Use of morphometric and phenological indicators of Betula pendula Roth for environmental health assessment

Abstract

The article presents the results of long-term biomonitoring of the quality of the environmental of the city of Yoshkar-Ola (Russia) based on the analysis of morphological and phenological indicators of Betula pendula Roth. The authors studied Betula pendula trees at various stages of ontogenesis in the generative period. The authors also found out the heterogeneity of ontogenetic groups of trees by morphological and phenological characteristics in different ecotopes of the city, differing in the degree of pollution by industrial and transport emissions, using principal component analysis A decrease in the morphometric parameters of the Betula pendula leaf blade and leaf damage by phyllophagous insects do not always indicate a deterioration in the quality of the habitat. Moderate doses of atmospheric toxicants can accelerate the growth of B. pendula leaves. However, in conditions of urban pollution, the stability of B. pendula development is disrupted, which is manifested in an increase in the leaf asymmetry index. There are the most informative indicators of the state of the environment in individuals B. pendula: morphometric – an indicator of fluctuating asymmetry of leaves, phenological – the timing and duration of phenophases. The young generative trees of B. pendula are most sensitive to habitat pollution.