Dynamics and assessment of some mineral elements level (Ca, Mg, K, Na) for the silver fir species in the Tarnita area, Romania

Significant long-term monitoring requires extensive research into the basic characteristics of forest biodiversity (composition, structure and function). This topic has been addressed by many researchers, but no data have been obtained on the dynamics and evolution of mineral accumulation in annual silver fir growth rings in areas with high pollution levels compared to unpolluted areas. The goal of this research was to develop a database on the level of concentrations of the mineral elements of the tree in the Tarnita area, Romania, accumulated over 60 years, including the period when the mining activity was intense, respectively, the period when the activity was significantly reduced. The results showed that there is a major change in the concentrations of the mineral elements studied (Ca, Mg, K, Na) in the case of trees in the heavily polluted area compared to trees in the unpolluted area.