Trace elements distribution in tropical tree rings through high-resolution imaging using LA-ICP-MS analysis

The distribution of trace elements in tree rings although poorly known may be useful to better understand environmental changes, pollution trends, long-term droughts, forest dieback processes, and biology of trees.

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is used for imaging micronutrients and potentially toxic elements distribution, allowing the investigation of trace elements at high spatial resolution within the tree rings. To ensure a more efficient determination of micronutrients and potentially toxic elements, LA-ICP-MS instrumental conditions were optimized and carbon, a major element in wood, is used as an internal standard during analysis to correct for random fluctuations.

Spatial distributions maps of Ba, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Pb in growth layers of six tropical tree species were built-up using the LA-iMageS software, namely: Amburana cearensis (Fabaceae), Cedrela fissilis (Meliaceae), Hymenaea courbaril (Fabaceae), Maclura tinctoria (Moraceae), Parapiptadenia zehntneri (Fabaceae), Peltogyne paniculata (Fabaceae). A correlation between the trace element composition and different cell types (parenchyma, fiber, and vessel) was distinctly observed. It was observed a general pattern of Ba, Cu, Ni, Mn, and Pb accumulation mainly in the axial parenchyma and vessels. But the elemental composition of xylem cells is strongly species dependent. The multivariate analysis also points to a distinct accumulation of minerals between heartwood and sapwood in the same species.

Imaging both essential and deleterious element distributions in the tree rings may improve visualization and can effectively contribute to understanding the lifetime metabolism of trees and evaluating the effects of environmental changes related to climatic seasonality, pollution, and future paleoclimate reconstructions.