IS NEE SOON CATCHMENT DISTURBED? A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO THE CATCHMENT'S ELEMENTAL DISTRIBUTION, MOVEMENT AND DEPOSITION IN SOILS AND SEDIMENTS

Abstract

Elemental distribution, movement and deposition in different environmental matrices of Nee Soon tropical swamp forest catchment is studied to uncover its disturbance regimes. Data from surface soils, soil pits and soil profiles revealed elements in Nee Soon are largely naturally occurring with an obvious zonation effect from granite rock. Anthropogenic disturbance causing elevated Co, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Ba, K, La, Mg, Na, P, Sr, and V occurs in some locations, such as military lands and other disturbed/developed lands. The study also shown a high proportion of chemical weathering (ca. 43-84% of the total denudation) which associates with high dissolution loss of soil elements, compared to physical erosion. Consequently, the long-term sediment and element depositions in the swamp are low compared to the anthropogenic derived short-term counterparts. The study was successful in elucidating the historical disturbance story for Nee Soon, which is useful for providing baseline information for management activities.