Population biology of Agropyron repens (L.) P. Beauv. around the copper smelter Legnica

Abstract

The present paper constitutes a background for the properties of couch grass tolerance for heavy metals previously recorded by the author. The tolerance for lead, zinc, copper and cadmium were described in couch grass on sites in the vicinity of the copper smelter Legnica. Most of the now presented results come from four-year field investigations, concerning four couch grass populations growing at different distances from the emitter. The over 50 year activity of the smelter affected specifically the traits and properties of the couch grass populations and their dynamics. This is expressed in the differentiated production of below and above ground biomass of couch grass and birth of aerial shoots. Further, recorded was also a different dynamics of origin and growth of rhizomes, and a retarded phenological development in populations localised nearest the smelter. The diverse population dynamics is expressed in different parameters, presented in the life tables. A change in growth strategy of couch grass, from querilla into phalanx, in result of ionic stress, was recorded in populations situated in the vicinity of the smelter.

Keywords

• Agropyron repens
• population dynamics
• birth
• mortality
• life tables
• phenology
• influence of heavy metals