Morphological response of the leaf blades of Betula pendula Roth. to the influence of man-made environmental factors

Abstract

Due to the technogenic transformation of ecotopes of ash and slag dumps of Burshtyn TPP, bioindications of the environment state in the zone of their influence are an urgent issue. The morphological reaction of Betula pendula Roth. leaves under the influence of man-caused factors of Burshtyn TPP ash and slag dumps was studied. The change in the shape of the leaf blades of B. pendula under the conditions of ash and slag dumps was analysed. The degree of modification of leaf blades was evaluated through the measures of shape coefficient and elongation coefficient. The use of morphological coefficients testified to their specificity. The form coefficient indicator proved to be a sensitive marker. The change in the area of leaf blades under the conditions of high levels of anthropopression was analyzed. On the territory of ash and slag dumps there was a decrease of leaf area. At the same time, a high level of necrotization of leaf blades was recorded. The condition of plants was assessed through the index of fluctuating asymmetry of B. pendula leaf blades. As a result of the study, the foliar morphometric parameters of B. pendula were determined, which showed high morphological reactivity under the influence of man-caused load and can be used as bioindication markers for assessing the state of the environment.