300472 EX Excursion to heavy metal habitats in Austria (2008S)

The excursion leads to habitats in Kärnten/A, that are rich in heavy metals which occur either naturally in the soil or derive from man-made industrial activities. We show the general situation of these habitats and their vegetation that developed on these toxic soils. We analyse the resistance of the heavy metal plants against heavy metal stress, and we discuss the strategies of tolerant, accumulating and hyper-accumulating plants to survive in heavy metal contaminate soil.