Species richness and phytoremediation potential of mine wastelands-native trees across the Zambian Copperbelt Region.

ABSTRACT: Mining activities are among the key sources of soil metal contamination in the Zambian Copperbelt, resulting in drastic landscape transformation. Plant species growing naturally on mine wastelands represent an asset for remediation on the disturbed ecosystems in the region. However, little is known about the suitability of Zambian native tree and shrub species for phytoremediation. The current study was carried to determine tree species richness and abundance on seven mine wastelands across the Zambian Copperbelt and evaluate their phytoremediation potential. Field inventory and post-hoc ecological analyses allowed identification of 32 native tree species, belonging to 13 different families, of which Fabaceae (34%) and Combretaceae (19%) predominated. Most of the identified tree species we

SUBMITTER: Matakala N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9984791 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature