Cengiz Türe

Constructed Wetlands as Green Tools for Management of Boron Mine Wastewater

Constructed wetlands are of increasing interest worldwide given that they represent an eco-technological solution to many environmental problems such as wastewater treatment. Turkey possesses approximately 70% of the worlds total boron (B) reserves, and B contamination occurs in both natural and cultivated sites throughout Turkey, particularly in the north-west of the country. This study analyzes B removal and plant uptake of B in pilot plots of subsurface horizontal-flow constructed wetlands. Constructed wetlands were vegetated with Typha latifolia (referred to as CW1) and Phragmites australis (referred to as CW2) to treat wastewater from a borax reserve in Turkey-the largest of its type in the world and were assessed under field conditions. The B concentrations of water inflows to the systems were determined to be 10.2, 28.2, 84.6, 232.3, 716.4, and 2019.1 mg l−1. The T. latifolia in the CW1treatment group absorbed a total of 1300 mg kg−1 B, whereas P. australis absorbed 839 mg kg−1. As a result, CW1had an average removal efficiency of 40.7%, while that of CW2was 27.2%. Our results suggest that constructed wetlands are an effective, economic and eco-friendly solution to treating B mine wastewater and controlling the adverse environmental effects of B mining.

Plant distribution and its relationship to extractable boron in naturally-occurring high boron soils in Turkey

Naturally occurring borax reserves exist in dry climates in several parts of the world. Soils associated with these reserves are high in boron (B) and may host distinctive vegetation with high levels of B toxicity tolerance. In this study, three zones of vegetation with increasing distances from the edge of a boron mine were defined at the Kirka Borax Production Plant (Eskisehir, Turkey), one of the richest borax reserves in the world. The zone with the lowest B concentrations (0.1-2 mg/kg) had the highest species diversity (84 species). Species diversity was much lower (28 species) in the intermediate zone that had moderate B levels (10 mg/kg). Only Catapodium rigidum (L.) C. E. Hubbard ex Dony subsp. rigidum var. rigidum (Poaceae) and Gypsophylla perfoliata L. var. perfoliata (Caryophyllaceae) showed resistance to B levels in excess of the accepted toxic levels; these species had the ability to develop and spread in the zone that had the highest B concentration (35 mg/kg).

A methodology to analyse the relations of ecological footprint corresponding with human development index: eco-sustainable human development index

We can easily argue that nowadays the ‘human development index’ (HDI), which is widely used to evaluate the socio-economic development of countries, has largely been ignored when it comes to the extent that this development affects the world ecosystem. Naturally, the universal definition of development covers a total quality of environmental and ecological effects. In addition, when it comes to sustainability of any given country, a paradox emerges on close inspection of environmental development, not forgetting that all countries worldwide are included to evaluate the HDI. In this study, in development ranking according to the proposed ‘eco-sustainable human development index’ (E-SHDI), it is determined that Switzerland and New Zealand are placed in a very high group, but no countries feature in high group, Gabon is in the middle whereas Bangladesh, Yemen, Angola, Cameroon and Kenya feature in a low group within the context 10 countries according to HDI values (2011). According to comparative actual evaluations of distribution graphics belonging to HDI/E-SHDI of all countries, Japan, New Zealand and Switzerland fall into very high groups; Romania, Panama and Mexico are determined in high groups; Sri Lanka, Gabon and Dominican Republic are verified in middle groups and Bangladesh, Haiti and Pakistan appear in low groups.

Nutritional relationships between hemi-parasitic mistletoe and some of its deciduous hosts in different habitats

Parasitism of plants by other plants provides an exceptional opportunity for investigating correlative nutritional relationships. Because of lacking a usual plant-root sytem capable of active uptake, the best correlation for predicting the concentrations of elements in parasitic plants is often those in the host plants. This study, therefore, mainly focuses on determination of i) mineral nutrient partitioning between hemi-parasitic white berry mistletoe (Viscum album L. subsp. album) and four of its deciduous hosts growing in different habitats namely wetland and semi-arid and ii) effects of these habitat types on nutrient absorption. During the research, leaf samples of both hemi-parasites and their host plants were chemically analysed, mistletoes on each host plants were counted and the results were considered statistically. Concentrations of some elements (N, P, K, Na, S, Cu, Zn) were higher in mistletoe whereas some others (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn and B) were higher in the hosts (p< 0.05). Habitat type was also determined to be effective in host-parasite systems. Revealing information about nutritional interactions between multi-host hemi-parasites and their host plants is a useful tool to understand their functions in ecosystems, population-community dynamics and their co-evolution process.

CHARACTERIZATION OF THE HABITAT OF LYTHRUM SALICARIA L. IN FLOODPLAIN FORESTS IN WESTERN TURKEY—EFFECTS ON STEM HEIGHT AND SEED PRODUCTION

Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife) is an invasive wetland perennial in North America native to Eurasia. Because light environment may limit the species’ distribution, information on the relationship of forest canopy coverage to relative height and seed set in its native environment could give insight into its control in North America. This study examined the effect of various light environments related to forest canopy structure on seed set and stem height in L. salicaria in three biogeographical regions of Turkey spanning latitudes from 36 to 39° N. In Turkey, Lythrum salicaria grows in discrete patches in the canopy gaps of riverine forests, which often are dominated by Populus alba. The mean number of seeds per individual and stem height increased with decreasing canopy coverage (10437±284 to 20652±664 seeds individual−1 and 116±2 to 173±2 cm, respectively). A number of insect seed herbivores were noted on these Turkish populations, most notably a seed predator (Nanophyes marmoratus), which destroyed all seeds in infested capsules. Our study suggested that the light characteristics associated with canopy gaps influenced the seed set and height of L. salicaria. Other factors likely played a role, such as insect herbivores, soil fertility, and competition with other species, which may also be affected by the light levels provided at various levels of canopy coverage.

Phytoremediation Possibilities of Boron-Contaminated Environments by Wild Plants Growing on Boron Reserve Areas in Turkey

Turkey has almost 70% of the total boron (B) in the world, and B-reserve areas form a special habitat in terms of plant–environment relationships. In this study, these relationships were used to investigate phytoremediation possibilities for B-contaminated environments. Field studies were carried out in seven different open B mine sites and their environments in four different provinces of Turkey. At the end of chemical analyses of soil and plant samples, 11 wild and potential phytoremediator plant species were determined; two of them were aquatic whereas nine were terrestrial. Some of the species were halophytes. Puccinella distans subsp. distans (Poaceae) and Gypsophila perfoliata subsp. perfoliata (Caryophyllaceae) showed both the greatest tolerance and greatest B accumulation ratios. The results of the present study could be used as a tool to improve effective and environmentally friendly management strategies for both aquatic and terrestrial environments contaminated with high B concentrations.