Abstract

Soil contamination with heavy metals (including Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb), alongside climate change, represents a key challenge for the sustainability of forest ecosystems. Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.), as a pioneer species with high phytostabilization potential, can play a significant role in ensuring forest persistence in areas affected by industrial emissions. In this context, the abundance of natural sycamore maple regeneration was determined along a transect originating at the “Gilów” Extractive Waste Treatment Facility in Poland. On 13 research plots arranged along the transect, the share of sycamore maples was assessed within height classes of up to 0.5 m, 0.5–1.5 m, and above 1.5 m. Furthermore, the soil content of Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cr, among others, was determined for each plot. The results showed a statistically significant positive correlation between Acer pseudoplatanus regeneration and the soil content of iron and nickel, as well as a statistically significant negative correlation with lead content. The results concerning nickel suggest that low concentrations of this element may stimulate the natural regeneration of sycamore maple.

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