Population differentiation in Andropogon virginicus L. between abandoned coal strip mine spoil and old field habitats in Ohio
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
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
GRASS
POPULATION DYNAMICS
SPOIL BANKS
REVEGETATION
ABANDONED SITES
AGE DEPENDENCE
CHLOROPHYLL
COAL MINING
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
GERMINATION
LAND RECLAMATION
MAGNESIUM
NITROGEN
OHIO
PHENOLOGY
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PHYSIOLOGY
PLANT GROWTH
SEEDLINGS
SEEDS
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SURFACE MINING
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
VARIATIONS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION V
GROWTH
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
MINING
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHYTOCHROMES
PIGMENTS
PORPHYRINS
PROTEINS
SYNTHESIS
USA
010900* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects
540250 - Environment
Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (1990-)