Urban meadow-a recipe for long-lasting anti-smog land cover.

This study evaluates for the first time whether 33 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants originating from a moderate climate continue to be capable of air filtration of particulate matter (PM) at the end of the growing season. Research was undertaken in November in two urban meadows located in trafficked areas of Bialystok (Poland). The study reveals that despite the lateness in the season, tested species remained capable of PM accumulation. Deposition of total PM exceeding 100 µg·cm-2 was found on S. vulgaris, S. latifolia, T. pratense, E. vulgare, and A. officinalis. The finest and most toxic fraction was accumulated most effectively by S. latifolia, E. vulgare, and L. vulgare (>12 µg·cm-2). Taraxacum officinale and M. sylvestris retained c. 60% of PM in their epicuticular wax. A slight significant correlation was found between rosette growth pattern and deposition of total PM on foliage, while the accumulation of the finest fraction was correlated with a simple leaf shape. These results support the usefulness of urban meadows as long-lasting air bio-filters provided that their composition includes species that have a confirmed, prolonged PM accumulation capacity and that the meadow is not mown in autumn.

This is the first time that the PM accumulation capacity of urban meadow species at the end of the vegetative season has been evaluated in real-life conditions. Evidence of prolonged PM deposition on herbaceous plants was obtained. To enhance PM mitigation in cities located in moderate climate zones, it is proposed that a selection of species be sown in urban meadows.

Bioactive Compounds Produced by Endophytic Bacteria and Their Plant Hosts-An Insight into the World of Chosen Herbaceous Ruderal Plants in Central Europe.

The natural environment has been significantly impacted by human activity, urbanization, and industrialization, leading to changes in living organisms and their adaptation to harsh conditions. Species, including plants, adapt to these changes by creating mechanisms and modifications that allow them to survive in harsh environments. Also, endophytes, microorganisms that live inside plants, can support plant growth and defense mechanisms in these conditions by synthesizing antimicrobial secondary metabolites. What is more, endophytes produce bioactive metabolites, including alkaloids, amines, and peptides, which play a crucial role in the relationship between endophytes and their host organisms. Endophytes themselves benefit from this by creating a stable environment for their survival and development. The aim of this review is to gain insight into endophytic bioactive metabolites from chosen synanthropic ruderal plants. Industrial activities release pollutants like heavy metals, by-products, and waste, which challenge living organisms and require adaptation. Synanthropic plants, where endophytes are abundant, are particularly valuable for their bioactive compounds, which are used in agriculture and medicine. This review presents, among others, endophytes of herbaceous ruderal plants from central Europe-Chelidonium majus L., Urtica dioica L., Plantago lanceolata L., Matricaria chamomilla L., Equisetum arvense L., Oenothera biennis L., Silybum marianum L., and Mentha piperita L.

High level of somatic mutations detected in a diploid banana wild relative Musa basjoo.

Plants are thought to lack an early segregating germline and often retain both asexual and sexual reproduction, both of which may allow somatic mutations to enter the gametes or clonal progeny, and thereby impact plant evolution. It is yet unclear how often these somatic mutations occur during plant development and what proportion is transmitted to their sexual or cloned offspring. Asexual "seedless" propagation has contributed greatly to the breeding in many fruit crops, such as citrus, grapes and bananas. Whether plants in these lineages experience substantial somatic mutation accumulation is unknown. To estimate the somatic mutation accumulation and inheritance among a clonal population of plant, here we assess somatic mutation accumulation in Musa basjoo, a diploid banana wild relative, using 30 whole-genome resequenced samples collected from five structures, including leaves, sheaths, panicle, roots and underground rhizome connecting three clonal individuals. We observed 18.5 high proportion de novo somatic mutations on average between each two adjacent clonal suckers, equivalent to ~ 2.48 × 10-8 per site per asexual generation, higher than the per site per sexual generation rates (< 1 × 10-8) reported in Arabidopsis and peach. Interestingly, most of these inter-ramet somatic mutations were shared simultaneously in different tissues of the same individual with a high level of variant allele fractions, suggesting that these somatic mutations arise early in ramet development and that each individual may develop only from a few apical stem cells. These results thus suggest substantial mutation accumulation in a wild relative of banana. Our work reveals the significance of somatic mutation in Musa basjoo genetics variations and contribute to the trait improvement breeding of bananas and other asexual clonal crops.

Global change effects on plant communities are magnified by time and the number of global change factors imposed.

