Title:

Rare Earth Elements in Foliage in Recently Glaciated Terrains

Rare earth elements (REE) can be used as tracers for chemical weathering and nutrient cycling, making them valuable indicators of ecosystem development in recently glaciated terrains. This study investigates how REE concentrations in foliage at Bartlett Experimental Forest (BEF) reflect evolving weathering processes and species‑specific uptake patterns. Foliage samples from dominant tree species were homogenized, acid‑digested, and analyzed by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) to quantify total REE concentrations and light‑to‑heavy REE (LREE/HREE) fractionation. This data was compared with published soil and mineralogical studies from BEF to evaluate how apatite weathering, soil development, and mycorrhizal associations influence REE mobility and plant uptake. The resulting patterns provide insight into how post‑glacial weathering trajectories shape biogeochemical cycling and whether foliage REE signatures can serve as reliable indicators of ecosystem weathering stage.

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