Abstract
Owing to variable water conditions, chemical conditions of water or ash substrate, ash settling ponds belong to anthropogenic objects which do not easily undergo plant succession. However, there are plants exhibiting biological traits allowing colonisation of a substrate characterised by variability in terms of acidity and heavy metal content. The aim of the study was to determine differences in morphology of plants colonising spontaneous surfaces of ash settling ponds with variability moisture level. We identified also differences in morphology of the plants. Identified: Agrostis stolonifera, Atriplex patula, Juncus bufonius, Phragmites australis, Poa pratensis and Ranunculus sceleratus. The obtained results broaden the knowledge on the bioremediation of degraded areas, indicate species that inhabit the surface of ash settlers. Lower water level in ash settling pond I created more favourable conditions for growth of the aboveground parts of plants, and higher waterlevel in ash settling pond II contributed to a more intensive development of the root part of plants. Considering the generative factors and measurement values of the aboveground part of plants, the best adapted species were Juncus bufonius and Atriplex patula. Due to changing water level in ash settling ponds, the species to be monitored is Phragmites australis—most deeply colonising the surface of ash settling ponds.
Highlights
Plants can colonise almost any habitats, both natural as well as anthropogenic [1,2].Diversity of flora and its potential to adapt to variable environmental conditions enables expansion even to extremely transformed areas, such as ash settling ponds [3,4]
Tx. 1937 (Poa pratensis and Agrostis stolonifera), the species preferring the muddy areas to Isoëto-Nanojuncetea Br.-Bl. et R
Dense turf covering the anthropogenically transformed surfaces accumulates HMs and absorbs odours, it contributes to a decrease in the amount of hazardous substances and improves quality of the atmosphere [17,18]
Summary
Plants can colonise almost any habitats, both natural as well as anthropogenic [1,2].Diversity of flora and its potential to adapt to variable environmental conditions enables expansion even to extremely transformed areas, such as ash settling ponds [3,4]. Owing to constant changes in water conditions and, chemical composition of water/substrate, these objects do not undergo plant succession [5]. In these objects, the area covered by plants predominantly depends on the level of stagnant water: The lower the level, the stronger the colonisation by highly hydrated plants—hydrophilous, followed by less hydrated plants—hygrophilous, and moisture-loving plants—thicket plants [6]. Among numerous plant species present on turfed and wooded surfaces around the ash settling ponds under study
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