Global change drivers (GCDs) are expected to alter community structure and consequently, the services that ecosystems provide. Yet, few experimental investigations have examined effects of GCDs on plant community structure across multiple ecosystem types, and those that do exist present conflicting patterns. In an unprecedented global synthesis of over 100 experiments that manipulated factors linked to GCDs, we show that herbaceous plant community responses depend on experimental manipulation length and number of factors manipulated. We found that plant communities are fairly resistant to experimentally manipulated GCDs in the short term (<10 y). In contrast, long-term (≥10 y) experiments show increasing community divergence of treatments from control conditions. Surprisingly, these community responses occurred with similar frequency across the GCD types manipulated in our database. However, community responses were more common when 3 or more GCDs were simultaneously manipulated, suggesting the emergence of additive or synergistic effects of multiple drivers, particularly over long time periods. In half of the cases, GCD manipulations caused a difference in community composition without a corresponding species richness difference, indicating that species reordering or replacement is an important mechanism of community responses to GCDs and should be given greater consideration when examining consequences of GCDs for the biodiversity-ecosystem function relationship. Human activities are currently driving unparalleled global changes worldwide. Our analyses provide the most comprehensive evidence to date that these human activities may have widespread impacts on plant community composition globally, which will increase in frequency over time and be greater in areas where communities face multiple GCDs simultaneously.

Effects of Herbaceous Plants on Methylmercury Net Production and Release From Sediment After Flooding in the Water-Level Fluctuation Zone of the Jialing River.

To explore the effects of herbaceous plants on mercury (Hg) behaviors after flooding in the water-level fluctuation zone (WLFZ) of Jialing River, three typical local plants (D. pyramidalis, A. philoxeroides and C. dactylon) and their in-situ sediments were collected for flooding experiments to study the Hg dynamics of water and sediment in different treatments. The results showed that flooding increased sediment MeHg concentrations and flooded plants (especially for the D. pyramidalis) promoted this process. Similarly, the highest dissolved MeHg level and proportion of MeHg to total Hg (%MeHg) were observed in plant-water treatments in the presence of D. pyramidalis, indicating the potential for the methylation of Hg in the water body influenced by the decay process of herbaceous plants. These results suggest that the herbaceous plant D. pyramidalis contributes more to Hg methylation and release in the WLFZ of the Jialing River than other plants studied.

Determinants of community compositional change are equally affected by global change.

Global change is impacting plant community composition, but the mechanisms underlying these changes are unclear. Using a dataset of 58 global change experiments, we tested the five fundamental mechanisms of community change: changes in evenness and richness, reordering, species gains and losses. We found 71% of communities were impacted by global change treatments, and 88% of communities that were exposed to two or more global change drivers were impacted. Further, all mechanisms of change were equally likely to be affected by global change treatments-species losses and changes in richness were just as common as species gains and reordering. We also found no evidence of a progression of community changes, for example, reordering and changes in evenness did not precede species gains and losses. We demonstrate that all processes underlying plant community composition changes are equally affected by treatments and often occur simultaneously, necessitating a wholistic approach to quantifying community changes.

Phenological changes in herbaceous plants in China's grasslands and their responses to climate change: a meta-analysis.

Plant phenological events are sensitive indicators of climate change, and their change could markedly affect the structure and function of ecosystems. Previous studies have revealed the spatiotemporal variations in the phenological events of woody plants. However, limited studies have focused on the phenophases of herbaceous plants. In this study, by using a meta-analysis method, we extracted information about the phenological changes in herbaceous plants in China's grasslands from existing studies (including the period, station, species, phenophases, phenological trends, and climatic determinants) and analyzed the patterns manifested in the dataset. The results showed that the spring phenophases (e.g., first leaf date and first flowering date) of the herbaceous plants mainly advanced over the past 30 years, but a large difference existed across grassland types. The spring phenophases of forages (species from the Cyperaceae, Gramineae, and Leguminosae families) became earlier in the desert steppe and alpine steppe but showed no apparent trends in the alpine meadow and even became later in the meadow steppe and typical steppe. In most cases, the increase in spring temperatures and precipitation promoted the greening up of herbaceous plants, while sunshine duration was positively correlated with the green-up date of herbaceous plants. For the autumn phenophases, the proportions of the earlier and later trends were very close, but the trends varied among the grassland types. The leaf coloring dates of the forages were delayed in the meadow steppe and alpine steppe but showed no distinct pattern in the typical steppe or alpine meadow and even became earlier in the desert steppe. In most cases, the increase in growing season temperature led to an earlier leaf coloring date of the herbaceous plants, but the increase in the preseason precipitation delayed the leaf coloring date. Our results suggested that the phenophases of herbaceous plants have complicated responses to multiple environmental factors, which makes predicting future phenological changes difficult.

