Floristic composition of gold and uranium tailings dams, and adja­cent polluted areas, on South Africa’s deep-level mines

Bothalia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. M. Weiersbye ◽  
E. T. F. Witkowski ◽  
M. Reichardt
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Deep Level ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Polluted Soils ◽  
Introduced Plants ◽  
Tailings Dams ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Indigenous Plant ◽  
Uranium Tailings

Gold and uranium tailings (‘slimes’) dams and the adjacent polluted soils in the deep-level mining regions of South Africa (Carletonville, Klerksdorp and Welkom) were surveyed for the frequency of occurrence of naturally colonizing, actively introduced and persisting plant species. Fifty-six tailings dams with a combined area of 5864 ha. and a similar area o f tail- ings-polluted soils, were surveyed between July 1996 and March 1997. During the survey, 376 plant species and subspecies were recorded from the dams and adjacent polluted soils, with an additional  8 6  records obtained between 1998 and 2003 (i.e. a total of 462 taxa: species and infraspecific species). Overall, the most commonly represented families were the Poaceae (107 species and subspecies), Asteraceae (81). Fabaceae (55) and Anacardiaceae (16). with other families represented by just one to 14 species. Only 60 species were common to all three regions, and of these 24 had been introduced during rehabilitation attempts. Most of the species found on tailings were persisters or natural colonizers (53-88%, depending on substrate), with the vast majority being indigenous and perennial taxa (76% and 85% respectively), with semi-woody to woody growth forms (6 6% being resprouters, forbs, shrubs and trees). Less than 4% of the naturally-colonizing taxa found during the survey had also been introduced by vegetation practitioners. The majority of introduced plants were alien herbaceous taxa. The number and frequency of annuals was only high on recently vegetated sites, whereas annuals were rarely present on old-vegetated and never-vegetated dams. This list includes a wide range of indigenous plant species that may be suitable for phytoremediation of tailings dams and polluted soils due to their apparent tolerance of acid mine drainage and salinity.

Plant diversity of Ghorkhod Protected Area, NE Iran

Phytotaxa ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 249 (1) ◽  
pp. 118 ◽  
Author(s):  
FARSHID MEMARIANI ◽  
MOHAMMAD REZA JOHARCHI ◽  
HOSSEIN AKHANI
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Life Form ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Transitional Zone ◽  
Plant Groups ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Plant Families ◽  
Ne Iran

Ghorkhod Protected Area (GPA) is located in a transitional zone among different biogeographical units in North Khorassan Province, NE Iran. The study area is mainly a mountainous region in western extensions of Khorassan-Kopet Dagh floristic province. We investigated the floristic composition, life form spectrum and phytogeography of the study area through several random collection efforts and 200 vegetation samples (reléves) in selected vegetation types during 2007–2012. A total of 663 vascular plant species belonging to 367 genera and 81 families are recorded as native and naturalized in GPA. Angiosperms and Dicots are among the most diverse plant groups. The richest plant families are Asteraceae (88 species), Poaceae (78), Lamiaceae (45), Brassicaceae (43), Fabaceae (38), and Caryophyllaceae (32). The genera Allium L. (17 species), Astragalus L. (15) and Cousinia Cass. (12) are the richest ones, however, the majority of the species belongs to oligotypic and monotypic genera. Life form spectrum of the study area is dominated by hemicryptophytes (38.9%) and therophytes (23.4%). Allium transvestiens Vved., Agropyron desertorum Schult., Helictotrichon turcomanicum Czopanov and Piptatherum latifolium (Roshev.) Nevski are recorded as new to Iran. The core flora of the area has the Irano-Turanian origin. However, the wide-range and widespread elements are also well represented in the study area. GPA is inhabited by several endemic, rare and narrow-range plant species, indicating the biodiversity importance of the study area in NE Iran.

