Fluctuating asymmetry of leaves of mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia L.) as a bioindicator of aerotechnogenic pollution of the city of Orenburg
- DOI
- 10.5922/gikbfu-2023-4-8
- Pages
- 103-114
Abstract
An assessment of environmental pollution in the city of Orenburg was conducted using the fluctuating asymmetry method. The common mountain ash was chosen as an environmental indicator. Leaf collection took place at seven points in the city with varying anthropogenic loads. The research aimed to determine the impact of aerotechnogenic pollution on the magnitude of the fluctuating asymmetry of the leaf blade of the populations of mountain ash within the city of Orenburg. The study revealed that the leaf blades of mountain ash in urban conditions are affected by anthropogenic factors, experiencing air pollution and accumulating harmful substances. The fluctuating asymmetry method can be used as an indicator of plant development instability in urban ecosystems. Elevated environmental stress, based on the integral indicator of fluctuating asymmetry, was noted at all points except the Ural River Embankment. In this area, the growing conditions for plants were characterized as satisfactory. Through pairwise correlation analysis of the examined characteristics, the closest connections were found between two pairs: the width of the leaf half — the distance between the bases of the first and second order veins; the distance from the base of the leaf plate to the end of the second-order vein — the angle between the main vein and the second from the base of the leaf.