Concentrations of light metal elements in wetland plants and relationships with environmental factors in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Light metal elements play key roles in determining the growth and development of wetland plants. In this study, we measured the concentrations of eight light metal elements (Al, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, K, Na, and Li) in wetland plants of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau through field investigation, and further elucidated their relationships with environmental factors. Results indicated that the wetland plants of the plateau exhibited significant differences in their accumulation of light metal elements. Among the 35 sampling sites, the plant concentrations of light metal elements varied greatly, with average concentrations in the order Li < Ba < Sr < Al < Mg < Na < Ca < K. Furthermore, the light metal element concentrations were higher in submerged plants than in hygrophyte and emergent plants. Pearson correlation analysis showed significant positive correlations among most light metal elements. In addition, most wetland plants showed positive correlations with light metal concentrations in sediment, but negative correlations with light metal concentrations in water. Thus, sediment appears to be the main source of light metal elements for wetland plants in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Our results provide a theoretical basis for the maintenance of wetland ecosystem function and biodiversity conservation in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.