Testing the Home‐Site Advantage in Forest Trees on Disturbed and Undisturbed Sites

Restoration of plant populations is often undertaken using seed or plants from local sources because it is assumed they will be best adapted to the prevailing conditions. However, the effect of site disturbance on local adaptation has rarely been examined. We assessed local adaptation in three southwestern Australian forest tree species (Eucalyptus marginata, Corymbia calophylla, and Allocasuarina fraseriana) using reciprocal transplant trials at disturbed and undisturbed sites. Performance of plants within the trials was assessed over 2 years. Planting location accounted for the majority of the variation in most measures of performance, although significant variation of percent emergence among source populations was also detected. In all species, percent emergence and survival of plants sourced from Darling Range populations was significantly higher than that of plants from the Swan Coastal Plain, regions of contrasting edaphic and climatic environment. Survival of E. marginata over the first 18 months and emergence of C. calophylla were both higher in local plants, providing at least weak evidence for local adaptation. Where a local advantage was observed, the relative performance of local and nonlocal seed did not vary among disturbed and undisturbed sites. Evidence for enhanced establishment from local seed in at least one species leads us to recommend that where sufficient high‐quality seed supplies exist locally, these should be used in restoration. We also recommend longer‐term studies to include the possibility of local adaptation becoming evident at later life history stages.     

The Chehr Abad "Salt men" and the isotopic ecology of humans in ancient Iran

We have carried out isotopic analysis (δ(13)C and δ(15)N) on five salt-preserved bodies from the salt mine at Chehr Abad, Iran, dating from the 4th C. BC through to the 4th C. AD. In an attempt to identify the geographical origins of these people, we have analyzed over a hundred archeological bone samples from various archeological sites in Iran. From the faunal remains, we observe that the entire ecosystem appears to be enriched in (15)N, which we suggest is due to the semi-arid nature of the region. We have also observed a number of cattle remains from one site (Nargas Tepe) which have a significant C(4) component to their diet from the 4th millennium BC. By combining our data with those published by [Bocherens et al.: Environ Archaeol 5 (2000) 1-19; Bocherens et al.: J Arch Sci 33 (2006) 253-264], we suggest that two of the "mummies" may have come from the Tehran/Qazvin Plain region (i.e., relatively local to the salt mine), and a further two appear on isotopic grounds to have come from the northeast of Iran or the Turkmenistan steppes. The fifth (no. 4), the best preserved, appears to have come from further afield. Collectively, these mummies and their contexts augment our knowledge of social mobility and technical innovation in Iran during the Achaemenid period.     

Advancing Forest Cover Development on a High‐Elevation Sierra Nevada Mine Site with Nutritional Amendments

Selected nutrient amendments were evaluated for their capacity to enhance growth and nutrition of established but stunted Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf.) saplings on an acidic Sierra Nevada surface mine. The amendments were applied by topdressing at three rates each and consisted of Forestcote 22‐4‐6 + Minors, a controlled‐release formulation; Free Flow 29‐3‐4 and Hydro Agri 21‐7‐14, two conventional fertilizers, with the former featuring urea as the predominant N source, whereas that for the latter was exclusively ammoniacal and nitrate forms; and Milorganite 6‐2‐0 + Iron, an organic amendment based on municipal biosolids. All formulations reinvigorated sapling growth, generally more so as the amounts supplied increased, with the Free Flow and Hydro Agri amendments marginally more stimulative than Forestcote and Milorganite. Foliar analysis revealed that fertilized saplings had more N, with concentrations that generally rose with amounts supplied, and P but less Mn and Al than the control. Enhanced N nutrition in particular but also that of P probably accounted for most of the growth stimulation by the amendments, as availability of both in the soil was limiting. Of the two metallic elements, reduced Mn was likely most critical because concentrations encountered here were exceedingly elevated overall, including that in the soil, although soil Al was also high. These results suggest that a variety of nutritional amendments can be employed in forest restoration on surface mine sites and those similarly degraded, including sites for which dry climates greatly influence the selection of remedial practices.     

