Do heavy-metal grassland species survive under a Scots pine canopy during early stages of secondary succession?

The highly specialized flora of localities affected by former metal ore mining and metallurgy is endangered by succession or intentional afforestation all over Europe. Its last remnants therefore deserve our attention. We examined whether Scots pine encroaching on a heavy-metal grassland (Olkusz Zn-Pb mining area, S Poland) is outcompeting specialized herbaceous species, as has been observed elsewhere. Plant species composition and richness sampled at 124 plots were analysed in relation to pine stand parameters (canopy cover, stand age, stand basal area), abiotic environmental factors (e.g. soil properties) and spatial variables (e.g. plot coordinates). Plots were divided into three shading categories and compared in terms of vegetation and habitat parameters. Scots pine outcompeted several light-demanding species, leading to a decrease of total species richness and cover. Characteristic species of this grassland (Biscutella laevigata, Silene vulgaris) and some metal-tolerant plants were clearly insensitive to shading. For these early successional species, more important was the availability of microsites with shallow skeletal soil or bare subsoil. Tree stand parameters differently affected grassland vegetation: canopy cover caused primarily a compositional shift in the community, while stand age was the principal agent of decline in species richness. Scots pine increased the soil concentrations of available Ca and Mg, and negatively affected soil development (organic matter and mineral particle accumulation), which might be beneficial to some shade-tolerant grassland species. Maintaining the studied grassland’s present species richness and composition would require cutting woody plants less frequently than recommended for dry grasslands of non-metalliferous sites, and disturbing the soil surface

Heavy metals hyperaccumulating plants

Rośliny hiperakumulujące metale są interesujące, gdyż nie tylko tolerują bardzo duże ilości metali w glebie, ale gromadzą je w swych nadziemnych tkankach. Ilości te przekraczają poziomy uznane za toksyczne dla większości organizmów. W artykule, w oparciu o przegląd publikacji, głównie z ostatnich 10 lat, pokazano przykłady gatunków hiperakumulujących różne metale, a reprezentujących różne grupy taksonomiczne, formy morfologiczne i różne zasięgi geograficzne. Przedstawiono dyskusję nad kryteriami określającymi hiperakumulację (m.in. ilość metalu w roślinie, wydajność akumulacji i translokacji), które, mimo już kilkudziesięciu lat badań nad hiperakumulacją, nadal wymagają uściśleń. Opisano hipotezy dotyczące przyczyn powstania hiperakumulacji i korzyści dla roślin z niej płynących. Skupiono się na hipotezach dotyczących allelopatii i obrony przeciwko naturalnym wrogom. Pokazano, nadal nieliczne, ekologiczne badania skierowane na poznanie konsekwencji istnienia hiperakumulatorów w ekosystemie.Hyperaccumulators are an interesting group of plants which manages to survive under extreme environmental conditions. They tolerate high concentrations of heavy metals in soils and accumulate them in aboveground tissues. Thereby, the accumulated amounts may reach levels which are highly toxic for other organisms. In this paper, I present a review of recent literature focusing on examples of species which accumulate various metals and metalloids. The respective species represent various taxonomic and morphological groups of plants originating from a variety of geographical locations. The criteria of hyperaccumulation (i.e. metal concentrations in aboveground organs, the efficiency of accumulation and translocation), as well as hypotheses about evolution of accumulation (elemental allelopathy, elemental defense) are discussed. Furthermore, I summarize the effects of hyperaccumulators' presence on ecosystems based on results of a small existing set of ecological studies

Zinc-lead mine spoils near Olkusz - past, present and future

Distribution of zinc-lead resources in Olkusz region (southern Poland), the history of mining activities in this area (XIII-XX century), generation of mine spoils with high concentration of zinc, lead and other heavy metals, as well as the history of botanical studies on mine spoils in Olkusz region are described. The authors present detailed ecological studies on mine spoils of different age near Bolesław (Olkusz region). The species composition of resident vegetation, the concentration of heavy metals in spoils and in plants, seed rain and seed bank were studied in"old" (100 yrs) and "young" (recent) spoils, their results were compared and forms of reclamation on mine spoils are discussed. The authors suggest that the abundance of seeds in the soil and seed rain is sufficient to establish local vegetation in long succession processes. They propose to introduce seeds of the dominating plant species or fragments of grasslands from older mine spoils to accelerate the spontaneous succession on recent spiols

The importance of active protection of calamine grasslands (6130) for the preservation of their biodiversity

tekst w j. pol. i ang.Wykazanie zmian zachodzących w składzie murawy galmanowej poddanej zabiegom ochrony czynnej oraz w murawie bez działań ochronnych

Stand Composition, Tree-Related Microhabitats and Birds—A Network of Relationships in a Managed Forest

Forest ecosystems contain many tree-related microhabitats (TreMs), which are used by various groups of organisms. Birds use TreMs for shelter, foraging and breeding. The abundance and variability of TreMs is related to tree stand composition and age. Over the last few centuries there has been a drastic decline in the structural and biological diversity of temperate forests over large areas of the Northern Hemisphere. These changes have reduced the diversity and quantity of TreMs. In this study we showed the relationships between stand composition, the abundance of TreMs, and the species richness of birds in a managed forest. We focused on TreMs that are important to birds: woodpecker breeding cavities, rot holes, dead branches, broken treetops, and perennial polypores. Our study was performed in a managed lowland temperate forest. In 94 plots (10 ha each) we made bird surveys and inventoried the stand composition and TreMs. Our results show that the tree stand composition of a managed forest affects the abundance of TreMs. The share of deciduous trees in the stand favors the occurrence of such TreMs as dead branches, rot holes and perennial polypores. The overall richness of bird species and the species richness of primary cavity nesters depended on the total basal area of oak, hornbeam and birch, whereas the species richness of secondary cavity nesters increased with the total basal area of birch and oak

Stand Composition, Tree-Related Microhabitats and Birds—A Network of Relationships in a Managed Forest

Forest ecosystems contain many tree-related microhabitats (TreMs), which are used by various groups of organisms. Birds use TreMs for shelter, foraging and breeding. The abundance and variability of TreMs is related to tree stand composition and age. Over the last few centuries there has been a drastic decline in the structural and biological diversity of temperate forests over large areas of the Northern Hemisphere. These changes have reduced the diversity and quantity of TreMs. In this study we showed the relationships between stand composition, the abundance of TreMs, and the species richness of birds in a managed forest. We focused on TreMs that are important to birds: woodpecker breeding cavities, rot holes, dead branches, broken treetops, and perennial polypores. Our study was performed in a managed lowland temperate forest. In 94 plots (10 ha each) we made bird surveys and inventoried the stand composition and TreMs. Our results show that the tree stand composition of a managed forest affects the abundance of TreMs. The share of deciduous trees in the stand favors the occurrence of such TreMs as dead branches, rot holes and perennial polypores. The overall richness of bird species and the species richness of primary cavity nesters depended on the total basal area of oak, hornbeam and birch, whereas the species richness of secondary cavity nesters increased with the total basal area of birch and oak