Pteridophytic Responses to Heavy Metal and Atmospheric Pollution across Ecological Zones of Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh, India
Vaishalee Thakur *
Department of Biosciences, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, India.
Anoop Singh Baghel
Govt. Model Science College, Rewa, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Pteridophytes are highly sensitive vascular plants whose distribution and physiological responses reflect changes in environmental conditions such as pollution, habitat disturbance, and climatic stress, making them effective bioindicators of ecosystem health. In the ecologically diverse Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh, increasing mining, industrialization, and urbanization have altered natural habitats, necessitating the use of pteridophytes to assess heavy metal contamination, air quality deterioration, and freshwater ecosystem changes. The present study evaluates the role of pteridophytes as bioindicators of environmental health across different ecological zones of Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh. Field surveys, species assessment, and physiological analyses were conducted in three ecological zones: Zone A (Patalkot and Tamia Hills), Zone B (mining belts of Parasia and Junnardeo), and Zone C (urban-industrial regions). The results revealed significant variations in pteridophyte distribution and physiological responses under different environmental stresses. In mining-affected Zone B, Pteris vittata showed strong heavy metal accumulation with a Bioaccumulation Factor (BAF) greater than 1.5 for arsenic and lead, indicating severe soil contamination. In industrial and urban regions of Zone C, Adiantum species exhibited nearly 30% reduction in chlorophyll content along with reduced stomatal density due to atmospheric pollutants such as SO₂ and particulate matter. In contrast, the undisturbed forest ecosystems of Zone A supported Cyathea spinulosa, indicating stable and humid climax forest conditions. Aquatic pteridophytes such as Azolla pinnata and Marsilea minuta reflected nutrient enrichment and eutrophication in local water bodies. The study demonstrates that pteridophytes serve as efficient and cost-effective bioindicators for monitoring heavy metal pollution, air quality deterioration, habitat degradation, and freshwater ecosystem changes. These findings highlight their ecological significance in environmental monitoring and biodiversity conservation in the Satpura region.
Keywords: Bioindicators, pteridophytes, hyperaccumulation, chhindwara