In the rapidly changing climate, the biogeochemical behaviours of trace elements and Rare Earth Elements (REEs) in emerging periglacial environments assumes profound importance. This study provides pivotal insights into this dynamic by investigating the Antarctic's response to global climate change. The bedrock of King George Island is rich in REEs, with the presence of trace metals (TEs), with the highest concentrations of metals found in ornithogenic soil (∑REE 84.01-85.53 mg∙kg-1 dry weight). REEs in the studied soil, found mainly in igneous rocks, as is indicated by the positive correlation of these elements with sodium and calcium. The TEs released as a result of weathering are leached by water flowing down local watercourses to Admiralty Bay, as indicated by the decreasing results of ∑REE = 11.59 μg∙dm-3 in watercourse water, ∑REE = 1.62 μg∙dm-3 in watercourse pools and ∑REE = 0.66 μg∙dm-3 in the water of Admiralty Bay at the outlet of the watercourse. Water originating from the melting of snow on the glacier also carried REEs (∑REE = 0.14 μg∙dm-3), a fact which suggest the further influx of these elements from atmospheric deposition. The Prasiola crispa turned out to be the most susceptible to the accumulation of REEs (∑ 80.73 ± 5.05 μg g-1) and TEs, with the exception of chromium and zinc, whose concentrations were found to be at their highest in Deschampsia antarctica. In Usnea antarctica, Xanthoria candelaria, and Ceratodon purpureus and Politrichastrum alpinum, a dominant role in the accumulation of REEs was played by HREEs. The determined enrichment factor (EF) indicates that the soil cover is a source of REEs (EFAlgae for ∑REE = 5.07; EFLichen for ∑REE = 6.65; EFBryophyta for ∑REE = 5.04; EFVascular for ∑REE = 4.38), while Ni, As and Pb accumulated in plants may originate from other sources than the soil.
Keywords: Antarctic flora; Global climate change; Newly formed periglacial environment; Rare earth elements - REE; Trace metals - TE.
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