I co-supervised a couple of Ph.Ds on M. verna and other metallophytes using
the lead-zinc mining areas of the Pennines- all three areas, with Simon
Clark an extremely able botanist and keen metallophytophile from Leeds Uni.
We allied floristic data with geochemical/soil data at all levels
(kilometre to centimetre) and found no clear-cut relationships other than
many metallophytes occur in old mining areas. More interesting were those
metallophyte occurrences away from heavy metals ie Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh
etc.
If I had to choose one method I think it would be geochemical rather than
floral assemblages but I would rather not choose.
Rob Ixer
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