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Current Phd : The effect of air borne emissions from a copper nickel smelter on seed quality and regeneration of selected indigenous species

Details of Current Research

In southern Africa, mining activities are one of the main sources of air pollution (Tienhoven et al, 2000). Air pollutants from smelters have indirectly and in some cases directly caused detrimental effects on plants and ecosystems as a whole. In Selibe Phikwe, Botswana, there have been reports of the persistence of vegetation only in small patches with little or no ground cover. Population reduction of an important utilitarian species, Colophospermum mopane has also been reported (Ramatoboro and Hagger, 2001). Although research has indicated that soil and C. mopane leaves in proximity to the smelter are contaminated with trace elements associated with the mining activities, studies determining if aspects of plant reproduction such as sed quality, germination and establishment are being impacted upon are lacking (Kruger et al, 2004, Ekosse et al, 2005). By using a multifaceted approach, comprising of vegetation surveys, trace elements analysis, germination studies and seed characteristics, the impact of the emissions on the regeneration and ultimately the persistence of C. mopane and another utilitarian species, Ximenia americana will be determined.