Seasonal changes in foliar macronutrients (N,P, K,Ca and Mg) inEucalyptus saligna Sm. andE. wandoo Blakely growing in rehabilitated bauxite mine soils of the Darling Range,Western Australia

Summary Seasonal changes in the foliar concentration of macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) in sapling trees ofEucalyptus saligna Sm. andE. wandoo Blakely growing in rehabilitated bauxite mined areas in the Darling Range of Western Australia are described. Foliar N concentration decreased with age of the fully expanded leaf tissue. Leaf N concentrations were also high when rates of litter decomposition were expected to be high during the period of early spring. The greatest foliar N difference between trees growing in good soil conditions and those from poorer soil conditions also occurred during this period. Levels of P in leaves were highest in young developing leaves but once the leaves reached full size, no seasonal trend in P concentration was observed. Foliar K was lower during the winter and probably related to the period of maximum leaching by precipitation. High foliar K during summer, however, could be related to the role of K in lowering cellular water potential. Leaf Ca was highest during early sping. Low mobility of cellular Ca during the cool portion of the year was indicated. Foliar Mg showed a weak pattern of decreasing concentration with leaf age. The best season for sampling for these broadleafed evergreen species to provide information on plant nutrient status appears to be in spring.     

Seasonal changes in the cardiorespiratory responses to hypercarbia and temperature in the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana

We assessed the seasonal variations in the effects of hypercarbia (3 or 5% inspired CO2) on cardiorespiratory responses in the bullfrog Rana catesbeiana at different temperatures (10, 20 and 30 degrees C). We measured breathing frequency, blood gases, acid-base status, hematocrit, heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen consumption. At 20 and 30 degrees C, the rate of oxygen consumption had a tendency to be lowest during winter and highest during summer. Hypercarbia-induced changes in breathing frequency were proportional to body temperature during summer and spring, but not during winter (20 and 30 degrees C). Moreover, during winter, the effects of CO2 on breathing frequency at 30 degrees C were smaller than during summer and spring. These facts indicate a decreased ventilatory sensitivity during winter. PaO2 and pHa showed no significant change during the year, but PaCO2 was almost twice as high during winter than in summer and spring, indicating increased plasma bicarbonate levels. The hematocrit values showed no significant changes induced by temperature, hypercarbia or season, indicating that the oxygen carrying capacity of blood is kept constant throughout the year. Decreased body temperature was accompanied by a reduction in heart rate during all four seasons, and a reduction in blood pressure during summer and spring. Blood pressure was higher during winter than during any other seasons whereas no seasonal change was observed in heart rate. This may indicate that peripheral resistance and/or stroke volume may be elevated during this season. Taken together, these results suggest that the decreased ventilatory sensitivity to hypercarbia during winter occurs while cardiovascular parameters are kept constant.     

MERCURY INHIBITION ON PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY USING LARGE VOLUME PLASTIC CHAMBERS IN SITU1

Approximately 6000 l of lake water was suspended in large, clear plastic chambers in Lake Powell, Arizona. The chambers were monitored during 24 h incubation periods in the spring and summer 1974 and 1975. Physico-chemical differences between the natural lake system and within the experimental chambers were negligible. Experimental mercury concentrations ranging from < 0.02 to 1.25 ppm were added to the chambers to determine the effect of elevated Hg concentrations on in situ primary production. Mercury concentrations were monitored in the water column of each chamber during each 24 h incubation period to determine absolute concentrations following reduction through adsorption, absorption and vaporization. At least a 40% reduction in photosynthetic activity occurred at Hg concentrations as low as 0.06 ppm. A toxic Hg threshold concentration of 0.06 ppm was demonstrated for the summer phytoplankton assemblage, but a distinct threshold concentration was absent for the spring diatom assemblage. Differences in spring and summer phytoplankton populations may suggest subtle differences in Hg sensitivity between phytoplankton assemblages in combination with temperature acting on total community metabolism.     

