Photosynthesis Traits of Pioneer Broadleaves Species from Tailing Dumps in Călimani Mountains (Eastern Carpathians)

Abstract

The reforestation and stable ecological restoration of tailings dumps resulting from surface mining activities in the Călimani Mountains represent an ongoing environmental challenge. To assess the suitability of different tree species for restoration efforts, photosynthetic traits were monitored in four broadleaf pioneer species—green alder (Alnus alnobetula (Ehrh.) K. Koch), aspen (Populus tremula L.), silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.), and goat willow (Salix caprea L.)—that naturally colonized the tailings dumps. Green alder and birch had the highest photosynthetic rate, followed by aspen and goat willow. Water use efficiency parameters (WUE and iWUE) were the highest for green alder and the lowest for birch, with intermediary values for aspen and goat willow. Green alder also exhibited the highest carboxylation efficiency, followed by birch. During the growing season, net assimilation and carboxylation efficiency exhibited a maximum in late July and a minimum in late June. The key limitation parameters of the photosynthetic process derived from the FvCB model (Vcmax and Jmax) were the highest for green alder and exhibited a maximum in late July, regardless of the species. Based on photosynthetic traits, the green alder—a woody N2-fixing shrub—is the most well-adapted and photosynthetically efficient species that naturally colonized the tailings dumps in the Călimani Mountains.