Relationship between vegetation reflectance spectra and soil geochemistry: New data from Catheart Mountain, Maine

Spectral reflectance curves for red spruce and balsam fir in the 350- to 1100-nanometer region showed differences between specimens growing over and away from a concealed copper deposit at Catheart Mountain, Maine. A sample group of 15 anomalous spruce, 9 background spruce, 10 anomalous fir, and 10 background fir was studied. Measurements of copper and molybdenum contents in the supporting soil were used to categorize the trees as anomalous or background. Analyses using parametric and nonparametric statistical tests were performed to establish whether significant differences existed between the anomalous and background groups. At the 95% confidence level, significant differences were found to exist for both species, generally in the chlorophyll band centered at about 550 nanometers and in the region from 700 to 900 nanometers.