Effects on water quality following water transfer in Lake Taihu,China

To improve lake water quality, two experimental water transfers were conducted in winter–spring 2002 and summer–fall 2003 in Lake Taihu, a large shallow lake in China. Both observed data and estimated nutrient concentration with the elimination of effect from natural factors were used in this research to assess the spatial and temporal variations of water quality improvement induced by the two transfers. Clear improvement of water quality associated with deduction of TN, TP, and chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentration was observed in many areas of the lake during the two water transfers. The over all reduction in TP concentration was notable in Southwest Zone, Centre Zone, and Dongtaihu Bay during the 2002 transfer, and was more pronounced in Meiliang Bay and Southwest Zone during the 2003 transfer period. However, the reduction in TN and Chl-a concentration was relatively weak. Results indicate a less impressive improvement of water quality from water transfer in large lakes than in small ones as the effectiveness of water transfer in large lakes is generally limited by large size, complex boundaries, and the difficulty of finding proper water source to be transferred. The comparison of observed and estimated water transfer effectiveness suggests a greater improvement of water quality derived from water transfer than appeared from the observation.     

The recovery of a very shallow eutrophic lake, 20 years after the control of effluent derived phosphorus

1. Monitoring at fortnightly to monthly intervals of a very shallow, lowland lake over 24 years has enabled the time course of recovery from nutrient enrichment to be investigated after high external P loading of the lake (>10 g P m^?2 year^?1) was reduced between 1977 and 1980. 2. The lake showed a relatively rapid response during the spring and early summer, with a reduction in phytoplankton biomass occurring after 5 years when soluble reactive phosphorus concentration was <10 μg L^?1. 3. However, during the later summer the response was delayed for 15 years because of sustained remobilisation of phosphorus from the sediment. The greater water clarity in spring and a gradual shift from planktonic to benthic algal growth may be related to the reduction in internal loading after 15 years. 4. Changes in the phytoplankton community composition were also observed. Centric diatoms became less dominant in the spring, and the summer cyanobacteria populations originally dominated by non‐heterocystous species (Limnothrix/Planktothrix spp.) almost disappeared. Heterocystous species (Anabaena spp. and Aphanizomenon flos‐aquae) were slower to decline, but after 20 years the phytoplankton community was no longer dominated by cyanobacteria. 5. There were no substantial changes in food web structure following re‐oligotrophication. Total zooplankton biomass decreased but body size of Daphnia hyalina, the largest zooplankton species in the lake, remained unchanged, suggesting that the fish population remained dominated by planktivorous species. 6. Macrophyte growth was still largely absent after 20 years, although during the spring water clarity may have become sufficient for macrophytes to re‐establish.     

Responses to hypoxia of plaice,Pleuronectes platessa,and dab,Limanda limanda,in the south-east Kattegat: distribution and growth

Synopsis Plaice, Pleuronectes platessa, and dab, Limanda limanda, were sampled with a Glommen lobster trawl at 25 to 40 m depth in the SE Kattegat during spring and autumn of 1984 to 1990. During autumn, hypoxia (O₂-concentration < 3 mg I^–1) occurred in the bottom water below the halocline for four to ten weeks every year, except in 1984 when moderate hypoxia (O₂-concentration 3–5 mg 1^–1) occurred. Biomass of both species was shown to be negatively correlated with oxygen concentration during autumn. Further, a decrease in population mean total length was observed during the study period in both spring and autumn samples. Laboratory studies of growth of juvenile plaice and dab, at 15° C and 30–34%, showed that growth is reduced at 50 and 30% O₂-saturation for both species during a 20 d period. There was some adaptation to hypoxia resulting in less reduction of growth during the second half of the experiment. The frequency of fish eating was reduced in plaice at 30% O₂-saturation. Reduced mean total length of the plaice and dab population of the SE Kattegat is discussed in view of sublethal effects of oxygen deficiency.     

Daily and Seasonal Rhythms in Immune Responses of Splenocytes in the Freshwater Snake,Natrix piscator

Present study was designed to examine daily and seasonal variability in the innate immune responses of splenocytes in the fresh water snake, Natrix piscator. Animals were mildly anesthetized and spleen was aseptically isolated and processed for macrophage phagocytosis, NBT reduction, nitrite production, splenocyte proliferation and serum lysozyme activity. Samples were collected at seven time points, viz., 0000, 0400, 0800, 1200, 1600, 2000 and 0000 h during three different seasons, namely summer, winter and spring. Cosinor analysis revealed that percent phagocytosis had a significant 24-h rhythm during summer and spring seasons. The peaks of rhythms in NBT reduction and nitrite release occurred in the morning hours at 10.88 h and 8.31 h, respectively, in winter. A significant 24-h rhythm was also observed in lysozyme concentration and splenocyte proliferation (both Basal and Concanavalin A stimulated) in all three seasons. A significant phase shift in splenocyte proliferation was obtained with a trend of delayed phase shift from winter to spring and from spring to summer. Of the nine variables, significant annual (seasonal) rhythms were detected in almost all variables, excluding phagocytic and splenosomatic indices. All rhythmic variables, except spleen cellularity, exhibited tightly synchronized peaks coinciding with the progressive and recrudescence phases of annual reproductive cycle. It is concluded that the snake synchronizes its daily and seasonal immune activity with the corresponding external time cues. The enhancement of immune function coinciding with one of its crucial reproductive phases might be helping it to cope with the seasonal stressors, including abundance of pathogens, which would otherwise jeopardize the successful reproduction and eventual survival of the species.     

