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Bioindicator responses and performance of plant species along a vehicular pollution gradient in western Himalaya

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Abstract

Loss of green cover, and increasing pollution is a prime global concern. The problem calls for screening of pollution-tolerant tree species that can be integrated into plantation drives. Recognizing this, the study analyzed bio-indicator responses and performance of commonly occurring plant species along a pollution gradient in western Himalaya. Based on distance from the road, three sites viz., highly polluted (HP), moderately polluted (MP), and least polluted (LP), were identified. From these sites, leaves of commonly occurring 26 tree species were collected and analyzed for dust accumulation, total chlorophyll, relative water content (RWC), ascorbic acid, and pH using standard protocols. Later, assessment of Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) and Anticipated Performance Indices (API) was carried out. The results revealed variations in biochemical characteristics. The pH, RWC, and total chlorophyll increased with decreasing pollution while ascorbic acid increased with increasing pollution. Dust capturing potential of Ficus carica (1.191 mg/m2) and Toona ciliata (0.820 mg/m2) was relatively higher. Based on the results of APTI, Grevillea robusta was classified as tolerant. It scored significantly higher values (21.06, 21.19, and 19.61 in LP, MP, and HP sites, respectively). Quercus floribunda, G. robusta (68.75% each), Juglans regia (68.7%), and T. ciliata (62.50%) were good performers in HP sites. Acer caesium, Betula utilis, and Morus alba that had low API scores (43.75%) were predicted as poor performers. Thus, G. robusta, Q. floribunda, J. regia, T. ciliata, and F. carica were evaluated as best performers. They could be integrated into plantations drives for environmental management.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Director CSIR-IHBT for facilities and encouragement. Head and staff members of High Altitude Biology Division are acknowledged for their support and valuable comments. We would like to thank the Editor and Reviewer(s) for their positive comments and suggestions that helped in improving the earlier version of this manuscript.

Funding

We thank the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change for financial support via National Mission on Himalayan Studies through project number GAP-0199. This is CSIR-IHBT communication number 4148.

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  1. High Altitude Biology Division, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, CSIR, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 176 061, India

    Rachit Kashyap, Rohit Sharma & Sanjay Kr. Uniyal

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  1. Rachit Kashyap
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  3. Sanjay Kr. Uniyal
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Correspondence to Sanjay Kr. Uniyal.

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Kashyap, R., Sharma, R. & Uniyal, S.K. Bioindicator responses and performance of plant species along a vehicular pollution gradient in western Himalaya. Environ Monit Assess 190, 302 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6682-7

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