Using Betula pendula and Telephora caryophyllea for Soil Pollution Assessment

The concentrations of available arsenic, copper, lead, and zinc in the soil, and the concentration of these elements in vegetal tissues were measured. The most common species at the sites were studied. All the species that were analyzed took up pollutants and could indicate polluted soil. However, all the studied species did not fit to map pollution. The birch (Betula pendula) and most of the fungi species had still quite low concentrations in their tissues compared with the available concentrations in the soil. No direct correlation between the pollution content in the soil and in the vegetation tissues could be observed. Specimens of Thlaspi caerulescens were accumulating zinc. Of the four fungi species collected, only Thelephora caryophyllea seemed to accumulate actively in the studied pollutants. Moreover, it was possible to use an arsenic test with the fungi, which is also interesting from the perspective of preliminary assessment of the degree of pollution. A qualitative judgement of the soil pollution is possible by examining the plant material. To obtain a more quantitative and complete mapping, the method has to be developed further and completed with other investigations when vegetation is missing.     

Distinct edaphic habitats are occupied by discrete legume assemblages with unique indicator species in the Cape Peninsula of South Africa

Aims The Cape Peninsula is a small area (471 km 2) situated on the south-westernmost tip of the Core Cape Subregion (CCR) of South Africa. Within the Cape Peninsula, Fabaceae are the third most species-rich plant family (162 species) and they have the second highest number of endemic species after the Ericaceae. However, legumes are not the dominant taxa in the vegetation. They tend to show patchy distributions within the landscape and different species assemblages usually occupy particular niches at any given locality. The present study undertook to establish if edaphic factors influence legume species distribution in the Cape Peninsula and to determine the key indicator species for the different assemblages.Methods Soils from 27 legume sites, spanning all major geological substrates of the Cape Peninsula, were analysed for 31 chemical and physical properties. Legume species present at each site were recorded and a presence/absence matrix was generated. Cluster analysis and discriminant function analysis (DFA) were run to group the sites based on overall similarity in edaphic characteristics and to identify the soil parameters contributing towards discriminating the groups. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to test for a correlation between legume species compositions and edaphic factors. The strength of the association between legume species and site groupings based on edaphic properties was assessed using indicator species analysis.Important findings Based on similarity in overall soil characteristics, the sites formed three clusters: one comprising sites of sandstone geology, one with dune sand sites and the third cluster comprising sites of both shale and granite geologies (hereafter referred to as soil types). The DFA confirmed the distinctness of these clusters and the CCA showed a significant correlation between legume species composition and edaphic factors. The key edaphic parameters were clay content, iron (Fe), potassium (K), sulphur (S) and zinc (Zn). These findings reveal that the Cape Peninsula is edaphically heterogeneous and edaphically distinct habitats contain discrete legume species assemblages that can be distinguished by unique indicator species. Furthermore, multiple soil parameters, rather than a single parameter, are involved. Therefore, edaphic factors play a significant role in driving the distribution of legume species in the Cape Peninsula and discrete legume species assemblages occupy distinct habitats.     

Impact of wastewater discharge on the plant diversity,community structure and heavy metal pollution of range plants in eastern Saudi Arabia

The main objectives of this study were to determine the floristic composition of the vegetation cover and to find the effects of wastewater pollution on the plant community structure in eastern Saudi Arabia. 28 stands which were distributed among polluted and unpolluted sites, were chosen for this study. A total of 42 plant species were recorded (14 in the polluted and 28 in the unpolluted sites). The recorded plants comprised of 13 perennial plant species and 29 annual plant species. Seven vegetation communities were determined using TWINSPAN and DCA classification and ordination techniques. Three in the polluted sites, two in the unpolluted sites and the remaining two were mixed communities. The (Sarcopoterium spinosum – Pistacia len‐tiscus) community in the polluted sites, had the highest values of soil moisture, salinity, sulphate, calcium and potassium. On the other hand, Juniperus phoenicea – Olea europaea community in the unpolluted site, had the lowest value of organic matter, salinity and magnesium. In respect of genetic diversity, the community of Foeniculum vulgare - Nicotiana glauca in the unpolluted site, was the most diverse, while Ricinus communis - Chrysanthemum coronarium in the polluted sites was the least one. Both soil and wastewater heavy metal analysis indicated that Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu and Ni concentrations in the polluted sites were significantly higher than those in the unpolluted ones. The impact of wastewater discharge led to the appearance of new invasive plant species that may significantly affect plant diversity and community structure in eastern Saudi Arabia. Finally wastewater discharge in open rangelands could adversely affect the growth of plant species in the rangelands and thus adversely affect plant community structure and diversity.     