Osmotic concentration in three races of honey bee,Apis mellifera L. under environmental conditions of arid zone

Hemolymph osmolarity has great effect on honey bee health, especially in arid and semi-arid zones. It regulates water and nutrients in stressed tissues. Osmotic concentration in three races (Apis mellifera ligustica, A. m. carnica and A. m. jemenitica) of Apis mellifera was tested in central Saudi Arabia during spring and summer seasons in 2015. Newly emerged bee workers were first marked and later their hemolymph was extracted after intervals of 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 days. A significant positive correlation between age and osmolarity was found in all three races during spring and summer seasons. The lowest combined osmotic concentration for all three races was found after 1 day interval, while the highest osmotic concentration was recorded after 25 days. Among all races, A. m. ligustica showed significantly high osmotic concentration after 25 days in spring and summer seasons as compared to the other two races. Only A. m. jemenitica showed similar osmotic concentration after 10 and 15 days in both spring and summer seasons compared to other two races. Mean osmotic concentration of all three races was significantly different after 20 and 25 days in spring and summer seasons. Overall mean recorded during summer was significantly higher than the mean of spring season. Combined osmotic concentration in young drones of all races was significantly lower than that of old drones during spring and summer seasons.     

Sperm production, testicular size, serum gonadotropins and testosterone levels in Merino and Corriedale breeds

The relationships between testis size, hormone secretion and sperm production were studied during the spring (December) and autumn (May) in rams of two breeds with different breeding seasons and body weights (Corriedale and Australian Merino) maintained on native pastures and under natural photoperiods in Uruguay. Blood samples were collected at 20-min intervals during a 260-360-min period in 13 rams (four Corriedale, nine Australian Merino) during the late spring and autumn. Rams were weighed and testis size was estimated by orchimetry at each time period. Sperm production was estimated during a 2-week period, 2 months before blood collection and during each week following every blood collection. There was no relationship between testicular size and sperm production measured at the same time, nor between live weight and sperm production. In contrast, testicular volume during the late spring was correlated with sperm production in the autumn (r = 0.65; P = 0.02). The autumn serum LH was higher in Corriedale than in Merino rams. LH pulsatility was unaffected by season, but LH pulse frequency tended to be higher in Corriedale than in Merino rams, particularly in the late spring (2.37 versus 1.56 pulses/6 h; P = 0.08). Serum testosterone concentration was similar in both breeds and seasons. FSH levels were higher in the late spring than in the autumn in both breeds (Corriedale: 2.83 +/- 0.48 versus 2.17 +/- 0.24 ng x mL(-1); Merino: 2.23 +/- 0.24 versus 1.88 +/- 0.17 ng x mL(-1)). FSH and testosterone concentrations during the late spring were positively correlated with autumn sperm production (P = 0.07 and P = 0.03, respectively). In conclusion, the present experiment suggests that LH secretion is not a good parameter for the prediction of sperm production. In contrast, in our conditions (breeds and native pastures) testicular size and testosterone or FSH concentrations from the late spring may be used to predict sperm production in the autumn.     

Mobilisation of nutrients and transport via the xylem sap in a shrub (Ligustrum ovalifolium) during spring growth: N and C compounds and interactions

In open-field soilless culture there can be great deal of leaching, particularly in rainy springs. Ligneous plants have the capacity to store large quantities of nutrients in perennial organs. Knowledge of the plant's internal nutrient mobilisation during spring to supply growing organs could lead to reduction of fertiliser application. To quantify the fraction of storage mobilisation available for growth of new organs during spring, Ligustrum ovalifolium shrubs were grown for 2 years with or without fertilisation in the second spring. Nitrogen (N) absorption and N and carbon (C) mobilisation from storage were followed during spring growth via the sap quality. A mathematical combination of the sap composition with flow velocity provided the transported quantities of N and C. Nitrogen and C mobilisation towards new shoots took place during all the spring growth from bud break onwards. In unfertilised plants, C was mobilised primarily as sugars (stachyose, mannose and sucrose) and starch. In fertilised plants, the same sugars were transported in the xylem sap, but at lower concentrations. Stachyose concentration was lower in fertilised than in unfertilised plants and decreased during spring growth. Nitrogen was transported in the xylem sap mainly as amino acids in both fertilisation treatments. Glutamine was the predominant form at bud break and during shoot elongation. In fertilised plants, arginine became predominant after shoot elongation, and was related to low C availability. The interactions of N with C are discussed; specifically, insufficient availability of N limits the use of C, more of which is directed to aerial organs by sap flow.     

