We evaluated the effects of chronic exposure to environmental radiological contamination on the reproductive fitness of sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) by quantifying viability in haploid gametophytes of spores collected from ferns from background and contaminated areas of the Chalk River site. Dose rates measured in situ at field sites ranged from 60 to 849 μGy h-1, with effects possible at the more contaminated sites (greater than 400 μGy h-1). Fern spores were also irradiated from 1 to 1000 Gy to develop dose-response curves. We found no effects on gametophyte viability at the most contaminated areas of the Chalk River site, where we estimated growing season doses of 0.3-3.7 Gy. Dose-response curves show evidence of hormesis, with an increase in gametophyte viability up to 10 Gy, followed by a rapid decline to no viable gametophytes at doses of 1000 Gy. The sensitive fern is not a radiosensitive plant species, but effects do occur within the normal range (10-1000 Gy) of most plant species, making it useful as a sentinel species from a community perspective. Sensitive fern spore germination is high and stable over field dose ranges, with effects primarily on gametophyte viability. This method shows promise as an effects monitoring tool for sites with radiological contamination.

中文翻译：

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评估遗留核废料对植物的影响：Chalk River地点的敏感蕨类植物（Onoclea sensibilis）配子体活力。

我们通过量化从白垩河站点的背景和受污染地区收集的蕨类植物的孢子的单倍体配子体中的生存力，评估了长期暴露于环境放射污染对敏感蕨类植物（Onoclea sensibilis）繁殖适应性的影响。在现场现场测量的剂量率范围为60至849μGyh-1，在受污染较严重的位置（大于400μGyh-1）可能会产生影响。蕨类孢子也从1到1000 Gy辐照，以形成剂量反应曲线。我们发现在粉笔河站点最受污染的地区，配子体的生存力没有影响，我们估计生长季节的剂量为0.3-3.7 Gy。剂量-反应曲线显示出兴奋现象，配子体活力提高到10 Gy，然后以1000 Gy的剂量迅速下降至没有可行的配子体。敏感的蕨类不是对辐射敏感的植物，但在大多数植物的正常范围内（10-1000 Gy）都会发生影响，因此从社区的角度来看，它可以用作前哨物种。蕨类植物的敏感孢子萌发在田间剂量范围内很高且稳定，主要影响配子体的生存能力。这种方法显示出有望作为放射性污染现场效果监测工具。