Seed rain and seed persistence of Calamagrostis epigejos (l.) roth in extreme ecotoxicological conditions at an abandoned ore-washery sedimentation basin

Abstract

Clonal plants are very often among the first species to establish during primary succession. They may rapidly capture available space due to efficient vegetative propagation, but the question arises whether they may also rely on seed bank or seed rain during expansion and recovery after a possible disturbance. This question becomes increasingly important in extreme conditions of industrial deposit investigated in this study. We explored the two aforementioned seed sources in a clonal grass Calamagrostis epigejos within an ecotoxicologically stressed environment - abandoned tailings containment (former sedimentation basin) - from manganese-ore mining. Density of seeds found in seed rain was 617 seeds m-2, and in soil seed bank 220 seeds m-2, based on an autumn survey. Soil seed pool was almost depleted until the following spring as only 13 seeds m-2 were present. This pattern contrasted with the capacity of C. epigejos to build a persistent soil seed bank as shown by a burial experiment. Seed rain was thus identified to be the sole reliable seed source that may assist in recovery of this species after a possible disturbance

Plant communities in the lysimeter experiment of ash reclamation in the Dolna Odra Power Station in Nowe Czarnowo (Poland)

“…It can lead to the elimination of many plant species, at the same time making possible to tree and scrub development towards formation of shrub and forest communities (Kostuch and Twardy 2006). As it was presented by Dostál and Kovář (2014), Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) Roth, even on areas with unfavorable subsoil conditions (flotation sediments of alkaline character), can be efficiently widespread due to anemochory and subsequently vegetative reproduction forming phytocoenoses in dry habitats (Kutyna and Dziubak 2005). This species, characteristic of porro habitats, is accompanied by Artemisia vulgaris L. and Melandrium album (Mill.)…”

Stress Ecology in Mining Landscape: Postindustrial Deposits in Comparison with their Surroundings as the Environments for Selection of Plants with Small and Large Genome Size

“…A strongly cemented horizon with red ferric oxides and gypsum developed at lower depths of soil profiles (Mrázek, 2004;Kovář et al, 2011) and caused retrogradation in successional progress through periodical extinction od the tree seedlings (Kovář et Herben, 2004). Repeated restoration of initial colonization with biota includes the microhabitat dynamics at small-scale level (creation of biological soil crust) and processes of the organic matter decomposition (litter fall, dead biomass supply), bioturbation activity of the soil fauna, establishment of plant seeds and their seedlings or the insect/plant interactions, seed dispersal by zoochory and anemochory improve and use the environmental properties in the mosaic of microsites and shift the ecosystem far towards life-supporting state of spontaneous balanced succession (Kovář, 2004;Neustupa et al, 2009;Štefánek et al, 2012;Dostál et Kovář, 2013;Kovář et al, 2013). Hence, above mentioned contradictions imply irregular shifts in vegetation succession on toxic postindustrial wastes and differentiated qualitative composition of plant stands inside and outside the deposited substrate body.…”