Performance of dryland and wetland plant species on extensive green roofs

Background and Aims

Green roofs are constructed ecosystems where plants perform valuable services, ameliorating the urban environment through roof temperature reductions and stormwater interception. Plant species differ in functional characteristics that alter ecosystem properties. Plant performance research on extensive green roofs has so far indicated that species adapted to dry conditions perform optimally. However, in moist, humid climates, species typical of wetter soils might have advantages over dryland species. In this study, survival, growth and the performance of thermal and stormwater capture functions of three pairs of dryland and wetland plant species were quantified using an extensive modular green roof system.

Methods

Seedlings of all six species were germinated in a greenhouse and planted into green roof modules with 6 cm of growing medium. There were 34 treatments consisting of each species in monoculture and all combinations of wet- and dryland species in a randomized block design. Performance measures were survival, vegetation cover and roof surface temperature recorded for each module over two growing seasons, water loss (an estimate of evapotranspiration) in 2007, and albedo and water capture in 2008.

Key Results

Over two seasons, dryland plants performed better than wetland plants, and increasing the number of dryland species in mixtures tended to improve functioning, although there was no clear effect of species or habitat group diversity. All species had survival rates >75 % after the first winter; however, dryland species had much greater cover, an important indicator of green roof performance. Sibbaldiopsis tridentata was the top performing species in monoculture, and was included in the best treatments.

Conclusions

Although dryland species outperformed wetland species, planting extensive green roofs with both groups decreased performance only slightly, while increasing diversity and possibly habitat value. This study provides further evidence that plant composition and diversity can influence green roof functions.     

4种湿地植物光合作用特性的比较研究

以4种湿地植物鸢尾、菖蒲、水葱和千屈菜为材料,在水平潜流人工湿地处理单元中,采用便携式LI-6400光合作用测定仪在晴朗天气下测定了各材料成熟叶片净光合速率(Pn)以及光合有效辐射(PAR)、气孔导度(Gs)、细胞问CO2浓度(CI)、叶温(Tl)、叶周围气温(Ta)和蒸腾速率(Tr),以探讨其光合生理生态特性.结果表明:(1)4种湿地植物叶片净光合速率(Pn)日变化均呈不对称的双峰曲线,光合"午休"现象明显,它们的净光合速率日均值表现为水葱>菖蒲>鸢尾>千屈菜,但种间差异不显著.(2)Gs、PAR、CI和Tr与湿地植物Pn的日变化有着极显著或显著的相关关系,其中Gs、PAR、CI是影响鸢尾Pn的主要因子,影响大小的顺序为GI>PAR>CI >;Gs和Tr是影响菖蒲和千屈菜Pn的主要因子,影响大小的顺序为Gs>Tr;而Gs是影响水葱Pn的主要因子.(3)4种湿地植物Pn-PFD响应曲线及Pn-CO2响应曲线都具有相似的二次方程曲线变化规律;光补偿点表现为千屈菜>水葱>鸢尾>菖蒲,光饱和点表现为水葱>菖蒲>千屈菜>鸢尾;CO2补偿点表现为水葱>鸢尾>菖蒲>千屈菜,CO2饱和点表现为菖蒲>千屈菜>鸢尾>水葱.(4)4种湿地植物的表观量子效率为0.019 8～0.038 3 mol·mol-1,羧化效率为0.042 6～0.064 8 mol·m-2·s-1.研究发现,4种湿地植物在给定条件下的日平均净光合速率、光能利用效率和CO2同化能力无显著差异,且气孔限制是产生光合"午休"的主要原因;影响它们光合速率的主要生理生态因子各不相同,但气孔导度均为主要因子.     

Distribution by influence factors of pyrene removal in chemical enhancers assisted microbial phytoremediation of Scirpus triqueter in co-contaminated soils

Abstract

The rehabilitation of soil co-contaminated by heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has become a serious global issue. Chemical enhancers and strains are often used to remove PAHs from contaminated soil. In this paper, the effects of chemical enhancers, strain HD-1, and Scirpus triqueter in removing pyrene from co-contaminated soil are studied. In the pot experiment, chemical enhancers and HD-1 were added to the co-contaminated soil. On the 60^th day, the plants and soil were taken out for measurement. The result showed that the addition of chemical enhancers and microorganisms (Group PBC) alleviated the inhibition effect of plants on pollution. The accumulation of pyrene in plants of Group PC (chemical enhancers) and Group PBC (chemical enhancers and HD-1) were much higher than those in other groups. Plant enrichment was not the major way to remove pyrene from soil (less than 0.3%). Compared with the contributions of chemical enhancers, HD-1, and Scirpus triqueter, HD-1 had stronger effects on the removal of pyrene (17.23–22.80%). This study indicates that the combination of chemical enhancers, HD-1, and Scirpus triqueter constituted a beneficial composite system, in which the three elements interacted with each other and ultimately achieved the goal of removing pyrene from co-contaminated soil.     

