Phytoenrichment of soil Ni content by Sebertia acuminata in New Caledonia and the concept of elemental allelopathy
Year: 2001
Type: article
Abstract: Elemental allelopathy, which depends upon elevated soil metal concentrations under metal-hyperaccumulating plants, may
provide a competitive advantage for hyperaccumulators.We tested
whether metal enrichment of litter and surface soil occurs under
metal hyperaccumulators, using the New Caledonian Ni hyperaccumulator
tree species Sebertia acuminata. We selected 11
Sebertia trees, pairing each with a nearby similar-sized tree of a
non-hyperaccumulator species. We collected samples of litter,
surface soil (0-5 cm depth), and subsurface soil (15-20 cm depth)
from locations under the canopy of each tree. Elemental concentrations
of litter and soils were quantified for 12 elements (Ni, Mg, Ca,
K, P, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Co, Cr and Pb). Litter under lIgSebertial/Ig contained
significantly more Ni than litter under non-hyperaccumulator trees
(31 000 vs 6300 µg/g, respectively), but was lower in Mg. Nickel was
significantly higher in surface soil under S. acuminatal/Ig trees (100 vs
65 µg/g), as was Pb (but Cr was lower). Subsurface soil differed significantly
only for Pb, which was higher under lIgSebertial/Ig trees. Since,
as the literature suggests, metal hyperaccumulators are more tolerant
of elevated soil metal concentrations, litter and surface soil Ni
levels under the canopy of lIgSebertial/Ig trees may provide an ecological
advantage for metal-hyperaccumulating plants.
Source: South African Journal of Science
Authors: Robert S. Boyd, Tanguy Jaffré
Language: English
Topic: Heavy metals in environment
Subfield: Pollution
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2489112256