Selection favours low hsp70 levels in chronically metal‐stressed soil arthropods

Thirty‐eight populations of woodlice (Oniscus asellus, Porcellio scaber) and millipedes (Julus scandinavius) from 28 differently metal‐polluted field sites were analysed for their 70‐kDa stress protein (hsp70) level. Although ANOVA revealed significant dependence of the hsp70 level on the concentrations of water‐soluble lead, cadmium and zinc and the soil pH, each of these parameters accounted for at most 18% of the intersite variability of the stress protein level only. A multivariate model based on multiple regression analysis explained more than 96% of hsp70 variance and revealed both the pollution history of a site (strong metal contamination for more than 70 years) and invertebrate species identity to act as the most important parameters. The model accounted for the observation that most of the populations from long‐term polluted sites exhibited comparatively low stress protein levels in response to their own (contaminated) habitats. In contrast, isopods (O. asellus) from a control site were not able to maintain a low hsp70 level when they were exposed to either an artificial metal cocktail or soil taken from one of the contaminated field sites. They did not acclimatize to the exposure conditions within 3 months. We propose that selection of insensitive phenotypes in long‐term polluted soils has taken place so as to minimize the stress protein level which, in turn, is indicative of high intracellular protein integrity. Long‐term selection for a high hsp70 level to compensate for adverse metal impact was not observed, which suggests that such a strategy may trade off against other fitness consequences. In this context, insensitivity to metal stress involved increased selectivity in food choice and reduced variability in stress response. Multiple regression models showed species‐specificity in those abiotic factors which determined (1) high hsp70 levels in sensitive populations as well as (2) low hsp70 levels in insensitive ones. Therefore, abiotic factors can be assigned to act as the main components of selection: lead and cadmium for J. scandinavius and O. asellus, zinc for P. scaber.     

Spatial heterogeneity of DTPA-extractable zinc in cultivated soils induced by city pollution and land use

The spatial heterogeneity of DTPA-extractable zinc in the cultivated soils of Shenyang suburbs in Liaoning Province of China was investigated, and its map was drawn by the methods of geostatistics combined with geographic information system. The data of soil DTPA-extractable zinc fitted normal distribution after logarithm transformation, and its semivariogram fitted a spherical model. The semivariogram indicated that the spatial dependence of soil DTPA-extractable zinc content was moderate, with the spatial dependence range of 1.69 km and the fractal dimension of 1.96. Stochastic factors contributed to 49.9% of the spatial variability, while structural factors contributed to 50.1% of it. The spatial heterogeneity of soil DTPA-extractable zinc shown by a kriged interpolation map was deeply influenced by stochastic factors such as city pollution, land use pattern and crop distributions. For example, the average content of Zn in vegetable garden soils was 2.5-4 times as much as in their originated soils, and was lower in paddy soils than in their originated soils. The areas with a higher content of soil DTPA-extractable zinc appeared in the near suburbs and the riverside along Hunhe River and the wastewater drainage of Xihe River, and the extremely high values in the near suburb of the city's residential area were a striking feature, indicating the key role of city pollution in the spatial heterogeneity of soil DTPA-extractable zinc. When recorded in the form of a soil pollution map,the results of such a survey make it possible to identify the unusually polluted areas, and to provide more information for precise agriculture and environmental control.     

