Elemental Composition of the Vegetation on the Island Krk

Abstract Vegetation samples were collected at 112 locations on the Croatian island Krk in the northern Adriatic sea. The collected samples were analyzed for 12 chemical elements (Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br, Rb, Sr, Pb) by EDXRF method. For all of the measured elements concentration maps for the island were produced using kriging gridding methodology. This was done in order to relate variations in chemical composition of vegetation with that of soils as well as to the soil type, local environment, prevalent use of soil, and other antropogenic influences. Concentrations maps for the chemical elements have also been used in the evaluation of chemical elements transfer from plants to grazing animals, and eventually to the inhabitants of the island. Elemental transfer from the soil to the plants was confirmed by canonical correlation analysis. Good positive correlation between elemental concentration in soil and grass samples (canonical R = 0.647) was found.