Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Laurentian University of Sudbury
$39,000.00
Monitoring land reclamation and plant conservation of metal-contaminated and uncontaminated areas in the Sudbury region: application of molecular, cytological, and soil analyses
FY 2012-13
Summary
A collaborative research project was initiated in November 2005 with funding from NSERC, Vale - INCO and Xstrata - Nickel. During the first phase of the project (2005 - 2009), seven M.Sc. theses and three undergraduate projects were completed. In addition, data collected and analyzed during the five-year period were disseminated using different vehicles: 10 refereed articles were published in scientific journals and 10 papers were presented at international conferences.
Molecular data accumulated so far for the six plant species analyzed including five conifers (Picea mariana, Picea glauca, Pinus banksiana, Pinus resinosa, and Pinus strobus) and one grass (Deschampsia cespitosa) indicated that the forest ecosystem in the Greater Sudbury Region (GSR) is likely sustainable. This information was confirmed with cytological studies for all major conifer species. There was no association between the level of metal content in soil and plant and genetic variation. Moreover, all the populations investigated were cytologically stable. The five important conifer species analyzed represent 95% of species used in the land reclamation program in the Sudbury region. The results also revealed that the land reclamation program is increasing the level of genetic diversity, especially in pine populations. The effects of metal accumulation in soil and plant tissues on tree growth and production have not been investigated. Moreover, the sustainability of hardwood species representing 75% of natural tree populations in GSR has not been determined. The next phase will focus on other soil factors along with the sustainability of the other common native or planted hardwood species found in Sudbury such as red oak, black locust, maple, birch, poplar, ash and willow populations. The recommendations of the study will allow the City and others working on the Sudbury landscape to develop appropriate strategies for forest management within the context of historic metal contamination, low soil nutrients and climate change.
Program
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
403146-2010
Name nom
Nkongolo, Kabwe
Department département
Biology
Organization id
26
Institution établissement
Laurentian University of Sudbury
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2012
Competition year année de concours
2010
Award amount
39000
Program id
CRDPJ
Program name en
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
1200
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application fr
Avancement des connaissances
Research subject code
5008
Research subject group en
Genetics
Research subject group fr
Génétique
Research subject en
Population genetics
Research subject fr
Génétique des populations
Partie
3
Nb partie
4
Application title
Monitoring land reclamation and plant conservation of metal-contaminated and uncontaminated areas in the Sudbury region: application of molecular, cytological, and soil analyses
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
A collaborative research project was initiated in November 2005 with funding from NSERC, Vale - INCO and Xstrata - Nickel. During the first phase of the project (2005 - 2009), seven M.Sc. theses and three undergraduate projects were completed. In addition, data collected and analyzed during the five-year period were disseminated using different vehicles: 10 refereed articles were published in scientific journals and 10 papers were presented at international conferences.
Molecular data accumulated so far for the six plant species analyzed including five conifers (Picea mariana, Picea glauca, Pinus banksiana, Pinus resinosa, and Pinus strobus) and one grass (Deschampsia cespitosa) indicated that the forest ecosystem in the Greater Sudbury Region (GSR) is likely sustainable. This information was confirmed with cytological studies for all major conifer species. There was no association between the level of metal content in soil and plant and genetic variation. Moreover, all the populations investigated were cytologically stable. The five important conifer species analyzed represent 95% of species used in the land reclamation program in the Sudbury region. The results also revealed that the land reclamation program is increasing the level of genetic diversity, especially in pine populations. The effects of metal accumulation in soil and plant tissues on tree growth and production have not been investigated. Moreover, the sustainability of hardwood species representing 75% of natural tree populations in GSR has not been determined. The next phase will focus on other soil factors along with the sustainability of the other common native or planted hardwood species found in Sudbury such as red oak, black locust, maple, birch, poplar, ash and willow populations. The recommendations of the study will allow the City and others working on the Sudbury landscape to develop appropriate strategies for forest management within the context of historic metal contamination, low soil nutrients and climate change.