A new system for determining which plant species are indigenous in Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony R. Bean
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Dispersal Ability ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Indigenous Plants ◽  
Indigenous Status ◽  
Plant Introductions ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Indigenous Plant

An examination of Floras and related literature from various countries of the world has revealed a wide range of interpretations and concepts for indigenous plants. Nevertheless, an indigenous plant species has been universally defined as one that was not deliberately or accidentally introduced by man. An important recent addendum to the ‘indigenous’ definition is that it must disperse from an area where it is considered native. Particularly problematic are the so-called ‘pantropical’ or ‘cosmopolitan’ plants. These species are usually invasive and abundant, but most could not have crossed major barriers without the assistance of humans, and hence should be regarded as non-native species throughout much of their range. The accurate assessment of the alien or indigenous status of these and other taxa has been hampered by a lack of knowledge about their geographic origins and dispersal ability. Australian botanists have frequently adhered to a concept of indigenous plants being any that were thought to be present before European settlement in their region of interest – 1788 for the Sydney area, and as late as the 1850s for northern Australia. This definition is unrealistic and unworkable, especially when considering the ‘pantropical’ species. The transport of plants by maritime traders and explorers into the Indonesian and west Pacific areas has occurred for at least the past 3000 years. European colonisation in those areas from the 16th century accelerated plant introductions. Some of those plant species undoubtedly made their way to Australia before European settlement. This paper presents explicit definitions for indigenous (native) or alien (exotic, introduced, non-indigenous) plant species in Australia. A system of assessment using a combination of ecological, phytogeographical and historical criteria (the EPH system) allows the determination of ‘origin status’ for individual species. As a case study, data are presented for 40 plant species of disputed origin status. These species are assessed against the criteria, and a recommended origin status given for Australian occurrences.

scholarly journals Phytostabilization of Phosphate Mine Wastes Used as a Store-and-Release Cover to Control Acid Mine Drainage in a Semiarid Climate

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 900
Author(s):  
Meryem El Berkaoui ◽  
Mariam El Adnani ◽  
Rachid Hakkou ◽  
Ahmed Ouhammou ◽  
Najib Bendaou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Metals And Metalloids ◽  
Cover System ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
Accumulation Of Metals ◽  
Indigenous Plant ◽  
High Concentrations

The abandoned Kettara pyrrhotite mine, located near Marrakech, Morocco, is an acid mine drainage (AMD) producer site. A store-and-release cover system made of phosphate wastes was built to prevent water infiltration and the formation of AMD. This cover system should be vegetated with appropriate plants to ensure its long-term sustainability and allow its reintegration in the surrounding ecosystem. Several indigenous plant species were studied. The choice of plant species was based mainly on their tolerance to trace elements contained in the phosphate wastes, and their low capacity to translocate these metals to their aboveground parts in order to limit the risk of pollutants transfer along the food chain. The main metals and metalloids (As, Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr) are determined in 13 dominant plants naturally colonizing the store-and-release cover and their rhizospheric soils. The results showed that the phosphate cover contained high concentrations of Cr (138.04 mg/kg), Cu (119.86 mg/kg) and Cd (10.67 mg/kg) exceeding the regulatory thresholds values (Cr > 100 mg/kg, Cu > 100 mg/kg, Cd > 3 mg/kg). The studied plants revealed no hyper-accumulation of metals and metalloids, and lower concentrations in shoots than in roots. Six species (Plantago afra, Festuca ovina, Aizoon hispanicum, Herniaria cinerea, Echium plantagineum and Asphodelus tenuifolius) have bioconcentration factors greater than 1, and weak translocation factors, identifying them as appropriate candidates for phytostabilization of the phosphate cover.

scholarly journals Selection of wild hosts for feeding by passion vine hopper Scolypopa australis (Walker) (Hemiptera Ricaniidae) in the Bay of Plenty

2002 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 368-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.P. Logan ◽  
P.A. Allison ◽  
K. Stannard
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Introduced Plants ◽  
First Instar ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Choice Tests ◽  
Late Instar ◽  
Wild Hosts ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Passion Vine

