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Mineral Soil Substrate Seed Banks: Understanding Their Role in Primary Succession and Enhancement of Habitat Recovery
Published in Artur Dyczko, Andrzej M. Jagodziński, Gabriela Woźniak, Green Scenarios: Mining Industry Responses to Environmental Challenges of the Anthropocene Epoch, 2022
Joanna Czarnecka, Wiktoria Hryń, Jaco Vangronsveld
While some long-living seeds may survive burdening with gangue material, a majority of seeds composing the seed bank of non-recultivated heaps come from the surrounding vegetation (Horáčková et al. 2016). The composition of the seed bank therefore depends on the species composition of plant communities located approximately within 5 km of the heap (Woch et al. 2013). Crucial factors for successful diaspore transportation include the ability to disperse over a long distance (via anemochory or zoochory) and the abundance of diaspores in the surrounding habitats (Grime et al. 1986). As reported by Salisbury (1953), plants that successfully disperse and colonize new habitats need to produce large numbers of seeds; this is possible only at sufficiently high density and fertility of the original population. Most seeds that travel to the heap successfully represent species that are capable of long-distance dispersal and production of large numbers of seeds and reach high abundances in adjacent ecosystems. Such features are typical for annual and perennial herbs representing the ruderal life strategy (Grime et al. 1986). They are typically fast-growing, light-seeded, photo-blastic, anemochorous species adapted to colonizing open spaces and dominating the seed banks during the first stages of succession (Grime 1977; Šerá & Šerý 2004). Many of such species require high nutrient content (e.g. nitrogen) in the soil to germinate successfully, which may be problematic on the heap (Lambers et al. 2008). Many of the incoming seeds may therefore not germinate, and accumulate in the soil forming the seed bank. Whilst a majority of ruderal species have long-lived seeds (Klimkowska et al. 2010), their mortality in the heap substrate may be increased due to unfavourable edaphic conditions such as low pH, high salinity, oxidative stress, high accumulation of heavy metals, and so on (Kompała-Bąba et al. 2019). Stress-tolerant species, which are better adapted to harsh environmental conditions, have a limited participation in the initial seed pool of spoil heaps, due to their limited fertility, and usually low abundances in the adjacent areas that are usually eutrophicated as a result of various human activities (Grime et al. 1986). They may appear at the later stages of succession: for example, there are plants growing on zinc mine ore and smelter heaps with seed tolerance to heavy metals via accumulation thereof outside of the embryo tissues (Grodzińska et al. 2000).
Floristic surveys of some lowlands polluted of a tropical urban area: the case of Yaounde, Cameroon
Published in International Journal of Phytoremediation, 2021
Ayo Anne, Soh Kengne Ebenezer, Djumyom Wafo Guy Valerie, Nbendah Pierre, Djomo Chimi Cédric, Nana Annie Stephanie, Djocgoué Pierre François, Kengne Noumsi Ives Magloire (In memorium)
The most diversified families in polluted sites were Poaceae (23 species), Asteraceae (20 species), Fabaceae (14 species), Malvaceae (12 species), and Solanaceae (12 species) (Figure 3). Less than ten species belonged to other families. For polluted sites, families represented by just one species each are Annonaceae, Apiaceae, Apocynaceae, Atyraceae, Burseraceae, Cannaceae, Caricaceae, Caryophyliaceae, Commelinaceae, Labiateae, Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Lemnaceae, Moringaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Passifloraceae, Piperaceae, Portulacaceae, Strelitziaceae, Ulmaceae, Verbenaceae, and Vitaceae. In the control however, the families represented such as Combretaceae, Marantaceae, Melastomataceae, Pteridaceae, Rubiaceae, Sapindaceae, and Sterculiaceae were not found in polluted sites. The difference of plant families and taxa between the polluted sites and the control is likely due to the environmental conditions. The most represented family in the lowlands sites could be explained by the establishment of ruderal species that acclimate and adapt in these conditions of pollution. Njuguna et al. (2017) identified in Nairobi river 31 species with 11 species with the ability of metals bioaccumulators from 23 dominants families of Polygonaceae, Amaranthaceae, Commelinaceae, and Cannaceae. Tchinda et al. (2018) reported diverses families of the Mfoundi watershed of Yaounde belonging to Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Euphorbiaceae. Then Messou et al. (2013) recorded as the most frequent families (36.9% of total taxa) Poaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Cyperaceae. Among these families, species of the family of Poaceae were most prevalent and reported as heavy metal tolerant (Tchinda et al.2018).