Copper tolerance in New Jersey populations of Agrostis stolonifera and Paronychia fastigiata
Populations of Agrostis stolonifera and Paronychia fastigiata in the vicinity of an abandoned New Jersey copper mine were examined with respect to the nature (phenotypic plasticity or population differentiation) of their apparent tolerance to high amounts of soil copper. Field studies were first undertaken to determine the soil characteristics of the contaminated and uncontaminated areas and to determine the cover and frequency of the different species in relation to these soil factors. Copper (Cu) was found to be the only significant variable among these soils, and the two study species were most important where the amount of soil Cu ranged between 64 and 304 ppm. Greenhouse experiments comparing responses of seed and vegetative material collected from Cu populations and non-Cu populations to soils from the mining site containing levels of Cu ranging from 98 to 1024 ppm indicated a striking difference between the two species. Agrostis stolonifera not only demonstrated a greater degree of tolerance but also showed population differentiation. In responses to increasing levels of Cu, the Cu population was superior in height and shoot weight of clonal materials, seedling survival and height, and ability of rhizomes and roots to immobilize Cu. Differences in tolerance between Cu and non-Cu populations of Paronychia fastigiata were not evident. 15 references, 3 figures, 4 tables.
- Research Organization:
- Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, NJ
- OSTI ID:
- 6375159
- Journal Information:
- Bull. Torrey Bot. Club; (United States), Journal Name: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club; (United States) Vol. 103:6; ISSN BTBCA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
560303* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGY
BUILDINGS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONTAMINATION
COPPER
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION II
GENETICS
GREENHOUSES
GROWTH
METALS
NEW JERSEY
NORTH AMERICA
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
POPULATION DYNAMICS
POPULATIONS
SOILS
TOLERANCE
TOXICITY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA