Institute of Biology, Pedagogical University of Kraków, Kraków, Poland.
W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
Sci Total Environ. 2017 Dec 1;599-600:32-41. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.197. Epub 2017 Apr 29.
Metalliferous mining and smelting industries are associated with very high levels of heavy metal(loid) contamination of the environment. Heavy metals have been proved to significantly influence the species diversity and composition of grassland communities, but little is known on their effects on forest understory vegetation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the presence of small heaps of waste rock left by historical Zn-Pb ore mining on understory vegetation. The heaps are scattered over vast areas of beech forests in southern Poland. Three types of study plots were established: (1) on waste heaps themselves, (2) in their vicinity (5-10m from the foot of the heaps, with no waste rock but potentially influenced by the heaps through drainage water), and (3) at least 100m from the foot of the heaps (pseudo-control). In all plots vegetation parameters, i.e., plant species number, cover and community composition, life forms and strategies, as well as basic soil properties were assessed. Although the heaps contained high concentrations of metals, namely Cd, Pb and Zn, they were characterised by higher cover and diversity of understory vegetation, including ancient forest and endangered species, in comparison to their surroundings. They were also characterised by the distinct species composition of their plant communities. This might have resulted from the beneficial influence of high pH and Ca content originating from waste rock composed of dolomite and calcite, as well as from increased habitat heterogeneity, e.g. soil skeleton and steeper slopes. Another important factor influencing the richness and composition of understory was tree cover, which relates to the light transmissibility of the canopy. Our study proved that the disturbance brought about by the former mining and processing of metal ores led to the formation of species-rich understory with high frequency and cover of naturally-valuable species.
金属矿采选业会导致环境中重金属（类）污染非常严重。事实证明，重金属会显著影响草原群落的物种多样性和组成，但对于它们对森林林下植被的影响知之甚少。因此，本研究旨在调查历史锌-铅矿采选留下的小废石堆对林下植被的影响。这些废石堆散布在波兰南部的大片山毛榉林中。设立了三种类型的研究样地：（1）在废石堆上，（2）在其附近（距废石堆脚 5-10m，没有废石，但可能通过排水受废石堆影响），以及（3）距废石堆脚至少 100m（伪对照）。在所有样地中，评估了植被参数，即植物物种数量、盖度和群落组成、生活型和策略，以及基本土壤特性。尽管废石堆中含有高浓度的金属，即 Cd、Pb 和 Zn，但与周围环境相比，它们具有更高的林下植被盖度和多样性，包括古老森林和濒危物种。它们的植物群落也具有独特的物种组成。这可能是由于废石堆由白云石和方解石组成，具有较高的 pH 值和 Ca 含量，以及增加了栖息地异质性，例如土壤骨架和更陡峭的坡度，从而带来了有益的影响。另一个影响林下丰富度和组成的重要因素是树冠的透光性，这与树木的覆盖有关。我们的研究证明，以前的金属矿石采选和加工所带来的干扰导致了物种丰富的林下植被的形成，具有高频率和自然有价值物种的盖度。
