Elementome of Endemic Dolomitic Flora: Pterocephalus spathulatus (Lag.) Coult

Encarna Merlo, Antonio J. Mendoza-Fernández, Esteban Salmerón-Sánchez, Fabián Martínez-Hernández, Andrea Ortiz-Úbeda and Juan Mota
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Encarna Merlo: Department of Biology and Geology, CEI·MAR and CECOUAL, University of Almería, E-04120 Almería, Spain
Antonio J. Mendoza-Fernández: Department of Biology and Geology, CEI·MAR and CECOUAL, University of Almería, E-04120 Almería, Spain
Esteban Salmerón-Sánchez: Department of Biology and Geology, CEI·MAR and CECOUAL, University of Almería, E-04120 Almería, Spain
Fabián Martínez-Hernández: Department of Biology and Geology, CEI·MAR and CECOUAL, University of Almería, E-04120 Almería, Spain
Andrea Ortiz-Úbeda: Department of Biology and Geology, CEI·MAR and CECOUAL, University of Almería, E-04120 Almería, Spain
Juan Mota: Department of Biology and Geology, CEI·MAR and CECOUAL, University of Almería, E-04120 Almería, Spain

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 11, 1-22

Abstract: Unusual dolomite substrates present a phenomenon known as dolomitophily, which refers to the specificity of the flora that grows on them. Within the dolomitic flora, one of the most widespread plants in Spain is the characteristic species Pterocephalus spathulatus (Lag.) Coult., which forms whitish prostrate thymes. The present study focused on the knowledge about the ionome (or elementome) of a characteristic dolomite species and some of its applications, both in terms of its nutritional behaviour and in determining the factors that favour the rich and rare flora growing on dolomitic soils. Soil, foliar, stem and root samples of the species studied were collected from different locations in the south of Spain. The samples were analysed to determine their mineral composition. The Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) and the Translocation Factor (TF) were calculated, relating the values of the mineral contents in the soil, both total and phytoavailable, to the values from the foliar, root and stem samples. It was found that this species was able to accumulate some elements, including B, Cr, Cu, Ni, Ti, Tl and Zn, which can be phytotoxic in high concentrations, and are considered to be some of the main toxic metals in soils. In addition, it was observed that the plant can accumulate metals in the stem and leaves (TF), thus proving that it is capable of transporting them from the root to the aerial part of the plant. The data obtained may indicate that other species in the plant community may possess this bioindicator or even phytoremediation capacity.

Keywords: Bioconcentration Factor; dolomite; heavy metals; ionome; phytoremediation; priority habitat; Translocation Factor (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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