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Plant communities and potential native phytoremediator species in petroleum hydrocarbon-polluted desert systems
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  • Sarah Al_Ateeqi,
  • Layla Al-Musawi,
  • Virender Sharma,
  • Meshal Abdullah,
  • Xingmao Ma
Sarah Al_Ateeqi
Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Layla Al-Musawi
Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science KFAS
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Virender Sharma
Texas A&M University
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Meshal Abdullah
Texas A&M University
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Xingmao Ma
Texas A&M University
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Abstract

This paper reported the recovery of desert plant communities after twenty years of oil-derived hydrocarbon contamination in desert habitats of Kuwait, caused by the First Gulf War (1990 – 1991). The hypothesis that certain native desert plant species can tolerate weathered oil-polluted soils with oil breakdown products (i.e., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( PAHs)) and have the potential to function as bioindicators and phytoremediator species for oil-polluted soil was tested. A field survey of 200 quadrat sampling plots at seven hydrocarbon-contaminated and unpolluted desert areas in Kuwait was performed that recorded 42 plant species, with Haloxylon salicornicum, Cyperus conglomeratus and Rhanterium epapposum as the most dominant species. Analysis of plant tissues indicated plant uptake and accumulation of some PAHs. H. salicornicum was used as a representative species in a controlled field study that included growth of plants in hydrocarbon-polluted and unpolluted soils in two separate desert areas under similar growth conditions. Results showed a significant decrease in plant biomass in oil-contaminated soil compared to those from the uncontaminated site. However, the plants appeared green and healthy in both sites, and showed no overt stress. The results suggest that some desert plant communities exhibit signs of recovery after severe oil pollution, and that H. salicornicum may serve as a phytoremediator of oil-contaminated desert soils. Our results also demonstrated that some desert plant communities could be cultivated in oil fields to reduce hydrocarbon contamination and provide guide to other ecosystem services through improving soil quality and biodiversity.
31 Mar 2021Submitted to Land Degradation & Development
01 Apr 2021Submission Checks Completed
01 Apr 2021Assigned to Editor
04 Apr 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
27 Jul 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
02 Aug 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
22 Aug 20211st Revision Received
23 Aug 2021Submission Checks Completed
23 Aug 2021Assigned to Editor
05 Oct 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
15 Oct 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
20 Oct 20212nd Revision Received
22 Oct 2021Submission Checks Completed
22 Oct 2021Assigned to Editor
26 Dec 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
27 Dec 2021Editorial Decision: Accept