Heavy Metal Accumulation in Soil and Some Fern Species at Phu Soi Dao National Park, Phitsanulok Province, Thailand.

Abstract

In Southeast Asia, Thailand is natural endowment of biodiversity in the forests. The
varieties of genes, species, and ecosystems, such as ferns, are rich and naturally abundant.
Therefore, some fern species have a good possibility for using in phytoremediation
process. The objectives of this research were to determine the accumulation of heavy
metals of some fern species and to study the ecological effects on heavy metals absorption.
The study area was conducted at Phu Soi Dao National Park, Phitsanulok province,
Thailand. The soil and fern samples were taken in December 2005 using line transect
method along the pathway and applied square plots size of 1??1 m2 for the sampling
process. Soil properties and element concentrations were analysed and heavy metal
accumulation in ferns were calculated. It was observed that the ferns had higher potentials
of absorbing heavy metals than in the soil. From 19 terrestrial fern species, some fern
species had high heavy metal accumulation due to the ecological effect. Adiantum
philippense L. showed significantly highest levels of Pb and Ni concentration in their leaves,
while Adiantum caudatum L. was the best Pb, Ni and Co absorption The result from this
study can play an important role in bioremediation process to mitigate concentration of
heavy metals from the environment.

Key words: Fern, Heavy metal, Phu Soi Dao, Thailand