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AFS Southern Africa --- Southern Africa --- Zimbabwe --- checklists --- copper --- drawings --- metallophytes --- mineral resources --- photographs

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Background and aims - The occurrence of natural plant communities on eu-enriched substrates over significant areas of the earth's surface is exceptional. In Katanga (D.R.Congo), natural outcrops of copper-rich rocks are colonised by highly original plant communities. A number of plant species have been proposed as possibly endemic to those sites. Here we revise the taxonomic, phytogeographic and conservational status of these plants.Methods - Almost all the herbarium matcrials of supposed Cu-endemics available in BR and BRLU have been revised and all relevant taxonomic revisions have been consulted. Literature and herbarium data have been supplemented by original observations in the field. Conservational status was established using IUCN criteria based on current and projected variation of population size and number.Key results - Thirty-two taxa are identified as strict endemics of eu-rich soil in Katanga, i.e. absolute metallophytes. Twenty-four of these are known from one to five localities only. Twenty-three other taxa are identified as broad endemics, i.e. with > 75% of occurrence on Cu-rich soil. Fifty-seven other names formerly used for supposed endemics are rejected either for nomenclamral or phytogeographic reasons. A number of species formerly regarded as endemics have been discovered off copper-enriched substrates due to progress in the botanical exploration of Katanga. The taxonomic value of a number of proposed endemics is still uncertain and requires further research. For a number of taxa, local geographic distribution still remains insufficiently knovn. The low proportion of endemics (c. 5%) in the flora of Cu-rich soil in Katanga possibly indicates a recent origin of much of this flora. Arguments in favour of neoendemism and relictual endemism, respectively, are discussed briefly. Ten percent of strict endemics are extinct and 65% are critically endangered, due to actual or projected habitat destruction by copper mining. Endemics restricted to primary habitats may be the most difficult to conserve. Several species, mostly annuals are able to thrive on secondary metalliferous habitats created by the mining industry and may thus be at lower risk.Conclusions - This review emphasizes the high con&ervation value of the flora of Cu-rich soil in Katanga and should help prioritise future conservation efforts.

BR Staff Publications [a] (paper in international, peer reviewed journal) --- metallophytes --- endemics --- copper --- cobalt --- Katanga --- mining --- heavy metals --- bioconservation --- Congo ( = Belgian Congo = Congo belge = République démocratique du Congo = Democratic Republic of Congo = Zaïre) --- endangered plants

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Heavy metal phytotoxicity has been known for more than a century. Therefore, it is astonishing that interest in the effects of heavy metals on organisms has been aroused only recently. Research in the past years, however, has confirmed the immense damage by metal pollution to plants, the soil and ultimately to humans. This completely updated and enlarged second edition gives a state-of-the art review on both field and laboratory work. It deals with the various functional and ecological aspects of heavy metal stress on plants and outlines the scope for future research and the possibilities for remediation.

Plants --- Heavy-metal tolerant plants --- Heavy metals --- Métallophytes --- Effect of heavy metals on --- Environmental plants --- ECO Ecology --- ecology --- heavy metals --- physiology --- stress --- Métallophytes --- Environmental plants. --- Plant biochemistry. --- Soil science. --- Soil conservation. --- Ecotoxicology. --- Plant ecology. --- Plant physiology. --- Plant Biochemistry. --- Soil Science & Conservation. --- Plant Ecology. --- Plant Physiology. --- Botany --- Physiology --- Phytoecology --- Vegetation ecology --- Ecology --- Ecotoxicology --- Pollutants --- Pollution --- Environmental health --- Toxicology --- Conservation of soil --- Erosion control, Soil --- Soil erosion --- Soil erosion control --- Soils --- Agricultural conservation --- Soil management --- Pedology (Soil science) --- Agriculture --- Earth sciences --- Phytochemistry --- Plant biochemistry --- Plant chemistry --- Biochemistry --- Phytochemicals --- Plant biochemical genetics --- Control --- Prevention --- Conservation --- Floristic ecology