Spatial heterogeneity of DTPA-extractable zinc in cultivated soils induced by city pollution and land use

The spatial heterogeneity of DTPA-extractable zinc in the cultivated soils of Shenyang suburbs in Liaoning Province of China was investigated, and its map was drawn by the methods of geostatistics combined with geographic information system. The data of soil DTPA-extractable zinc fitted normal distribution after logarithm transformation, and its semivariogram fitted a spherical model. The semivariogram indicated that the spatial dependence of soil DTPA-extractable zinc content was moderate, with the spatial dependence range of 1.69 km and the fractal dimension of 1.96. Stochastic factors contributed to 49.9% of the spatial variability, while structural factors contributed to 50.1% of it. The spatial heterogeneity of soil DTPA-extractable zinc shown by a kriged interpolation map was deeply influenced by stochastic factors such as city pollution, land use pattern and crop distributions. For example, the average content of Zn in vegetable garden soils was 2.5-4 times as much as in their originated soils, an     

Fluorine and metals in Polygonum arenastrum Bor. from areas influenced by various types of industry

A herbaceous plant Polygonum arenastrum Bor. (=P. aequele Lindm., Polygonum aviculare ssp. aequale (Lindman) Ascherson & Graebner) (equal-leaved knotgrass), is a widespread, good coloniser, able to survive in wastelands where other species became extinct. Therefore, the bioindication abilities of this species for F, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were investigated. P.arenastrum was collected from 90 sites affected by six polluting factories: copper smelter, chlor-alkali plant, former ferrous-chromium smelter and active combustion smelter, power plant, cement plant and coke plant. Plant samples were collected at 0.75, 1.5, 3 and 4.5 km from each of these polluters in N, S, W and E directions. For comparison, a control site with 16 sampling points was selected in an area relatively free from pollution. Concentrations of Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn in shoots and roots positively correlated with those in soil (both total and plant-available). Cu, Pb and Zn in P.arenastrum were within the values reported in literature as toxic for other plants with the highest bioaccumulation factor (BF) from soil to shoots for Cr and the highest translocation factor (TF) from roots to shoots for Co and Pb for more and less polluted and control sites. Polygonum arenastrum has a potential to accumulate Cr even in sites with low chromium concentration in soil. Polygonum arenastrum does not show any form of shoot injury at increased levels of F and metals in its tissues. Based on these characteristics we conclude that the ubiquitous P.arenastrum may be utilised as a relevant indicator of contamination in industrial zones and may function as an early warning system of increased toxicity in the environment.     

Reproductive function state of the scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensis Jay from polluted areas of Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan

The morphology of gonads and development of offspring of the scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensis sampled from six stations in Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan) were studied. The retardation of gametogenesis, oocytes resorption, autolysis of spermatozoa and their phagocytosis were observed in the gonads of the scallops from polluted sites. The number of hermaphrodites was about 6% against 0.3–0.4% in the scallop populations from clean areas. In the offspring development, a decrease in fertilisation success,diminution in percent of normal trochophores, D-veligers, veligers, and retardation of larval growth were recorded. The scallop populations inhabiting polluted areas of Peter the Great Bay seem to be incapable of normal reproduction. Development of offspring was a more sensitive index of disturbance of the reproductive function than morphology of scallop gonads. Analysis of the offspring development of common species of marine invertebrates is suggested to be used as a sensitive indicator of adverse environmental conditions. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Zinc compounds in multiple- and zinc-polluted soils of the irtysh region near semipalatinsk

Study was given to zinc compounds in multiple- and zinc-polluted light and dark chestnut soils. It is established that the initial relations between the element forms change under any kind of pollution. As the load of both kinds of pollution on the soil increases, zinc accumulates in the most mobile forms. In the case of multiple pollution, the mobility of zinc is much higher than in the case of monoelement pollution. The soils under study differ in their zinc-binding capacity. It was revealed that the basic mechanism of zinc binding in polluted soil is ion-exchange absorption.     

