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Arthur Meersseman

Bio: Arthur Meersseman is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Endemism & Critically endangered. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 60 citations.

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A review of the taxonomic, phytogeographic and conservational status of a number of plant species proposed as possibly endemic to natural outcrops of copper-rich rocks in Katanga emphasizes the high conservation value of the flora of Curich soil inKatanga and should help prioritise future conservation efforts.
Abstract: Background and aims - The occurrence of natural plant communities on Cuenriched 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 materials of supposed Cuendemics 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 Curich 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 Curich soil. Fifty-seven other names formerly used for supposed endemics are rejected either for nomenclatural or phytogeographic reasons. A number of species formerly regarded as endemics have been discovered off copperenriched 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 known. The low proportion of endemics (c. 5%) in the flora of Curich 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 conservation value of the flora of Curich soil in Katanga and should help prioritise future conservation efforts. © 2010 National Botanic Garden of Belgium and Royal Botanical Society of Belgium.

60 citations


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TL;DR: It is shown that campo rupestre is fully comparable to and remarkably convergent with both fynbos and kwongkan, and fulfills the criteria for a classic OCBIL.
Abstract: Botanists, ecologists and evolutionary biologists are familiar with the astonishing species richness and endemism of the fynbos of the Cape Floristic Region and the ancient and unique flora of the kwongkan of south-western Australia. These regions represent old climatically-buffered infertile landscapes (OCBILs) that are the basis of a general hypothesis to explain their richness and endemism. However, few ecologists are familiar with the campo rupestre of central and eastern Brazil, an extremely old mountaintop ecosystem that is both a museum of ancient lineages and a cradle of continuing diversification of endemic lineages. Diversification of some lineages of campo rupestre pre-dates diversification of lowland cerrado, suggesting it may be the most ancient open vegetation in eastern South America. This vegetation comprises more than 5000 plant species, nearly 15 % of Brazil’s plant diversity, in an area corresponding to 0.78 % of its surface. Reviewing empirical data, we scrutinise five predictions of the OCBIL theory, and show that campo rupestre is fully comparable to and remarkably convergent with both fynbos and kwongkan, and fulfills the criteria for a classic OCBIL. The increasing threats to campo rupestre are compromising ecosystem services and we argue for the implementation of more effective conservation and restoration strategies.

434 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is illustrated that the principles of OCBil theory are key to conservation of biodiversity at global scale and provide new directions for research that can improve the theoretical and practical contributions of Ocbil theory.
Abstract: Background Ocbil theory aims to develop hypotheses explaining the evolution and ecology of, and best conservation practices for, biota on very old, climatically buffered, infertile landscapes (Ocbils).

153 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Sarcheshmeh copper mining area located in Southeast of Iran is a vast mountainous region with mineralized soils and several active copper mining and smelting sites.

92 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the covariations of Cu and Co speciation in soils and Co and Co concentrations in plants in plants were examined, showing that the abundance of Co and Cu in plants is strongly influenced by Co free and Co adsorbed by the OM and Fe fractions.
Abstract: Among the unique flora on copper and cobalt rich soils, some species are able to hyperaccumulate the Cu and Co in their shoots, however, the unexplained high variations of Cu and Co concentrations in shoots have been highlighted. A good comprehension of the Cu and Co accumulation variations would go through a characterization of the Cu and Co speciation in soils. We examined the covariations of Cu and Co speciation in soils and Cu and Co concentrations in plants. Plant samples of two species and soil samples (n = 146) were collected in seven pedogeochemically contrasted sites. Cu and Co speciation in soils was modeled by WHAM 6.0. Variation in copper accumulation in plant shoots were mostly influenced by Cu adsorbed by the Mn and Fe oxides fractions, whereas Co accumulation variations were strongly influenced by Co free and Co adsorbed by the OM and Fe fractions. Availability of Cu and Co seems to be species-specific and is not explained only by the free Cu and Co content in the soil solution, but also strongly by the part linked to colloidal fractions. Availability of Cu and Co is a complex mechanism, closely related to all the biogeochemical processes which occur in the rhizosphere. Future work should perform experiments in controlled conditions to examine the soil parameters that influence the Cu and Co availability.

52 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The addition of Cu enhanced the growth of some metallicolous populations under sterile conditions, hence confirming the high needs in copper of metallicolrous populations, and could represent a cost of tolerance which would explain the high affinity of species for cupriferous habitats.

47 citations