THE EFFECT OF HEAVY METALS ON PLANT COMMUNITIES DISTRIBUTION IN AN ABANDONEND MINING AREA (NORTHEAST-ALGERIA)

We investigated the correlation between vascular flora and edaphic parameters [pH (water), total nitrogen (TN), organic matter (OM), carbon/nitrogen (C/N), cation exchange capacity (CEC), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu)] in the area of a former lead and zinc mine (Northeast-Algeria). The floristic and soil data were the subject of one-way variance analysis and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). These statistical analyses highlighted five plant groupings. A grouping bound to cadmium and copper, a grouping connected to zinc, a grouping linked to lead and two other groupings seem independent from heavy metal contents. The results show a strong bioindicative value of identified plant communities on metallic pollution of the studied mining zone.