Minor influence of ultramafic (serpentine) geology on plant foliar chemistry at Errisbeg, Connemara, Ireland

To examine the role that ultramafic, or serpentine, geology has on soil chemistry and plant metal uptake, we sampled and analysed material from soils over ultramafic and granitic rocks at Errisbeg, Connemara (Co. Galway). Whilst there were clear differences in the soil chemical composition, this was not so clearly reflected in plant tissue composition with the exception of foliar nickel. This site presents an example of where ultramafic geology has only a minor impact on vegetation structure, composition and elemental concentrations.