Plant element stoichiometry and stoichiometric flexibility strongly regulate ecosystem responses to global change. Here, we tested three potential mechanistic drivers (climate, soil nutrients, and plant taxonomy) of both using paired foliar and soil nutrient data from terrestrial forested National Ecological Observatory Network sites across the USA. We found that broad patterns of foliar nitrogen (N) and foliar phosphorus (P) are explained by different mechanisms. Plant taxonomy was an important control over all foliar nutrient stoichiometries and concentrations, especially foliar N, which was dominantly related to taxonomy and did not vary across climate or soil gradients. Despite a lack of site-level correlations between N and environment variables, foliar N exhibited intraspecific flexibility, with numerous species-specific correlations between foliar N and various environmental factors, demonstrating the variable spatial and temporal scales on which foliar chemistry and stoichiometric flexibility can manifest. In addition to plant taxonomy, foliar P and N:P ratios were also linked to soil nutrient status (extractable P) and climate, especially actual evapotranspiration rates. Our findings highlight the myriad factors that influence foliar chemistry and show that broad patterns cannot be explained by a single consistent mechanism. Furthermore, differing controls over foliar N versus P suggests that each may be sensitive to global change drivers on distinct spatial and temporal scales, potentially resulting in altered ecosystem N:P ratios that have implications for processes ranging from productivity to carbon sequestration.

The aims of the present work are to estimate the nutritional value and to evaluate and compare the levels of macroelements (Ca, P, K, Na, Mg), microelements (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu), heavy metals (Co, Cd, Pb, Mo, Cr, Ni), and their ratios in extruded complete foods for adult dogs, their compatibility with nutritional guidelines, as well as food profile similarity. Basic composition was determined according to Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). Analyses for elements were performed using an atomic absorption spectrometer. All the evaluated dry dog foods met the minimum recommended levels for protein and fat. Eighteen tested dog foods (60%) did not meet at least one recommendation of nutritional guidelines. Four dog foods exceeded the legal limit of Fe and five foods exceeded the legal limit of Zn; in one of them, Zn level was almost twice higher. Dog foods with insect protein exceeded the legal limit for Mn content. Eight dog foods had an inappropriate Ca:P ratio. Heavy metals were below detection limit in all analyzed dog foods. The results seem to show the need for regular feed analyses of the elemental composition in raw materials before introducing supplementation and for the monitoring of the mineral composition of finished pet food.

The aim of our study was to test whether surficial geochemical techniques are applicable under arctic conditions where pedogenesis is slow or absent, and where the vegetation is arctic dwarf shrub tundra. To this end, we sampled vegetation and topsoil at a known Zn-Pb-Ag anomaly at Kangerluarsuk, northwest Greenland. This Zn-Pb-Ag mineralization surfaces in part of the test area and is deeply buried in other parts. The surface mineralization could readily be identified by element analysis of the omnipresent plant Salix glauca. The strongest signal came from the pathfinder element Tl. The target elements Pb and Ag gave only weak signals and Zn gave no signal, probably because the cellular concentration of these elements is actively regulated by the plant. The use of regulated plant micronutrients as reference elements gave a small reduction of analytical noise in Tl/Cu and Tl/B concentration ratios at low Tl concentrations which improved identification of the deep mineralization. Pathfinder elements in plants may thus prove useful when combined with a detailed geophysical model. Tl, Zn, Pb and Ag concentrations in topsoil identified the surface mineralization but failed to identify the deep mineralization. This difference between samples of S. glauca and topsoil is probably because target elements from the deep mineralization must be mobile to reach the surface. Mobile elements may be more accessible for ion-exchange and uptake into the plants compared to the recalcitrant and crystalline fraction in the topsoil.

In this study, leaf extracts from the Green Globe cultivar of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.), a herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family, were analyzed to determine the levels of basic nutrients, selected macroelements (K, P, Ca, Mg, and Na) and microelements (Zn, Fe, Mn, Cr, Pb, Cd, and Ni), and their ratios. The antioxidant activity (aa) of the extract was evaluated using ABTS˙+ and DPPH˙+ radicals and the ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (III) (FRAP). Total polyphenolic content was also determined. Macroelement concentrations in the artichoke leaf extract can be presented in descending order as follows: K > P > Ca > Mg > Na. Microelement content in the extract was as follows: Zn > Fe > Cr > Mn. We determined the ratios of elements in artichoke leaf extracts and compared them against the recommended dietary allowance, adequate intake, or tolerable upper intake level. Mean total phenolic content in artichoke leaf extracts was high - 2795 mg CAE/100 g dry matter (DM). The ABTS˙+ assay showed a very high ability of artichoke extract to scavenge free radicals (79.74%), and the antioxidant capacity measured at 1060.8 Trolox/1 g DM. The results show that artichoke extract is a valuable source of minerals and antioxidants that could have applications in the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases caused by oxidative damage.