Passion vine hopper Scolypopa australis (Walker) (Hemiptera Ricaniidae) a pest of kiwifruit occurs on a wide range of native and introduced plants that are probably not equally preferred as hosts First instar nymphs and adults were observed on 69 and 53 respectively of 42 plant species found at varying frequency in a survey of gullies adjacent to kiwifruit orchards in the Bay of Plenty In choice tests with four plant species common in gullies firstinstar nymphs and adults preferred the native species mahoe (Melicytus ramiflorus) Under nochoice conditions survival from first to late instar was also best on mahoe Of 10 plant species in a nochoice test adults survived best and laid most eggs on the native species wineberry (Aristotelia serrata)

scholarly journals Advances and Applications of Water Phytoremediation: A Potential Biotechnological Approach for the Treatment of Heavy Metals from Contaminated Water

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5215
Author(s):  
Cristián Raziel Delgado-González ◽  
Alfredo Madariaga-Navarrete ◽  
José Miguel Fernández-Cortés ◽  
Margarita Islas-Pelcastre ◽  
Goldie Oza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Pollution Sources ◽  
Water Contaminants ◽  
Biotechnological Approach ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Great Relevance ◽  
Multidisciplinary Perspective ◽  
Viable Method

Potable and good-quality drinking water availability is a serious global concern, since several pollution sources significantly contribute to low water quality. Amongst these pollution sources, several are releasing an array of hazardous agents into various environmental and water matrices. Unfortunately, there are not very many ecologically friendly systems available to treat the contaminated environment exclusively. Consequently, heavy metal water contamination leads to many diseases in humans, such as cardiopulmonary diseases and cytotoxicity, among others. To solve this problem, there are a plethora of emerging technologies that play an important role in defining treatment strategies. Phytoremediation, the usage of plants to remove contaminants, is a technology that has been widely used to remediate pollution in soils, with particular reference to toxic elements. Thus, hydroponic systems coupled with bioremediation for the removal of water contaminants have shown great relevance. In this review, we addressed several studies that support the development of phytoremediation systems in water. We cover the importance of applied science and environmental engineering to generate sustainable strategies to improve water quality. In this context, the phytoremediation capabilities of different plant species and possible obstacles that phytoremediation systems may encounter are discussed with suitable examples by comparing different mechanistic processes. According to the presented data, there are a wide range of plant species with water phytoremediation potential that need to be studied from a multidisciplinary perspective to make water phytoremediation a viable method.

scholarly journals Native Plant Capacity for Gentle Remediation in Heavily Polluted Mines

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1769
Author(s):  
María Noelia Jiménez ◽  
Gianluigi Bacchetta ◽  
Francisco Bruno Navarro ◽  
Mauro Casti ◽  
Emilia Fernández-Ondoño
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Aerial Part ◽  
Bioaccumulation Factor ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Dittrichia Viscosa ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cistus Salviifolius ◽  
Plant Capacity

The use of plant species to stabilize and accumulate trace elements in contaminated soils is considered of great usefulness given the difficulty of decontaminating large areas subjected to mining for long periods. In this work, the bioaccumulation of trace elements is studied by relating the concentrations in leaves and roots of three plants of Mediterranean distribution (Dittrichia viscosa, Cistus salviifolius, Euphorbia pithyusa subsp. cupanii) with the concentrations of trace elements in contaminated and uncontaminated soils. Furthermore, in the case of D. viscosa, to know the concentration of each element by biomass, the pool of trace elements was determined both in the aerial part and in the roots. The bioaccumulation factor was not high enough in any of the species studied to be considered as phytoextractors. However, species like the ones studied in this work that live on soils with a wide range of concentration of trace elements and that develop a considerable biomass could be considered for stabilization of contaminated soils. The plant species studied in this work are good candidates for gentle-remediation options in the polluted Mediterranean.

scholarly journals Recent developments in materials used for the removal of metal ions from acid mine drainage