Experimental warming advances phenology of groundlayer plants at the boreal-temperate forest ecotone.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Changes to plant phenology have been linked to warmer temperatures caused by climate change. Despite the importance of the groundlayer to community and forest dynamics, few warming experiments have focused on herbaceous plant and shrub phenology. METHODS: Using a field study in Minnesota, United States, we investigated phenological responses of 16 species to warming over five growing seasons (2009-2013) at two sites, under two canopy covers, and in three levels of simultaneous above- and belowground warming: ambient temperature, ambient +1.7°C and ambient +3.4°C. We tested whether warming led to earlier phenology throughout the growing season and whether responses varied among species and years and depended on canopy cover. KEY RESULTS: Warming extended the growing season between 11-30 days, primarily through earlier leaf unfolding. Leaf senescence was delayed for about half of the species. Warming advanced flowering across species, especially those flowering in August, with modest impacts on fruit maturation for two species. Importantly, warming caused more than half of the species to either converge or diverge phenologically in relation to each other, suggesting that future warmed climate conditions will alter phenological relationships of the groundlayer. Warm springs elicited a stronger advance of leaf unfolding compared to cool spring years. Several species advanced leaf unfolding (in response to warming) more in the closed canopy compared to the open. CONCLUSIONS: Climate warming will extend the growing season of groundlayer species in the boreal-temperate forest ecotone and alter the synchrony of their phenology.

The effect of technogenic emissions on the heavy metals accumulation by herbaceous plants.

The effect of technogenic emissions on the input of Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, Mn, Cr, and Ni into plants from the Poaceae and Asteraceae families has been studied. Soil and plant contamination by anthropogenic emissions from industrial enterprises leads the decreasing of crop quality; therefore, the monitoring investigation of plants and soils acquires special importance. The herbaceous plants may be used as bioindicators for main environmental changes. It was found that the high level of anthropogenic load related to atmospheric emissions from the power plant favors the heavy metal (HM) accumulation in herbaceous plants. Contamination with Pb, Cd, Cr, and Ni was revealed in plants growing near the power plant. Heavy metals arrive to plants from the soil in the form of mobile compounds. Plant family is one of the main factors affecting the HM distribution in the above- and underground parts of plants. Plants from the Poaceae family accumulate less chemical elements in their aboveground parts than the Asteraceae plants. Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Artemisia austriaca are HM accumulators. For assessing the stability of plants under contamination with HMs, metal accumulation by plants from soil (the bioconcentration factor) and metal phytoavailability from plants above- and underground parts (the acropetal coefficient) were calculated. According to the bioconcentration factor and translocation factor values, Poaceae species are most resistant to technogenic contamination with HMs. The translocation factor highest values were found for Tanacetum vulgare; the lowest bioconcentration factor values were typical for Poa pratensis.

Diversity and distribution patterns of root-associated fungi on herbaceous plants in alpine meadows of southwestern China.

The diversity of root-associated fungi associated with four ectomycorrhizal herbaceous species, Kobresia capillifolia, Carex parva, Polygonum macrophyllum and Potentilla fallens, collected in three sites of alpine meadows in southwestern China, was estimated based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequence analysis of root tips. Three hundred seventy-seven fungal sequences sorted to 154 operational taxonomical units (sequence similarity of ≥ 97% across the ITS) were obtained from the four plant species across all three sites. Similar taxa (in GenBank with ≥ 97% similarity) were not found in GenBank and/or UNITE for most of the OTUs. Ectomycorrhiz a made up 64% of the fungi operational taxonomic units (OTUs), endophytes constituted 4% and the other 33% were unidentified root-associated fungi. Fungal OTUs were represented by 57% basidiomycetes and 43% ascomycetes. Inocybe, Tomentella/Thelophora, Sebacina, Hebeloma, Pezizomycotina, Cenococcum geophilum complex, Cortinarius, Lactarius and Helotiales were OTU-rich fungal lineages. Across the sites and host species the root-associated fungal communities generally exhibited low host and site specificity but high host and sampling site preference. Collectively our study revealed noteworthy diversity and endemism of root-associated fungi of alpine plants in this global biodiversity hotspot.

The root reinforcement on the slope under the condition of colonization of various herbaceous plants.

