Native trees for environmental quality assessment in an ecological corridor of Atlantic Forest
by Andre L.L. De Araujo, Elisabete A. De Nadai Fernandes, Marcio A. Bacchi, Elvis J. Franca
International Journal of Environment and Health (IJENVH), Vol. 5, No. 1/2, 2011

Abstract: Brazil has a mega biodiversity concentrated primarily in forest areas such as the Atlantic Forest, one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world. The Serra do Mar State Park (SMSP) in Sao Paulo state is the largest conservation unit of the Atlantic Forest, with both well-preserved and impacted areas such as Picinguaba and Itutinga-Piloes nuclei, respectively. Bioaccumulation patterns of chemical elements are important tools to evaluate the environmental quality of ecosystems. Here, chemical elements were determined in tree leaves and soils by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). Arsenic and antimony hotspots were found in the soil of Itutinga-Piloes near Anchieta-Imigrantes highway system. Trees from Itutinga-Piloes showed higher uptake of rare earth elements, iron and thorium compared with Picinguaba, with a strong effect of seasonality. This study has demonstrated the potential of using the chemical composition of native trees and soils for the assessment of environmental quality in the Atlantic Forest.

Online publication date: Fri, 22-Apr-2011

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Environment and Health (IJENVH):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com