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tebogo M. Mokgehle ◽  
Nikita T. Tavengwa
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Metal Ions ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
Adsorption Capacities ◽  
Ion Imprinted ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ion Imprinted Polymers

AbstractAcid mine drainage is the reaction of surface water with sub-surface water located on sulfur bearing rocks, resulting in sulfuric acid. These highly acidic conditions result in leaching of non-biodegradeable heavy metals from rock which then accumulate in flora, posing a significant environmental hazard. Hence, reliable, cost effective remediation techniques are continuously sought after by researchers. A range of materials were examined as adsorbents in the extraction of heavy metal ions from acid mine drainage (AMD). However, these materials generally have moderate to poor adsorption capacities. To address this problem, researchers have recently turned to nano-sized materials to enhance the surface area of the adsorbent when in contact with the heavy metal solution. Lately, there have been developments in studying the surface chemistry of nano-engineered materials during adsorption, which involved alterations in the physical and chemical make-up of nanomaterials. The resultant surface engineered nanomaterials have been proven to show rapid adsorption rates and remarkable adsorption capacities for removal of a wide range of heavy metal contaminants in AMD compared to the unmodified nanomaterials. A brief overview of zeolites as adsorbents and the developent of nanosorbents to modernly applied magnetic sorbents and ion imprinted polymers will be discussed. This work provides researchers with thorough insight into the adsorption mechanism and performance of nanosorbents, and finds common ground between the past, present and future of these versatile materials.

scholarly journals Evaluate the priority of product design factors in the process of complex product innovation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yinyun Yu ◽  
Congdong Li
Keyword(s):  
Prospect Theory ◽  
Product Innovation ◽  
Product Life Cycle ◽  
Deep Level ◽  
Continuous Production ◽  
Correlation Method ◽  
Customer Demand ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Design Factors ◽  
Customer Demands

AbstractWhether the design of product innovation can highly match the customer demand is the key to extend the product life cycle, and it is also the basis for enterprises to carry out continuous production and operation. The first step of product innovation is to identify the relationship between customer demands and design factors of product innovation. This paper focuses on the problems of market control, due to the wide range and deep level of knowledge from customer demands in the process of product innovation. To better meet the customer demands, combined with Entropy Theorem, Prospect Theory and Grey Correlation Method, this paper puts forward a method of importance of design factors of product innovation considering customer demands. First, the Entropy Theorem and Prospect Theory are introduced to calculate the importance of demand factors from the perspective of customers and experts. Second, the priority ranking of design factors of product innovation from the perspective of customer demand is calculated through Gray Correlation Method and Fuzzy TOPSIS. Finally, this method is availability and feasibility thought taking the continuous innovation of electric vehicle as an example.

The potential of Thai indigenous plant species for the phytoremediation of arsenic contaminated land

2002 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Visoottiviseth ◽  
K Francesconi ◽  
W Sridokchan
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Contaminated Land ◽  
Indigenous Plant

Periodic wavelet descriptor of plant leaf and its application in botany

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (06) ◽  
pp. 1550043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing-Mao Zeng ◽  
Tong-Lin Zhu ◽  
Xue-Ying Zhuang ◽  
Ming-Xuan Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Species Identification ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Shape Descriptor ◽  
Plant Leaf ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Periodic Wavelet ◽  
Plant Species Identification ◽  
Botanical Research ◽  
Wavelet Descriptor

Leaf is one of the most important organs of plant. Leaf contour or outline, usually a closed curve, is a fundamental morphological feature of leaf in botanical research. In this paper, a novel shape descriptor based on periodic wavelet series and leaf contour is presented, which we name as Periodic Wavelet Descriptor (PWD). The PWD of a leaf actually expresses the leaf contour in a vector form. Consequently, the PWD of a leaf has a wide range in practical applications, such as leaf modeling, plant species identification and classification, etc. In this work, the plant species identification and the leaf contour reconstruction, as two practical applications, are discussed to elaborate how to employ the PWD of a plant leaf in botanical research.

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