This study assessed root reinforcement on slopes influenced by various herbaceous species. The study examined the distribution, structural traits of these species, and their root systems, as well as their biomass. We established a quantitative model for evaluating root reinforcement at the soil interface influenced by different herbaceous colonizers. The focus was on a mining environment, specifically measuring root reinforcement at a dumpsite slope. The results showed that the herbaceous plants in the dumpsite included Candian fleabane (Conyza canadensis), Annual bluegrass (Poa annua), and Suaeda (Suaeda glauca), and the weights of the three herbaceous plants in descending order were Annual bluegrass, Candian fleabane, and Suaeda. Notably, the tensile strength of annual bluegrass roots peaked when diameters were less than 0.4 mm. Statistical analysis revealed significant variations in root tensile strength (p < 0.05, ANCOVA), root area ratio, and reinforcement (average values from 0 to 10 cm, p < 0.05, ANOVA) among the species. Canadian fleabane demonstrated the greatest root area ratio and reinforcement throughout the soil profiles. The integration of these herbaceous species increased the surface layer's stability of the slope by 21.6 % and marginally expanded the cross-sectional area of the landslide mass.

Potential of herbaceous plant species for copper (Cu) accumulation.

The removal of copper (Cu) in soils by green technology is less treated with urgency, as it is a plant micronutrient. We examined the efficiency of Cu shoot accumulation by herbaceous plants in Cu-contaminated and non-contaminated soils in Trhové Dusniky and Podles, respectively, in the Czech Republic. The total soil Cu content of 81 mg kg-1 in Trhové Dusniky indicated a slight contamination level compared to 50 mg kg-1, the permissible value by WHO, and < 35 in Podlesí, representing a clean environment. The Cu content was above the permissible value in plants (10 mg kg-1 by WHO) in herbaceous speciesat the control site without trees: Stachys palustris L. (10.8 mg kg-1), Cirsium arvense L. (11.3 mg kg-1), Achillea millefolium L. (12.1 mg kg-1), Anthemis arvense L. (13.2 mg kg-1), and Calamagrostis epigejos L. (13.7 mg kg-1). In addition, Hypericum maculatum Crantz (10.6 mg kg-1), Campanula patula L. (11.3 mg kg-1), C. arvense (15 mg kg-1), and the highest accumulation in shoot of Equisetum arvense L. (37.1 mg kg-1), all under the canopy of trees at the uncontaminated site, were above the WHO value. Leucanthemum Vulgare (Lam.) and Plantago lanceolata L. recorded 11.2 mg kg-1 and 11.5 mg kg-1, respectively, in the soil of the Cu-contaminated site. These herbaceous species can support the phyto-management of Cu-contaminated soils, especially E. arvense. Critical attention is well-required in the medicinal application of herbaceous plants in treating human ailments due to their Cu accumulation potentials above the threshold. Spontaneous surveys and analysis of Cu speciation in herbaceous species can reveal suitable plants to decontaminate soils and provide caution on consumable products, especially bioactive compounds.

Soil geochemistry and constraint of tree seedlings immediately after germination on Macrotermes termite mounds in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Macrotermes termite mounds in the Kruger National Park occupy a significant part of the savanna landscapes, occurring at densities of up to 70 km-2 and often exceeding 10 m in width and 4 m in height. The mounds are usually devoid of trees, but have dense grass cover in wet years. As a result, these mounds form large patches of grassland amongst the wooded savanna. To our knowledge, it is not known why trees are largely excluded from the mounds. We analysed soil surface nutrient concentrations on and off mounds (0-2 cm deep, n = 80) to ascertain whether the availability of nutrients could be influencing competition between grasses and tree seedlings. The results showed that potential deficiencies in P, Ca, Cu, Zn and B in soils off the mounds are likely to be constraining plant growth. Notably, only B, with an average concentration of 0.19 mg kg-1, was likely to be limiting plant growth on the mounds. Notwithstanding likely interactions with herbivory and fire, we hypothesise that because grasses are far less susceptible to deficiencies of B than dicotyledonous trees, it is likely that grass competition with tree seedlings is considerably greater on mounds than off mounds.

Phytoremediation Potential of Crotalaria pumila (Fabaceae) in Soils Polluted with Heavy Metals: Evidence from Field and Controlled Experiments.