Effect of tillage on abundance of Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Col., Scarabaeidae), larvae and adults in highbush blueberry fields

Abstract:  At 15 commercial highbush blueberry farms, fields where row middles were tilled had 72% lower larval density of Popillia japonica than fields with grass in row middles. Popillia japonica larval populations were similar in the perimeters of tilled and untilled fields. Soil parameters measured in these sites were not correlated with larval density of P. japonica. Samples of adult beetles on bushes showed that they were significantly less abundant in tilled fields compared with fields with grass in the row middles. The abundance of larvae inside fields during the spring was significantly correlated with early, but not late summer abundance of adult beetles on bushes. Comparisons of different tillage timings showed that grassy plots between rows of blueberry bushes that were tilled in spring and kept bare all year round had lower abundance of P. japonica larvae than those that retained perennial ryegrass. The effect of tillage timing on larval abundance was not consistent across 2 years, but most timings caused similar reduction in P. japonica larval density in the row middles. Tillage in the spring and in the autumn caused 50.5% and 68.8% reduction of larval density in each year respectively. These results indicate that tillage can reduce P. japonica larval and adult abundance in highbush blueberry fields.     

SPRING GROWTH OF SHOOTS AND ROOTS IN SHRUBS OF AN ALASKAN MUSKEG

Early spring shoot and fine-root development of four evergreen and three deciduous shrub species were analyzed in a subarctic muskeg at Fairbanks, Alaska. The overwintered foliage of the evergreen shrubs regreened earlier than new leaves developed on the deciduous species. Likewise, the evergreen shrubs produced new fine roots earlier than the deciduous species. The total nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) concentration did not decline in the evergreen shrub Ledum palustre during the spring development. This contrasted with the deciduous shrub Betula glandulosa, where a significant TNC reduction in stem tissue coincided with bud break and fine-root growth flush.     

Predicting the spring algal biomass in Lough Neagh using time series analysis

1. Lough Neagh is a large eutrophic lake covering 387 km² with a mean depth of 8.9 m. It is an important natural resource, being the largest single source of potable water for Belfast, Northern Ireland. 2. This report examines the causes of the year-to-year variation in the April–June (spring) algal biomass, measured as chlorophyll a, for the period 1974–92. 3. The spring chlorophyll a declined following the introduction of a phosphorus (P) reduction programme at major sewage treatment works in 1981. However, since 1990 the chlorophyll a concentrations in the spring have increased. 4. Time series methodology was employed to develop a model which explained 76% of the annual variation in spring chlorophyll a concentrations. 5. The independent variables used in the multiple regression model were the previous year’s spring chlorophyll a concentration, soluble reactive P inputs for April–June and the particulate P concentration in the Lough during the previous summer.     

The influence of temperature,sexual condition,and season on the metabolic rate of the lizardPsammodromus hispanicus

Summary Male and femalePsammodromus hispanicus from southern Europe were acclimated to four seasonal conditions of photoperiod and night time temperature. During the dark period, the lizards' body temperatures fell to ambient air temperature but during the light period the lizards were allowed to thermoregulate behaviourally and at such times the lizards' mean body temperature varied from 29.0°C to 32.6°C. The resting metabolic rate of these lizards was measured in 5°C steps from 5°C to 30°C or 35°C. Sexual condition had little effect on resting metabolic rate, but at low temperatures lizards acclimated to winter or spring seasonal conditions had lower resting metabolic rates than those acclimated to summer or autumn conditions. At temperatures above 20°C seasonal acclimation had no effect on resting metabolic rate. It is considered that the reduction in low temperature metabolic rate in spring and winter is induced by low night time temperatures and serves to conserve energy during those seasons when lizards must spend long periods at low temperature without being able to feed.     

