Alien plant species in the flora of heavy-metal sites (the Silesia-Cracow Upland) : [poster]

Poland’s largest resources of zinc and lead ores are located in the southern part of the country (the Silesia- Cracow Upland). The many-years’ mining and smelting activity have caused the degradation of landscape and destruction of natural vegetation. The soil is poor in nutrients and contains considerable amounts of heavy metals (mainly zinc, lead and cadmium) (Fragment tekstu)

Floristic diversity in calamine areas of the Silesia-Cracow Monocline

The study presents results of floristic investigations conducted in areas with high concentration of heavy metals in the substrate, where zinc and lead ore deposits have been mined for many ages. Five sites were selected for a detailed investigation, located in three regions of the Silesia-Cracow Monocline. In the course of field studies, 362 vascular plant species, belonging to 73 families and 232 genera, were recorded. A group of 44 species was common for all investigated sites. Based on the analysis of vascular flora diversity in the areas under the study, it was determined that the majority of species are native hemicryptophytes. The largest proportion are thermophilic and heliophilic species of meadows and grasslands, while a large part of the flora is formed by species connected with moderately poor and mineral, and humus-rich types of soil. A noteworthy fact is the occurrence of numerous plants connected with moist and humid soils, despite the unfavorable humidity conditions. The share of halophytes and species with increased heavy metal tolerance is also conspicuous. The flora of majority of investigated abandoned mining sites includes common species characterised by extensive plasticity and numerous adaptations to the habitat conditions present in the study areas, as well as a range of species which belong to the group of protected, rare or threatened plants

The need for active environmental protection of calaminarian grassland at the Fryderyk heap in the Tarnowskie Góry

tekst w j. pol. i ang.(1) Ocena aktualnego stanu murawy galmanowej porastającej hałdę kopalni Fryderyk w Tarnowskich Górach, (2) określenie głównych zagrożeń dla badanego siedliska (6130), (3) wyznaczenie działań ochronnych, w celu zachowania różnorodności biologicznej murawy galmanowej

Lichenes of abandoned zinc-lead mines

A list of lichens from areas of zinc-lead ores in Southern Poland and a review of the characteristic lichen biota of these sites is provided. In spite of the devastated and heavy metal contaminated environment, a highly diverse epigeic and epilithic lichen biota was found, including species characteristic of various anthropogenic habitats, particularly zinc and lead enriched substrates (Diploschistes muscorum, Steinia geophana, Sarcosagium campestre, Vezdaea aestivalis and V. leprosa). Also, the high-mountain species Leucocarpia biatorella, as well as very rare in Europe Thelocarpon imperceptum, and several species categorized as very rare, endangered and protected in Poland were recorded. Crustose lichens are the most abundant; among fruticose forms Cladonia spp. predominate and Stereocaulon incrustatum is common

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

Use of Ricinus communis L. for recultivation of areas polluted by heavy metals – preliminary research

tekst w j. pol. i ang.Cele pracy - określenie zdolności do kiełkowania i wzrostu Ricinus communis na podłożu ze zwałowisk zanieczyszczonych metalami ciężkimi, - określenie przydatności nawozu Emfarma w procesie fitoremediacji podłoża pochodzącego ze zwałowisk zanieczyszczonych metalami ciężkimi, - określenie przydatności odmiany zielono- lub czerwonolistnej rącznika pospolitego w procesie rekultywacji wybranych zwałowis

Effect of abiotic factors on accumulation of heavy metals by Canadian Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.)

tekst w j. pol. i ang.Celem pracy była (1) ocena kumulacji Zn, Pb i Cd przez Solidago canadensis w korzeniu i części nadziemnej oraz (2) ocena wpływu parametrów fizyko-chemicznych podłoża na stopień akumulacji metali przez rośliny z terenów o różnym stopniu zanieczyszczenia podłoża

Was reduced pollen viability in Viola tricolor L. the result of heavy metal pollution or rather the tests applied?

We used different tests to assess the effect of high soil concentrations of heavy metals on pollen viability in plants from metallicolous (MET) and nonmetallicolous (NONMET) populations. The frequency of viable pollen depended on the test applied: MET plants showed no significant reduction of pollen viability by acetocarmine, Alexander, MTT and X-Gal dye testing, but a drastic reduction of pollen viability in MET flowers (MET 56% vs 72% NONMET) by the FDA test. There was no correlation between pollen viability estimated in histochemical tests and pollen germination in vitro or in vivo. We discuss the terminology used to describe pollen viability as determined by histochemical tests

Genotype-dependent mass somatic embryogenesis: a chance to recover extinct populations of Pulsatilla vulgaris Mill.

The paper presents a technique for micropropagation of endangered in Europe and extinct in Poland Pulsatilla vulgaris for ex situ conservation of the genetic resources. Genotype-dependent induction of somatic embryogenesis and rooting was revealed in series of two experiments (I and II) performed under the same experimental conditions. Shoot tips of seedlings were the best explants in both experiments and Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.25 or 0.5 mg L− 1 BAP was suitable for induction of somatic embryos (SE) and adventitious shoots. Mass SE was obtained in experiment I after explants transfer on ½ MS (2% sucrose) + 0.45 mg L− 1 B1 and extending culture to 2–3 months without passages. Rooting of adventitious shoots was a critical point. Out of seven rooting media used in experiment I, only two, ½ MS hormone free (2% sucrose) + 0.45 mg L− 1 B1 or MS + 5 mg L− 1 NAA + 3.76 mg L− 1 B2 resulted in altogether 36.4% rooted shoots. In experiment II, somatic embryogenesis, rooting and acclimatization of adventitious shoots failed. Regenerated plantlets and seedlings converted from SE from experiment I were acclimatized to ex vitro conditions. Both genome size, determined by flow cytometry, and genetic diversity analyzed by ISSR markers, confirmed the compatibility of regenerants from experiment I with P. vulgaris initial seedlings and commercial cultivar. Regenerants obtained in experiment II differed genetically from the regenerants of experiment I and cultivar. Propagated in vitro tissues/organs (SE, adventitious shoots) of P. vulgaris could be a source of material for cryopreservation, artificial seed production and/or for acclimatization of regenerated plantlets and could be used for restoration of the extinct populations. Key Message The micropropagation technique via organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis of endangered in Europe pasqueflower was developed as a tool for species recovery. The critical point is that somatic embryogenesis is genotype-dependent, which affects the repeatability of the experiments and also impose