Phytoremediation is a useful, low-cost, and environmentally friendly alternative for the rehabilitation of heavy-metal-contaminated (HM) soils. This technology takes advantage of the ability of certain plant species to accumulate HMs in their tissues. Crotalaria pumila is a herbaceous plant with a wide geographical distribution that grows naturally in environments polluted with HMs. In this work, the bioaccumulation capacity of roots and leaves in relation to five HMs (Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn) was evaluated, as well as the morphological changes presented in C. pumila growing in control substrate (without HMs) and mine-tailing substrate (with HMs) under greenhouse conditions for 150 days. Four metals with the following concentration pattern were detected in both tissues and substrates: Fe > Pb > Cu > Zn. Fe, Pb, and Zn concentrations were significantly higher in the roots and leaves of individuals growing on mine-tailing substrate compared to the control substrate. In contrast, Cu concentration increased over time in the exposed individuals. The bioconcentration factor showed a similar pattern in root and leaf: Cu > Fe > Pb > Zn. Around 87.5% of the morphological characters evaluated in this species decreased significantly in individuals exposed to HMs. The bioconcentration factor shows that C. pumila is efficient at absorbing Cu, Fe, and Pb from the mine-tailing substrate, in the root and leaf tissue, and the translocation factor shows its efficiency in translocating Cu from the roots to the leaves. Therefore, C. pumila may be considered as a HM accumulator plant with potential for phytoremediation of polluted soils with Cu, Pb, and Fe, along with the ability to establish itself naturally in contaminated environments, without affecting its germination rates. Also, it exhibits wide geographical distribution, it has a short life cycle, exhibits rapid growth, and can retain the mine-tailing substrate, extracting HMs in a short time.

Fast, Easy, and Comprehensive Techniques for Microscopic Observations of Fungal and Oomycete Organisms Inside the Roots of Herbaceous and Woody Plants.

The roots of herbaceous and woody plants growing in soil are complex structures that are affected by both natural and artificial fungal colonization to various extents. To obtain comprehensive information about the overall distribution of fungi or oomycetes inside a plant root system, rapid, effective, and reliable screening methods are required. To observe both fine roots, i.e., a common site for penetration of fungi and oomycetes, and mature roots, different techniques are required to overcome visual barriers, such as root browning or tissue thickening. In our protocol, we propose using fast, cost-effective, and non-harmful methods to localize fungal or oomycete structures inside plant roots. Root staining with a fluorescent dye provides a quick initial indication of the presence of fungal structures on the root surfaces. The protocol is followed by clearing and staining steps, resulting in a deeper insight into the root tissue positioning, abundance, and characteristic morphological/reproductive features of fungal or oomycete organisms. If required, the stained samples can be prepared by using freeze-drying for further observations, including advanced microscopic techniques. Key features • The protocol enhances tissue-clearing techniques employing KOH or NaOH and is applicable to a broad range of roots from different plant species. • Hydroxides are mixed with hydrogen peroxide to obtain an efficient bleaching solution, which effectively clears roots without causing significant tissue damage. • The protocol could also be used for staining of fungi or oomycetes localized both on the root surface or inside the root tissues. • Simple combination of non-fluorescent methyl blue and fluorescent solophenyl flavine dyes allows the observation of fungal organisms in both brightfield and fluorescence microscopy.

Biomechanical responses of aquatic plants to aerial conditions.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Wetlands are impacted by changes in hydrological regimes that can lead to periods of low water levels. During these periods, aquatic plants experience a drastic change in the mechanical conditions that they encounter, from low gravitational and tensile hydrodynamic forces when exposed to flow under aquatic conditions, to high gravitational and bending forces under terrestrial conditions. The objective of this study was to test the capacity of aquatic plants to produce self-supporting growth forms when growing under aerial conditions by assessing their resistance to terrestrial mechanical conditions and the associated morpho-anatomical changes. METHODS: Plastic responses to aerial conditions were assessed by sampling Berula erecta, Hippuris vulgaris, Juncus articulatus, Lythrum salicaria, Mentha aquatica, Myosotis scorpioides, Nuphar lutea and Sparganium emersum under submerged and emergent conditions. The cross-sectional area and dry matter content (DMC) were measured in the plant organs that bear the mechanical forces, and their biomechanical properties in tension and bending were assessed. KEY RESULTS: All of the species except for two had significantly higher stiffness in bending and thus an increased resistance to terrestrial mechanical conditions when growing under emergent conditions. This response was determined either by an increased allocation to strengthening tissues and thus a higher DMC, or by an increased cross-sectional area. These morpho-anatomical changes also resulted in increased strength and stiffness in tension. CONCLUSIONS: The capacity of the studied species to colonize this fluctuating environment can be accounted for by a high degree of phenotypic plasticity in response to emersion. Further investigation is however needed to disentangle the finer mechanisms behind these responses (e.g. allometric relations, tissue make-up), their costs and adaptive value.

How arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi drives herbaceous plants' C: N: P stoichiometry? A meta-analysis.

Plant element stoichiometry is fundamental for preserving growth-related terrestrial ecosystem structures and functions. However, effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on herbaceous plant element stoichiometry (carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P)) remain unclear. In this study, we aimed at evaluating the potential effects of AMF on herbaceous plant C, N and P concentration and their C:N:P stoichiometry worldwide through a quantitative meta-analysis. We observed that AMF reduced C:P and N:P ratios in the shoot of plants by 35.83 % and 54.23 %, respectively, and in plant root organs by 36.24 % and 46.35 %, respectively. Conversely, C:N ratios increased in roots by 6.61 %. The negative effect of AMF on N:P and C:P ratios in plant shoots and root organs is mainly attributed to the plant benefits in P and N concentrations. AMF impact on plant C:N:P stoichiometry depends on fungal and plant functional group identities and soil nutrient availability. Our results suggest that plant functional group identity affects plant nutrient concentration, which, in turn, controls herbaceous plant C:N:P stoichiometry. Overall, we emphasize the importance of abiotic and biotic environmental factors in changing AMF effects on plant element stoichiometry. Therefore, clarifying the relationship between AMF and herbaceous plant C:N:P stoichiometry will improve our understanding of herbaceous plant stoichiometric variations in terrestrial ecosystems.

Effect of composite amendments on physicochemical properties of copper tailings repaired by herbaceous plants.

Phytoremediation is considered to be the most environmentally friendly green restoration technology for dealing with mine waste. Adding amendments can improve the substrate environment for plant growth and enhance remediation efficiency. Herbaceous plants have become the preferred species for vegetation restoration in abandoned mines because of their fast greening and simple management. After 8 weeks of pot experiments in the early stage, it was shown that the plant height and fresh weight of the plants treated with 5% conditioner and 0.5% straw (C2S2) were significantly higher than those of other treatments. Considering that, in this paper, to explore the effect of composite amendments on physicochemical properties of copper tailings repaired by herbaceous plants, the untreated copper tailings were employed as the control group, whereas copper tailings repaired by ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L.), and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) with or without conditioners and straw combination into the compound amendments were taken separately as the test group. After 6 months of planting, the pH, electrical conductivity, water content, available potassium, organic matter, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus in the main physical and chemical properties of copper tailings in each experimental area were analyzed. The results showed that the electrical conductivity, organic matter, and total nitrogen content of copper tailings were improved to a certain extent by planting plants without treatment. Meanwhile, compared with the control group, all indexes of planting plants showed an upward trend after adding composite amendments. Among them, pH, water content, and available potassium content of copper tailings were enhanced more obviously. Furthermore, as discovered from the gray correlation analysis results, vetiver grass planted with composite amendments has the best comprehensive effect of improving the physicochemical properties of copper tailings, followed by tall fescue and ryegrass.

Forest herb species with similar European geographic ranges may respond differently to climate change.

Many phenological studies have shown that spring geophytes are very sensitive to climate change, responding by shifting flowering and fruiting dates. However, there is a gap in knowledge about climatic drivers of their distributions and range shifts under climate change. Here we aimed to estimate climate niche shifts for four widely distributed and common geophytes of the nemoral zone of Europe (Anemone nemorosa, Anemone ranunculoides, Convallaria majalis and Maianthemum bifolium) and to assess the threat level under various climate change scenarios. Using MaxEnt species distribution models and future climate change scenarios we found that the precipitation of the warmest quarter was the most important factor shaping their ranges. All species studied will experience more loss in the 2061-2080 period than in 2041-2060, and under more pessimistic scenarios. M. bifolium will experience the highest loss, followed by A. nemorosa, A. ranunculoides, and the smallest for C. majalis. A. ranunculoides will gain the most, while M. bifolium will have the smallest potential range expansion. Studied species may respond differently to climate change despite similar current distributions and climatic variables affecting their potential distribution. Even slight differences in climatic niches could reduce the overlap of future ranges compared to present. We expect that due to high dependence on the warmest quarter precipitation, summer droughts in the future may be particularly severe for species that prefer moist soils. The lack of adaptation to long-distance migration and limited availability of appropriate soils may limit their migration and lead to a decline in biodiversity and changes in European forests.