The effect of smelting operations on peatlands near Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

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Abstract
Accumulations of six metals (Cu, Ni, Mn, Al, Fe, and Ca) were analysed in peat and water for 18 peatlands east northeast of Falconbridge, Ontario, Canada. The peatlands had a minimum of 30 cm accumulation of peat, < 10 μg mL−1 Ca2+ in the water, and were from a variety of physiognomic dominance types. Significant correlations existed between the distance from smelting operations and the concentrations of Cu and Ni in the peat and water. Levels of Mn, Fe, and Ca were not related to distance. The vegetation was analysed on 11 of the 18 peatlands. With the exception of the two sites closest to the smelter, all are low shrub peatlands, dominated by Chamaedaphne calyculata. Effects on the vegetation range from severe within 2 km of the smelter to minimal at 30 km. Sphagnum species that normally dominate the moss layer of these peatlands begin to appear at approximately 12 km from the smelter and are found almost exclusively in the moat area. With increasing distance and decreasing concentrations of Cu and Ni, conditions gradually permit growth of the oligotrophic Sphagnum species. Beyond 30 km, Sphagnum dominates all portions of the peatlands.