Nutrient Mineralization and Leaf Litter Preference by the Earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus on Iron Ore Mine Wastes

Abstract The effects of the earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus (Muller) on the rate of mineralization of cattle dung‐amended iron (Fe^{2 +} ) ore mine wastes and its preference for partially decomposed leaf litter with contrasting chemical composition were studied in pot trials. The growth and survival rates of earthworms showed significant positive correlations with percent of organic matter. During 96 days of exposure, the earthworms significantly increased exchangeable Ca^{2 +} , Mg^{2 +} , PO₄^{3 ?} and NH₄‐N. Iron ore mine wastes amended with 5–10% organic matter supported earthworm fauna better than mine wastes amended with 0–3% organic matter. The leaf litter preference shown by the earthworm was, in descending order, Phyllanthus reticulatus, Tamarindus indica, Anacardium occidentale, Casuarina equisetifolia, Acacia auriculiformis, and Eucalyptus camaldulensis. A significant positive correlation was observed between the survival and growth rates of earthworms and the nutrient contents of partially decomposed leaf litter. The first three plant species were significantly richer in nutrients, mainly organic carbon, calcium, phosphorus, and nitrogen, than the other two plant species. Acacia auriculiformis and E. camaldulensis litter were preferred less because of their high lignin and polyphenolic compounds, despite being rich in other macronutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. It is concluded that the introduction of P. corethrurus to cattle dung‐amended (5–10%) iron ore mine wastes or revegetation of the sites with P. reticulatus, T. indica, and A. occidentale plant species should be attempted before earthworm introduction. The litter from these species acts as a source of food for earthworms, thereby hastening the process of restoration of abandoned iron ore mines of Goa, India.     

Cultivation-dependent and cultivation-independent characterization of the microbial community in acid mine drainage associated with acidic Pb/Zn mine tailings at Lechang, Guangdong, China

Cultivation-based and molecular approaches were used to characterize the phylogenetic composition and structure of the microbial community in an extremely acidic (pH 2.0) acid mine drainage (AMD) associated with Pb/Zn mine tailings that were undergoing vigorous acid generation. Acidophilic bacteria were isolated and enumerated on solid media, and were found to be restricted to isolates related to Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidiphilium cryptum. By contrast, cloning and phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA genes revealed that, although low in total taxonomically distinct groups, the tailings AMD ecosystem harbored a wide range of phylogenetically diverse microbes. Of the 141 clones examined, 104 were phylogenetically affiliated with the recently discovered, iron-oxidizing Leptospirillum group III within the Nitrospira. It thus appears that iron serves as the major electron donor in this habitat. Thirty clones were affiliated with the Proteobacteria, half of which belonged to organisms related to Alphaproteobacteria species capable of ferric iron reduction. Other clones were grouped with Betaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria (six clones each), and even with Deltaproteobacteria (three clones), a subdivision with anaerobic sulfate or metal (iron) reduction as the predominant physiological trait of its members. Finally, four clones were clustered within the Firmicutes and the Acidobacteria. Approximately half of the sequence types representing the majority of the total clones fell into lineages that are poorly represented by cultured organisms or have thus far been represented by only a few environmental sequences. Thus, the present study extends our knowledge of the biodiversity of microorganisms populating highly acidic AMD environments.     

安太堡露天煤矿排土场土壤种子库

采用种子萌发法研究了安太堡露天矿排土场的土壤种子库,共统计到17种植物种子,分属5科,以1年生草本植物种子为主.排土场土壤种子库具有极大的时空异质性,地上植被与土壤种子库群落组成上的相似性程度较低,复垦后期土壤种子库间相似性系数较低.随着复垦时间、复垦模式或立地条件的不同,土壤种子库的种类、密度各不相同.选择正确的复垦模式,有利于土壤种子库自我更新能力的增加和排土场生态系统稳定,对排土场的土地复垦和生态重建具有重要意义.     