In order to study the major ion chemistry and controls of groundwater, 59 groundwater samples were collected and their major ions measured in the Hamatong River Basin. The hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater in this basin were analyzed by means of mathematical statistics, Piper triangular diagrams, Gibbs figures, and ionic relations, and the water chemical evolution and ion sources of the Hamatong River Basin were determined. The results showed that Ca2+ was the main cation in the groundwater, accounting for 22.1% to 72.4% of the total cations, with an average value of 48.7%. HCO3- was the main anion, accounting for 35.3% to 97.5% of the total anions, and with an average value of 80%. Total dissolved solids concentration ranged from 93.3 mg·L-1 to 521.1 mg·L-1 with a median value of 219.1 mg·L-1. The hydrochemical types of groundwater are HCO3-Ca, HCO3-Ca·Mg, and HCO3-Ca·Na. Chemical weathering rates of carbonates and silicates were estimated, and the chemical composition of groundwater samples located in the middle of Gibbs model indicated that the major chemical process of groundwater was controlled by rock weathering. Silicate weathering is believed to significantly contribute to dissolved solute compositions, and carbonate weathering played an important role as the source of dissolved ions.

In order to study the hydrochemical characteristics and their possible controls for the chemical composition of the water from the Niyang River Basin, 30 samples were collected from wells, springs, and the river in 2014 and major ion concentrations were measured. Descriptive statistics, the Gibbs figure, an ion ratio, and Piper triangular diagrams were used to investigate the hydrochemical characteristics, influencing factors, and hydrochemical evolution of the water in the basin. The results showed that the major cations in this water were Ca2+ and Mg2+, accounting for more than 84% of cations and the main anions were HCO3- and SO42-, accounting for more than 97% of anions The hydrochemical typology of the water is HCO3·SO4(SO4·HCO3)-Ca·Mg (Mg·Ca). The total dissolved solids (TDS) in the water ranges from 79.11 to 290.48 mg·L-1 with an average of 165.21 mg·L-1. The chemical composition of water samples is located to the left of the Gibbs model, which indicates that the chemical process of Niyang River Basin are controlled by rock weathering. According to the principal component analysis and correlation analysis, the hydrochemical composition is controlled by silicate weathering, however, carbonate weathering also plays an important role.

In recent years, lanthanum modified bentonite has been increasingly applied to eutrophic lakes with the aim of converting potentially bio-available forms of phosphorus in sediments into biologically unavailable forms. In many of these applications, however, no attempts have been made to assess the efficiency and efficacy of the measure in terms of its effect on the sediment. In this study, we collected sediment cores from a heavily eutrophied lake that has previously been treated with lanthanum modified clay. This restoration method is based on the strong ionic bond formed between lanthanum and phosphate which results in the formation of LaPO4 (Rhabdophane) in the sediment. In order to determine the changes that had occurred in the sediments as a result of the addition of the clay, we measured the vertical distribution of lanthanum in the collected cores, calculated La:P ratios of the different sediment layers and used the ratios to determine whether or not the applied dosage was sufficient. By means of the geostatistical method of kriging these values were transferred into maps of different depth intervals to visualize the results. The results indicate that the La:P ratio may be a useful tool which allows lake managers to measure the vertical distribution of lanthanum in sediments following treatments and determine whether or not dosages are sufficient to permanently render sediment phosphorus biologically unavailable. The method may also provide a basis on which to decide whether or not smaller reapplications are needed and can be used to control the dispersion of the material.

Prokaryotic heterotrophs (hereafter, bacteria) represent a large proportion of global biomass, and therefore bacterial biomass stoichiometry likely exerts control on global phosphorus (P), carbon (C), and nitrogen cycling and primary productivity. In this study we grew recently isolated freshwater heterotrophic bacteria across an ecologically relevant range of resource C:P ratios (organic C to P ratio in available resources) to quantify the P requirements of these organisms and examine the degree to which they regulated their P content under P-sufficient and P-deficient conditions. Bacterial biomass was only limited by P when resource C:P was greater than 250 (by atoms). Bacterial C:P ranged from 71 to 174 under P sufficiency and from 252 to 548 under P deficiency. Bacteria exhibited very little C:P homeostasis under P-sufficient growth conditions, greater C:P homeostasis under P-deficient conditions, and the ability of bacteria to outcompete one another in short-term experiments depended on a tradeoff between storing excess P for later use under P-deficient conditions or immediately using P to produce more biomass. These results indicate that freshwater heterotrophic bacteria are not as P-rich as previously thought and that homeostatic regulation of C:P stoichiometry depends on the individual taxa and what resource (organic C or available P) is limiting bacterial growth. Individual bacterial populations can vary between strong C:P homeostasis under P deficiency to virtually no C:P homeostasis under P sufficiency, but variation between taxa and the effect this has on competitive ability may dampen the signal in C:P(B) at the bacterial community level. Nevertheless, the prevalence of homeostatic and non-homeostatic strategies in a bacterial community should have important implications for nutrient regeneration and carbon cycling.