Response characteristics of Scirpus trioueter and its rhizosphere to pyrene contaminated soils at different growth stages

Scirpus triqueter (Triangular club-rush), a typical wetland species, is used to study the response characteristics to pyrene. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the growth parameters (height, diameter, shoot number, total volume, underground biomass, above-ground biomass and total biomass), and enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase) of S. triqueter. The characteristics of soil enzymes (catalase and polyphenol oxidase) and microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) were also assessed after pyrene treatment. Elevated pyrene concentration (80 mgkg(-1)) in the soil reduced the shoot number and biomass significantly, especially at the early growth stage. In root tissue, the enzyme catalase was activated at 80 mgkg(-1) of pyrene. Compared to roots, shoots had higher enzyme activities. Catalase activities in the rhizosphere increased throughout the growth period of S. triqueter. Polyphenol oxidase activities in the rhizosphere were higher than those in the bulk soil and unplanted soil. The populations of bacteria (total bacteria, pyrene-tolerant bacteria, and actinomyces) and fungi decreased under the stress of high pyrene concentration, while that of pyrene-tolerant bacteria increased with the increasing pyrene concentration. The presence of pyrene did not benefit the growth of S. triqueter. S. triqueter and soil enzymes varied within the growth stages. The presence of S. triqueter could improve the activity of soil enzymes and facilitate the propagation of microorganisms which could help eliminate pyrene contamination.     

水葱对镉的超富集作用及其用于植物修复的潜力

野外观察与研究发现水葱(Scirpus tabernaemontani G.)可以耐受土壤中高浓度的重金属污染,并对镉有很高的生物富集量。实验室水培试验研究了两个主要因素,营养液pH值以及镉含量,对其生物量以及镉富集效果的影响。结果表明,水葱可耐受的高浓度Cd(30mg/L)和大范围pH值变化(3.7～7.7)。当营养液pH值为4.7,Cd含量为25mg/L时,水葱富集的Cd达到最大值:地上部分264.71mg/kg,地下部分234·39mg/kg,平均转运系数1.13。这显示了它用于植物修复镉污染土壤的巨大潜力。     

Role of putrescine in enhancing shoot elongation in Scirpus mucronatus under submergence

Changes in polyamine biosynthesis in relation to submergence-enhanced shoot elongation were determined in shoots of Scirpus mucronatus L. Under submergence, the levels of free putrescine and the activities of arginine decarboxylase (ADC, EC 4.1.1.19) and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC, EC 4.1.1.17) increased, but the levels of free spermidine and spermine and the activity of S -adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC, EC 4.1.1.50) decreased. The increases in free putrescine and shoot elongation in submerged shoots diminished from the base to the apex. The increase in free putrescine in submerged shoots was coincident with the increase in shoot length. The submergence-induced increases in free putrescine and shoot elongation were inhibited by both 5 μ M a -difluoromethylarginine and 5 μ M a -difluoromethylornithine, and the inhibitory effects were reversed by 50 μ M putrescine. These overall results indicate that ADC- and ODC-mediated putrescine synthesis is essential for the elongation of Scirpus shoots grown under submergence.     

DISTRIBUTION OF BLUEGREEN ALGAE IN A MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST SALT MARSH1

Edaphic bluegreen algal communities were sampled from five menotypic angiosperm zones in Grvelline Bay Marsh near Ocean Spring. Mississippi. Samples and environmental data were taken on a quarterly basis from October 1976 to June 1977 beneath the following marsh angiosperms: Distichlis spicata (L.) Green, Scirpus olneyi gray, SPartina patens (Aiton) Muhl., Sp. alterniflora Loisel., and Juncus roemerianus Scheele. Communities in all five zones were dominated by Schizothrix calcicola (Ag.) Gom. (sensu Drauet) throughout the study, while the subdominant bluegreens varied according to season. The number of individuals in all zones was greatest in the summer and lowest in the winter. An examination of the structure of the five edaphic communities indicated a single, nearly homogeneous community exists over the entire surface of the marsh shaded by a angiosperm canopy. Light intensity appears to be the major factor affecting the distribution of bluegreen algae in this salt marsh.     

Effect of Water Velocity on Hydroponic Phytoremediation of Metals

The influence of flow velocity on the uptake of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc by hydroponically grown soft stem bulrush (Scirpus validus) was investigated. The roots of the plants were exposed to a continually recycled, nutrient enriched, synthetic stormwater. Plants were divided into groups and the roots of each group exposed to different but constant water velocities. The metal concentrations in the roots and stems were compared after three weeks. Metal accumulation in roots was increased for water velocities between 1.3 and 4.0 cm s^?1. In a second experiment, the roots of all plants were exposed to a single velocity and the root and stem metal concentrations were determined as a function of time. Metal concentrations in the roots approached a constant value after three weeks. After this time, accumulation of metals depends upon root growth. The results suggest that long-term accumulation by the roots of hydroponic Scirpus validus can be increased by increasing water velocity, which implies that floating islands with movement will retain more metals from the water column.