The seasonal variation in silicon concentration in chalk-streams in relation to diatom growth

SUMMARY. Changes in silicon concentration were used to investigate the seasonal cycle of diatoms in chalk-streams. Bore-hole water shows no significant variation in silicon concentration. Five kilometres downstream there is a significant reduction between March and May. Further downstream the cumulative effect of biological silicon removal shows more complex patterns. There is a considerable variation in the seasonal pattern from year to year but an analysis of the seasonal pattern averaged over thirteen years on the River Frome confirms a later summer silicon reduction in August-September, in addition to a much larger reduction in the spring.
The negative correlation between suspended chlorophyll-α and silicon concentrations confirms that suspended chlorophyll-α concentrations respond more closely to changes in the loosely attached diatom flora than to other sources of chlorophyll-α. However, neither variable is always suitable for monitoring changes in benthic diatoms. In headwaters, for example, transitory changes in diatoms do not have a significant impact on silicon concentration, while further downstream the suspended solids are affected by many other factors.
Estimates of diatom production, based on changes in silicon concentration, gave rates of 1–2 g Si m_-2 day_-1 in a small headwater chalkstream during the spring.     

Effect of neck collars on the body condition of migrating Greater Snow Geese

Markers are widely used to study behavior, migration, and the life history traits of birds such as survival, dispersal, and reproductive success. The presence of neck collars has been shown to impact the breeding propensity of adult female Greater Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens atlantica), but not their survival rates. We evaluated the hypothesis that the reduction in breeding propensity in neck‐collared birds was due to a reduction in the body condition of these long‐distance migrants that rely on a partial capital breeding strategy. Our study was conducted during 4 consecutive years along the St. Lawrence estuary in Quebec, Canada, a major spring staging area for these geese. We captured and marked 2552 geese with collars and 34 were recaptured in subsequent years at the same site. After controlling for confounding variables such as year and date of capture, we found that the presence of a neck collar reduced body condition of females during spring staging. Female Greater Snow Geese lost an average of 105.5 ± 39.1 (SE) g (4% of body mass) after carrying a collar for 1 yr and an average of 81.9 ± 43.6 g compared to original mass when recaptured 2 or 3 yr later. Our results suggest that the previously reported reduction in breeding propensity of neck‐collared geese may be due to a reduction in body condition during spring staging. Neck collars could negatively affect the body condition of female Greater Snow Geese by increasing their energy expenditure (due to increased drag during flight or to chronic stress) or reducing their foraging efficiency.     

The first decade of oligotrophication in Lake Constance

Phytoplankton biomass and species composition were measured with a relatively high temporal resolution (once or twice a week during the growing season) from 1979 to 1989 in Lake Constance/Überlingersee. Over this period soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentrations during winter mixing were reduced by ca. 50% from 104 to 47 g 1^–1, which caused a prolongation and amplification of the epilimnetic P depletion during the growth period. Seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton reacted to the decrease of SRP in the following ways: (1) Algal biomass decreased at least proportionally to the winter SRP concentrations in summer, but not in spring and autumn when biomass fluctuated irregularly. (2) The peak of biomass concentration changed from summer to spring. (3) The earlier onset of epilimnetic P depletion during the season in recent years promoted a stronger growth of some pennate diatoms in spring. It caused an amplification of the silicon depletion in summer, which may cause still greater reduction of diatoms and total algal biomass in summer. (4) Reduction of algal biomass during the clear-water phase proper became shorter and less pronounced. (5) The temporal variability of algal biomass decreased in summer and autumn but not in spring. (6) Average cell sizes remained unchanged in summer and autumn but increased in spring during the beginning of oligotrophication. These results are largely in agreement with other studies on lake restoration and expectations derived from the PEG (Plankton Ecology Group) model (Sommer et al. 1986). They show that a 50% reduction of SRP concentrations during homothermy may have pronounced effects on seasonal dynamics of algal biomass in a large and deep lake. The algal response to the external change of SRP concentrations can be described by the Le Chatelier principle, implying that the internal structure of the system (e.g. species composition) changes in order to minimize the effect of the external pressure (e.g. reduction of total biomass). Suggestions are made as to how this system behaviour may emerge from local interactions.     

