Multiple choice

Bioremediation is the use of microbes to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater. Which among the following fern is used as a potential bioremediation plant for absorbing arsenic from the soil?

  1. Vegetable fern

  2. Licorice fern

  3. Brake fern

  4. Tree ferns

  5. C-fern
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Brake fern was discovered to have the ability to "hyperaccumulate" (absorb large amounts of) arsenic from soil. The fern was growing at a central Florida site contaminated with large amounts of copper arsenate in the soil. The discovery may lead to the use of this fern as a potential bioremediation plant.

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