same period. In some trees, nutrient concentrations (Ca, Mg, Mn) were erratic during historic periods of stress while chemically similar non-nutrients (Ba, Sr) and the anthropogenic pollutant Pb were not. Tree-ring concentrations of Ca and Sr were related to bedrock type and leachable concentrations in the soil. In contrast, tree-ring concentrations of Mg were not related to bedrock type, although Mg concentration in the soil leachate was. Tree-ring Mn, Ba and Pb concentrations were not related to bedrock type or soil concentrations, but were inversely related to soil pH. Erratic behavior of nutrient elements during historic periods of stress suggests that some nutrient concentrations in the environment were not always passively recorded by tree-rings.