The impact of changing the season in which cereals are sown on the diversity of the weed flora in rotational fields in Denmark

1. Surveys have shown that there has been a dramatic decrease in the weed flora of fields under rotational cultivation during the last 30 years. This trend has been particularly noticeable in winter cereals, a crop of increasing importance in the landscape.
2. The weed flora of spring and winter cereals was compared in 19 unsprayed fields during a 5-year study to test the hypothesis that cereal type exerts no effect on the flora or on the absolute and relative abundance of single species.
3. Plant and species densities, and accumulated species richness, were lower in winter than in spring cereals.
4. Floristic similarity was greater among spring cereal fields and between spring and winter cereals within the same fields than among winter cereal fields.
5. Species that occurred with unequal density in spring and winter cereals occurred at higher densities in the spring cereals; these species germinated mainly in the spring. However, for a few species the relative plant abundance was highest in winter cereals; these species were able to germinate both in the spring and autumn.
6. Some species – on the relative scale – occurred indifferently of season of sowing; all but one of these species were able to germinate both in the spring and autumn.
7. Plant species and taxa that are important food resources for arthropod herbivores occurred at greater densities in spring than in winter cereals and, in addition, occurred with the highest relative abundance in spring cereals.
8. Change in land use from spring to winter cereals involves not only an immediate reduction of more than 25% in the density of plants and species, but also a change and increased uncertainty in the composition of the weed flora. These findings may have serious implications for the ecology of wildlife in the agricultural landscape.     

Phosphorus regulates stream injury by filamentous green algae,DO, and pH with thresholds in responses

Nutrient concentrations, benthic algal biomass, dissolved oxygen (DO), and pH were measured in 70 or more streams during spring and summer in the Illinois River Watershed (IRW), which crosses the Oklahoma and Arkansas (USA) border, to determine whether injury to streams occurred and if that injury was related to spreading poultry waste on fields. Definitions of injury were based on Oklahoma water quality regulations and scientific literature. Phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations were each independently related to poultry house density (PHD) in watersheds and percent urban land use in watersheds. In addition, phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations were unusually high compared to regions with similar geology and hydrology. Molar N:P ratios were high and indicated that phosphorus was the most likely limiting nutrient. Phosphorus concentrations, as well as PHD and urban land use, were related to algal biomass during spring, but were less related during summer. A threshold response in cover of stream bottoms by nuisance filamentous green algae (NFGA: Cladophora, Rhizoclonium, and Oedogonium) during spring was observed at 27 μg TP l⁻¹ using regression tree analysis. Great increases in average NFGA cover (from 4 to 36% cover) occurred with relatively small increases in TP concentration at the 27 μg TP l⁻¹ threshold. Average concentrations of DO, variability in DO, and pH during spring were positively related to TP, chlorophyll a, and NFGA cover. Minimum DO during spring and early morning DO during summer were negatively related to TP concentration. Spring pH and summer DO frequently violated water quality requirements for protecting biodiversity that were established by the state of Oklahoma. We conclude that poultry house operations as well as urban activities, independently and interactively, pollute IRW streams with phosphorus, which resulted in injury to aesthetic condition and the potential for injury of biodiversity.     

Leaf mineral concentrations of Erica arborea, Juniperus communis and Myrtus communis growing in the proximity of a natural CO2 spring

Leaf mineral concentrations of co‐occurring Erica arborea, Juniperus communis and Myrtus communis were measured at bimonthly intervals throughout a year in a natural CO₂ spring and in a nearby control site with similar soil chemistry in a Mediterranean environment. There were different responses to the elevated [CO₂] (c. 700 μL L^?1) of the spring site plants depending on the element and the species. In the CO₂ spring site K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Al, Fe, and Ti leaf concentrations and the ratio C/N showed significant greater values in at least one or two of the three species. Leaf S concentration were greater in all three species. Leaf concentrations of N, Sr, Co, and B were lower in at least one or two species, and those of C and Ba were lower in all the three studied species near the CO₂ spring. P, Na, Zn, Si, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb, Mo, V and Cd leaf concentrations and the specific leaf area (SLA, measured in Myrtus communis) did not show any consistent or significant pattern in response to the elevated [CO₂] of the spring site. There was a slight trend towards maximum concentrations of most of these elements during autumn–winter and minimum values during the spring season, especially in Myrtus communis. Multivariate principal component analyses based on the leaf elemental concentrations clearly differentiated the two sites and the three species. Lower concentrations at the spring site were not the result of a dilution effect by increased structural or nonstructural carbon. In contrast to most experimental studies of CO₂ enrichment, mainly conducted for short periods, several of these elements had greater concentrations in the CO₂ spring site. Nutrient acclimation and possible causes including decreased nutrient export, increased nutrient uptake capacity, photosynthetic down‐regulation, Mediterranean water stress, and higher H₂S concentration in the spring site are discussed.