Population differentiation in Andropogon virginicus L. between abandoned coal strip mine spoil and old field habitats in Ohio

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6248577

Nellessen, J E

Populations of Andropogon virginicus L. from abandoned coal mine spoils and old fields in southeastern Ohio were studied to determine whether ecotypic differentiation had occurred. Three mine spoil and three old field populations were paired for reciprocal transplant studies. A uniform garden was also established. Mine spoil and old field populations were compared for differences in demographic patterns, vegetative growth and phenology, reproductive output, and physiology. There were a greater number of seedlings and smaller individuals in the mine spoils, but seed production was similar between habitats. Seeds disperse farther in mine spoils and there was no or very little seedling establishment in 8 to 35 year old fields. Plants attained greater height in mine spoils. Population differentiation between one of the mine sites and one of the old fields was evident for seed weight, numbers of seeds per plant, and plant biomass. The three old field populations also differed from each other in reproductive characteristics. Mine spoil plants contained significantly more nitrogen within seeds despite the fact that mine soils had only half the available nitrogen as old field soils. Old field plants had a higher magnesium content in leaves. Chlorophyll content of leaves was higher for plants in old fields than for plants in mines. Undisturbed plants from both habitats had significantly higher photosynthetic rates than transplants. Old field plants had significantly greater photosynthetic rates than mine plants when grown in the uniform garden even though transpiration rates were similar. Differentiation between some coal mine spoil and old field populations of A. virginicus was evident for height growth, seed weight, photosynthesis, seed nitrogen content, magnesium content, and seed germination. Local population differentiation in plant height, seed weight, and in the timing of plant maturation was also observed.

• Research Organization: Ohio Univ., Athens, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6248577
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540250 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
ABANDONED SITES
AGE DEPENDENCE
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CHLOROPHYLL
COAL MINING
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION V
GERMINATION
GRASS
GROWTH
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
LAND RECLAMATION
MAGNESIUM
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
MINING
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OHIO
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHENOLOGY
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PHYSIOLOGY
PHYTOCHROMES
PIGMENTS
PLANT GROWTH
POPULATION DYNAMICS
PORPHYRINS
PROTEINS
REVEGETATION
SEEDLINGS
SEEDS
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SPOIL BANKS
SURFACE MINING
SYNTHESIS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
USA
VARIATIONS