Publication
Title
Do leaf characteristics of white willow (Salix alba L.), northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.), and scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) respond differently to ambient air pollution and other environmental stressors?
Author
Abstract
This study assessed the effect of ambient air pollution on leaf characteristics of white willow, northern red oak, and Scots pine. Willow, oak, and pine saplings were planted at sixteen locations in Belgium, where nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O-3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and particulate matter (PM10) concentrations were continuously measured. The trees were exposed to ambient air during 6 months (April-September 2010), and, thereafter, specific leaf area (SLA), stomatal resistance (R-s), leaf fluctuating asymmetry (FA), drop contact angle (CA), relative chlorophyll content, and chlorophyll fluorescence (F-v/F-m) were measured. Leaf characteristics of willow, oak, and pine were differently related to the ambient air pollution, indicating a species-dependent response. Willow and pine had a higher SLA at measuring stations with higher NO2 and lower O-3 concentrations. Willow had a higher Rs and pine had a higher F-v/F-m at measuring stations with a higher NO2 and lower O-3 concentrations, while oak had a higher F-v/F-m and a lower FA at measuring stations with a higher NO2 and lower O-3 concentrations. FA and R-s of willow, oak, and pine, SLA of oak, and CA of willow were rather an indicator for local adaptation to the micro-environment than an indicator for the ambient air pollution.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Water, air and soil pollution. - Dordrecht
Publication
Dordrecht : 2013
ISSN
0049-6979 [print]
1573-2932 [online]
DOI
10.1007/S11270-013-1635-9
Volume/pages
224 :8 (2013) , p. 1-14
Article Reference
1635
ISI
000323255900004
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 15.10.2013
Last edited 09.10.2023
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