高速公路弃土场堆积边坡的生态防护试验

高速公路弃土场边坡的生态恢复与水土保持是公路建设环境保护的重要内容.在京珠高速公路粤境南段3号弃土场开展试验,探讨弃土场堆积边坡的生态防护技术及其应用效果.结果表明:弃土场采用香根草(Vetiveria zizaniodes)生态护坡技术,香根草在无养护措施的情况下能够快速生长形成密集草带,并具先锋植物的优势,1年后坡面植被覆盖率达100%,乡土植物种类增加到16种以上;而对照坡面植被自然恢复缓慢,仅生长少量本地杂草,植被覆盖率只有15%.香根草护坡效果显著,坡面土壤流失量比对照小区减少95.41%,边坡稳定,在一定程度上可代替浆砌片石骨架植草护坡措施.因此,高速公路弃土场边坡可大力推广应用香根草生态护坡技术.     

Genetic variation among different populations of Aster tripolium grown on naturally and anthropogenic salt-contaminated habitats: implications for conservation strategies

The sea aster, Aster tripolium L., grows naturally in temperate regions, mainly in the salt meadows close to the coast. The species is also found in naturally and anthropogenically salt-contaminated inland habitats, such as potash mine dumps. The genetic relationships among populations from different habitats and correlations of the genotype with physiological and vegetational parameters were investigated. A. tripolium plants from five different sites close to the seashore on the North Sea island Baltrum, from five different potash mine dumps and, as an outgroup, from the seashore in Japan were probed. DNA was extracted from five plants from each of the 11 A. tripolium populations and analyzed for random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Altogether 35 polymorphic bands in 51 individuals and 45 different detectable genotypes could be identified. For evaluation of the genetic variation using RAPD bands, the neighbor-joining method, the principal coordinate analysis, and the analysis of molecular variance were applied, resulting in the classification into three genetic groups. A. tripolium plants from different ecological habitats on Baltrum were closely related while the plants growing at the deposit dumps showed a higher genetic diversity. The Japanese population was genetically very different from the German populations. Correlations between phytosociological and soil parameters and the respective genotype were not significant. The results argue for a conservation of anthropogenically salt-contaminated habitats to maintain genetic variability not only on the species level, but also within a species.     

Root endophytes enhance stress‐tolerance of Cicuta virosa L. growing in a mining pond of eastern Japan

Cicuta virosa L. plants can grow in a pond subjected to heavy‐metal inputs at the Hitachi mine, eastern Japan. They accumulate heavy‐metal elements, especially high concentrations of zinc (Zn), in their roots. We focused on the role that root bacterial endophytes play in the heavy‐metal uptake of plants and the provision of heavy‐metal tolerance within plants. Our purpose was to clarify the effects of endophytes on: (i) Zn accumulation in C. virosa roots; (ii) growth of C. virosa seedlings; and (iii) heavy‐metal tolerance of C. virosa plants. Root endophytic Pseudomonas putida and Rhodopseudomonas sp., which induced the high production of Zn‐chelating compounds, were selected for the seedling inoculation test. The results of the inoculation test demonstrated that both strains of endophytes increased Zn accumulation in C. virosa roots by solubilizing Zn in the sediment. Both strains also increased the growth of seedlings by possible production of indole‐3‐acetic acid in the plant. The heavy‐metal tolerance of C. virosa seedlings was likely promoted by producing metal‐chelating compounds that detoxify the metals in the plant tissues, and by decreasing the heavy‐metal contents in the tissues via rapid seedling growth. Thus, such mutualistic interactions between plants and bacteria contribute to the persistence of C. virosa in this severe environment.     

Acid tolerance of an acid mine drainage bioremediation system based on biological sulfate reduction

The acid tolerance response of an AMD bioremediation system based on sulfate reduction was investigated. Efficient sulfate reduction was observed with a maximum sulfate reduction rate of 12.3±0.8 mg L(-1) d(-1) and easily available organic carbon was released during high acid treatment with an initial pH of 2.0. The rapid increase in sulfate reduction was observed when the extreme acid treatment with an initial pH of 1.0 was stopped. Column experiment on acid shock showed that efficient sulfate reduction was maintained while precipitation of Cu or Zn still occurred during extreme or high acid shock. More than 98% of Cu and 85% of Zn were removed in the high acid column experiment with influent pH of 2.0. The majority bacteria in the remediation system used for high acid drainage belonged to genera Clostridiaceae, Eubacterium, Pseudobutyrivibrio, and Clostridium. These findings showed high acid tolerance of the straw remediation system.