Ecological tolerance and niche structure of Sphagnum along a pollution gradient near Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

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Abstract
Accumulations of Cu and Ni were measured in four Sphagnum species occupying overlapping niches at varying distances from the smelter at Falconbridge, Ont. A distinct relationship existed between the metal content of Sphagnum russowii and the reciprocal of the distance from the pollution source. Accumulations of Cu and Ni in the partially humidified peat subtending the living Sphagnum were significantly higher than the concentrations retained in the moss plants, particularly on sites having high metal loadings. Concentrations of Cu and Ni were not significantly different between species occupying overlapping height and pH zonations. There existed a significant relationship between metal accumulations in the capitula of Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum magellanicum, and Sphagnum riparium and the partially humified peat below the living moss.