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Short shoots of Betula pendula Roth. as bioindicators of urban environmental pollution in Wrocław (Poland)

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Abstract

Concentrations of the elements Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N, Ni, P, Pb and Zn were measured in leaves of Betula pendula from the polluted areas of Wrocław, Poland and from a control site, relatively free from pollution. From the same sampled trees, lengths of vegetative short shoots were measured to investigate the influence of environmental pollution. Length of the vegetative short shoots of B. pendula was positively influenced by the traffic intensity and by the concentration of Co, Cu, Fe, Ni and Pb in leaves of this species. Vegetative short shoots of B. pendula from polluted sites in Wrocław were significantly longer than that of the trees growing in a clean area. Thus, this feature may be used as a pollution bioindicator.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology, Biogeochemistry and Environmental Protection, Wrocław University, ul. Kanonia 6/8, 50-328, Wrocław, Poland

    Aleksandra Samecka-Cymerman & K. Kolon

  2. Department of Environmental Science, Radboud University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    A. J. Kempers

Authors
  1. Aleksandra Samecka-Cymerman
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  2. K. Kolon
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  3. A. J. Kempers
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Correspondence to Aleksandra Samecka-Cymerman.

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Communicated by E. Beck.

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Samecka-Cymerman, A., Kolon, K. & Kempers, A.J. Short shoots of Betula pendula Roth. as bioindicators of urban environmental pollution in Wrocław (Poland). Trees 23, 923–929 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-009-0334-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-009-0334-z

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