仙居国家公园溪流摇蚊幼虫群落结构及其对水质的指示作用

为了解浙江仙居国家公园内溪流中摇蚊幼虫的群落结构及其对水质的指示作用,于2016年8月对仙居国家公园内13条溪流59个点位进行了调查,运用Hilsenhoff生物指数对溪流水质进行评价.结果表明: 59个点位中有37个点处于清洁状态,19个点处于轻污染状态,3个点处于中污染状态.此次调查共获得摇蚊幼虫86种,隶属于4亚科51属.其中,摇蚊亚科种类数最多,有19属37种;直突摇蚊亚科次之,有21属35种;长足摇蚊亚科有9属12种;寡角摇蚊亚科最少,为2属2种.摇蚊亚科密度比重最大,为40.3%;长足摇蚊亚科与直突摇蚊亚科所占比重差异不大,分别为30%与29.4%;寡角摇蚊亚科比重最小,仅为0.3%.壳粗腹摇蚊为仙居国家公园溪流摇蚊幼虫绝对优势种;黄色多足摇蚊、流环足摇蚊、平滑环足摇蚊、纽流长跗摇蚊和小型棒脉摇蚊为优势种.仙居国家公园溪流中摇蚊幼虫指示种分析结果显示,平滑环足摇蚊、双色矮突摇蚊、台湾长跗摇蚊和渐变长跗摇蚊可作为污染水体指示种,流环足摇蚊可作为清洁水体指示种.     

镍污染对土壤微生物的生态效应

镍是高等植物和某些微生物必需的微量营养元素之一,在它们的生命活动中起着重要作用;但浓度较高时,也是一种极毒元素。大量的研究表明,镍污染土壤中微生物的生长、代谢、群落结构和种群多样性会受到不同程度的影响;微生物在长期受重金属威迫的环境中形成其适应性。利用微生物形成的这种适应机制,采用微生物技术治理重金属污染的土壤是可能的。本文还对镍污染土壤的微生物评价指标体系、土壤环境容量、微生物技术开发和综合治理技术开发等的进一步研究作了展望。     

Distribution and health risk assessment of heavy metals in soil surrounding a lead and zinc smelting plant in Zanjan,Iran

One of the problematic issues in soil pollution studies is heavy metal particles which are produced by mines and smelting units and spread through wind action and/or runoff. Pollution and health risk assessment of cadmium, lead, zinc, copper, and nickel in soil around the lead and zinc smelting factory was carried out in Zanjan City, Iran. Contamination factor (Cf), pollution load index (PLI), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), and carcinogenic risk were pollution and human health risk assessment metrics in this study. Based on the Iranian soil guideline value, soil samples in the studied areas were contaminated the least by copper and nickel and the most by cadmium. PLI results showed that soils near the production line were heavily or extremely heavily polluted. The results of Cf and Igeo showed that lead and zinc were the most important contaminants. Health risk assessment indicated that lead and cadmium in soil were the main contaminants, which pose both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks to human health; carcinogenic risk levels were unacceptably high (above 1 × 10^?4). It can be concluded that mining and smelting activities degrade soil quality in this region and the soil pollution might be extended to farming areas.     

两种木本植物光合作用对油页岩废渣污染的响应

比较油页岩污染点(茂名石化公司废渣场)和相对清洁点(茂名市林科所)生长的灌木翅荚决明(CassiaalataL.)和乔木乌墨(Syzygiumcumini(Linn.)Skeels)的光合生理指标的变化。在两个试验点,翅荚决明的净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率的绝对值在一天的多数时段均高于乌墨,但与对照点相比,在污染点翅荚决明的净光合速率和水分利用效率的下降幅度却大于乌墨,气孔导度则相反,可能与土壤含水量有关。结果表明乌墨的抗油页岩废渣污染能力强于翅荚决明。     

Seasonal variation in the abundance, biomass and biodiversity of earthworms in soils contaminated with metal emissions from a primary smelting works

1. Earthworms (Annelida: Oligochaeta) were sampled on four occasions (spring, summer, autumn and winter) at 14 sites along two transects from a primary lead/ zinc/cadmium smelting works at Avonmouth, UK.
2. Total abundance and biomass of earthworms decreased with proximity to the smelter. No worms were collected from the two sites closest to the factory (<0·6 km) and catches were significantly lower than controls at a further five sites (<3 km).
3. Seasonal composition of sampled communities differed only for summer with lower numbers of individuals and species collected at all sites. Reduced catches in the summer sample is a response to drought.
4. Species richness was lowest at sites close to the factory. For example, worms such as Aporrectodea caliginosa (Savigny) and Allolobophora chlorotica (Savigny) that were dominant at relatively clean sites further from the smelter are absent from the most contaminated soils.
5. Reduced species richness resulted in lower Shannon–Weiner diversity and higher Berger–Parker dominance. Multivariate cluster analysis for spring, summer and winter indicated that sites could be split into three groups based upon relative species composition. In autumn, two clusters were identified.
6. The absence of sensitive species from sites close to the smelting works supports the inclusion of earthworms as a key group in a terrestrial prediction and classification scheme for quantifying the effects of pollutants on soil biodiversity. However, sampling should be carried out in spring or autumn to obtain an accurate picture of community structure.     

Superficial and hyporheic oligochaete communities as indicators of pollution and water exchange in the River Moselle, France

Benthic oligochaetes were sampled on three occasions (June, August and October 1992) in the upper (0–10 cm) and hyporheic (35–45 cm depths) sediments at five sites of the River Moselle, from upstream of the town of Epinal to Velle-sur-Moselle. The first site (upstream from Epinal) is considered as unpolluted and the four remaining sites are polluted by industrial effluents. The most polluted stations were generally dominated by the pollution tolerant taxon Limnodrilus. Numbers of individuals of this taxon decreased at the less polluted last site in recovery zone, and were also scarce in the first unpolluted site. It is noteworthy that these tendencies were observed in both superficial and hyporheic substrates and to the greatest degree in hyporheic ones. At the unpolluted site, the hyporheic habitat is dominated by the groundwater species Propappus volki, Pristina spp., Pristinella spp. At the less polluted site (last site), the deep sediments are dominated by groundwater species and the Tubificidae without hair setae decrease from June to October. As a result of water exchange between superficial and subterranean waters, superficial substrates of the first and the last stations tend to be colonised by a high proportion of hyporheic species that suggests that flow is primarily from subterranean to superficial waters. The contrary is the case at other polluted stations which are characterised by the invasion of hyporheic substrates by the pollution tolerant superficial taxa Limnodrilus. This suggests that water flows from the river to the deeper groundwater. These two stations are located near drinking water plants which utilise groundwater, thus increasing the vulnerability of groundwater to surface contaminants.     

Effects of pollution on the nutrient return via litterfall for Pinus radiata plantations in the Basque Country

The effects of atmospheric pollution on two 10 year old Pinus radiata D. Don forests (Manzanal and Posadero) was studied in the Basque country, analysing the concentration of different nutrients and nutrient input via litterfall. Litterfall production peaked in autumn, and 97.5% of the litterfall consisted of pine needles at Posadero (the less-polluted area), whereas this figure was found to be 88.6% at Manzanal (the polluted area). Posadero had a higher production of litterfall than Manzanal due to the higher tree density. Nutrient concentration showed a similar seasonal variation over the year at both sites. Pine litterfall in the polluted area, Manzanal, had significantly higher concentrations of iron, copper, zinc, sulphur, calcium, sodium and magnesium than in Posadero, while the concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium did not differ between sites. Calcium, sodium, magnesium, sulphur, iron and copper input to the forest via litterfall was significantly higher for the polluted area, but the inputs of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and zinc did not significantly differ between sites. Both sites showed high nutrient use efficiencies for phosphorous and calcium compared with other coniferous forests. The highest efficiency was for phosphorous, possibly due to the low availability of this ion in the soil. Trees at Posadero were consistently more efficient for calcium than at Manzanal due to the effect of pollution on the latter site. Molar ratios between aluminium and the basic cation nutrients calcium and magnesium in soil were higher at the polluted area, as a result of the increased inputs of anions to the forest soil (Al:Ca = 1.9:1 and Al:Mg = 6.9:1 at Posadero and Al:Ca = 5.7:1 and Al:Mg = 14:1 at Manzanal). The current pollution level of Manzanal is leading to a loss of cations that may cause future changes in the functioning of this forest.     

三种相思植物对短期大气污染的响应

3种2－3年生相思盆栽于代表不同污染程度的交通繁忙区、工业生产区和相对清洁区,4个月后进行植物叶片气体交换和叶绿素荧光特征参数的测定。结果表明,生长在污染区的相思植物的净光合速率（Pn）、气孔导度（gs）和光系统Ⅱ原初光化学效率（Fv／Fm）均出现不同程度的下降,下降幅度因植物种类和污染类型的不同而有差异,不同实验点上大腺相思叶片蒸腾速率（E）和水分利用效率（WUE）则维持相对稳定,多花和流苏相思的WUE均以污染环境下较低,根据Pn、gs和Fv/Fm的变化以及实验点上其它植物对应测定值比,推测3种相思植物对大气污染都表现出中等强度的抗性,且多花相思和流苏相思相对好于大腺相思。     

Trace metal biomonitoring in the soil and the leaves ofQuercus ilex in the urban area of Naples

The concentrations of Pb, Cu, Fe, and Mn were analyzed in surface deposit and tissue ofQuercus ilex leaves from several sites of the urban area of Naples, exposed to different degrees of air pollution. These included some major roads with heavy traffic loads, squares, and three urban parks. The soil from the trunk base area ofQ. ilex trees in the same sites was also analyzed for total and available metal contents. Pb, Cu, and Fe contents in the surface deposit and leaf tissue were significantly higher (p<0.01) in leaves from roadside sites than in leaves from parks; significant correlations were found between deposit- and tissue-contents of Pb, Cu, and Fe. Mn content in leaves from roadside sites and in leaves from parks were similar and Mn content in the leaf deposit was irrelevant. Significant differences (p<0.001) in both total and available Pb and Cu soil content were found between sampling sites. Also for available Fe and Mn soil content differences among sites were relevant, although the highest values were measured in soil from urban parks. A positive correlation between leaf and soil metal content was found only for Pb, thus suggesting that trace metal contents of leaves directly depend on atmospheric depositions. Seasonal variations of Pb, Cu, and Fe were pronounced at a polluted site, whereas no relevant seasonal variation was observed at a control site; moreover, metal accumulation was high at the polluted site. Mn content and seasonal dynamics were comparable at control and polluted sites.     

Calibration of Ellenberg indicator values for the Faroe Islands

Abstract. Elenberg's bio‐indication system for soil moisture (F), soil nitrogen (N) and soil reaction (R) was examined, based on 559 vegetation samples and environmental characteristics (vegetation cover, soil depth, soil moisture, chemical soil properties) from four Faroe islands. The original indicator values from central Europe were used for the calculation of weighted community indicator values of F, N and R. These were regressed with respect to environmental data, applying standard curvilinear regression and generalized linear modelling (GLM) and new predicted values of community indicator values were obtained from the best model. Faroe species optima values of 162 taxa for one or more of the three EUenberg scales were derived from fitting Huisman‐Olff‐Fresco (HOF) models of species abundance with respect to predicted community indicator values and are proposed as new EUenberg species indicator values to be used in the Faroe Islands. F was best correlated with a GLM model containing soil moisture, organic soil fraction, soil depth and total vegetation cover, R with a GLM model containing pH and calcium in % organic soil fraction, N with total phosphorus in % organic soil fraction. The calibrated species indicator scales are much truncated, as compared with the original values, resulting in significantly different overall distributions of the original and new species indicator values. The recalculated community indicator values are much better correlated to environmental measurements. Several species do not have clear optima, but linear or monotone relationships to the examined indicator scales. This probably indicates that the occurrence of some species in the Faroe Islands are either determined by factors other than moisture, pH or soil nutrient status or, given the young age and environmental instability of the islands, are governed by stochastic mechanisms. Extension of Ellenberg indicator values outside central Europe should always be carefully calibrated by means of adequate environmental data and adequate statistical models, such as HOF models, should be applied.