Ground level ozone concentration and its effect on plants of Polish national parks

Ozone concentrations were determined during the 1997-1999 growing seasons in 26 forest sites of the Carpathian Mountains using passive samplers (Ogawa & Co, Pompano Beach, FL, USA). In addition, in two western Carpathian sites ozone was continuously monitored (UV O3 Thermo Environmental Model 49C). Highest hourly ozone concentrations reached 160 and 200 μg m-3 ; ozone concentrations fluctuated over the whole growing seasons between 40 and 100 μg m-3 and showed significant differences between individual monitoring years, monitoring periods and geographic location of the sites. The highest ozone concentrations appeared in Western Carpathians. In the Tatra Mountains (18 forest sites in Polish and Slovak parts) ozone concentrations fluctuated over the whole season between 65 and 122 μg m-3 , average monthly concentrations reached 100 μg m-3 , and the highest 1-hour concentrations were close to 200 μg m-3 . The sites equipped with active monitors showed different patterns of diurnal ozone distribution. The results of studies show that high ozone concentrations appeared in many parts of the Carpathian range, and potential phytotoxic effects of ozone on forest stands (trees, herb layer) can be expected to appear on almost the entire territory of the Carpathian Mountains. The following species showed ozone-like injury symptoms: Pinus cembra, Sorbus aucuparia, Corylus avellana, Sambucus racemosa, Ranunculus repens and R. lanuginosus, Senecio subalpinus, Vaccinium myrtillus, Gentiana asclepiadea, Centaurea jacea, Impatiens parviflora

Zinc-lead mine spoils near Olkusz - past, present and future

Distribution of zinc-lead resources in Olkusz region (southern Poland), the history of mining activities in this area (XIII-XX century), generation of mine spoils with high concentration of zinc, lead and other heavy metals, as well as the history of botanical studies on mine spoils in Olkusz region are described. The authors present detailed ecological studies on mine spoils of different age near Bolesław (Olkusz region). The species composition of resident vegetation, the concentration of heavy metals in spoils and in plants, seed rain and seed bank were studied in"old" (100 yrs) and "young" (recent) spoils, their results were compared and forms of reclamation on mine spoils are discussed. The authors suggest that the abundance of seeds in the soil and seed rain is sufficient to establish local vegetation in long succession processes. They propose to introduce seeds of the dominating plant species or fragments of grasslands from older mine spoils to accelerate the spontaneous succession on recent spiols

Cladina stellaris (Opiz) Brodo as a bioindicator of atmospheric deposition on the Kola Peninsula, Russia

Concetrations of 16 elements (Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, C, N, S, P, Ca, Mg) were determined in the lichen Cladina stellaris (Opiz) Brodo collected from 26 localities on the Kola Peninsula. Concentrations were higher closer to the emission sources. In Arctic regions affected by local emissions, lichens can be recommended as sensitive indicators of atmospheric pollution

Evolutionary dynamics of quantitative variation in an adaptive trait at the regional scale:The case of zinc hyperaccumulation in Arabidopsis halleri

Metal hyperaccumulation in plants is an ecological trait whose biological significance remains debated, in particular because the selective pressures that govern its evolutionary dynamics are complex. One of the possible causes of quantitative variation in hyperaccumulation may be local adaptation to metalliferous soils. Here, we explored the population genetic structure of Arabidopsis halleri at fourteen metalliferous and nonmetalliferous sampling sites in southern Poland. The results were integrated with a quantitative assessment of variation in zinc hyperaccumulation to trace local adaptation. We identified a clear hierarchical structure with two distinct genetic groups at the upper level of clustering. Interestingly, these groups corresponded to different geographic subregions, rather than to ecological types (i.e., metallicolous vs. nonmetallicolous). Also, approximate Bayesian computation analyses suggested that the current distribution of A. halleri in southern Poland could be relictual as a result of habitat fragmentation caused by climatic shifts during the Holocene, rather than due to recent colonization of industrially polluted sites. In addition, we find evidence that some nonmetallicolous lowland populations may have actually derived from metallicolous populations. Meanwhile, the distribution of quantitative variation in zinc hyperaccumulation did separate metallicolous and nonmetallicolous accessions, indicating more recent adaptive evolution and diversifying selection between metalliferous and nonmetalliferous habitats. This suggests that zinc hyperaccumulation evolves both ways—towards higher levels at nonmetalliferous sites and lower levels at metalliferous sites. Our results open a new perspective on possible evolutionary relationships between A. halleri edaphic types that may inspire future genetic studies of quantitative variation in metal hyperaccumulation

Evolutionary dynamics of quantitative variation in an adaptive trait at the regional scale:The case of zinc hyperaccumulation in Arabidopsis halleri

Metal hyperaccumulation in plants is an ecological trait whose biological significance remains debated, in particular because the selective pressures that govern its evolutionary dynamics are complex. One of the possible causes of quantitative variation in hyperaccumulation may be local adaptation to metalliferous soils. Here, we explored the population genetic structure of Arabidopsis halleri at fourteen metalliferous and nonmetalliferous sampling sites in southern Poland. The results were integrated with a quantitative assessment of variation in zinc hyperaccumulation to trace local adaptation. We identified a clear hierarchical structure with two distinct genetic groups at the upper level of clustering. Interestingly, these groups corresponded to different geographic subregions, rather than to ecological types (i.e., metallicolous vs. nonmetallicolous). Also, approximate Bayesian computation analyses suggested that the current distribution of A. halleri in southern Poland could be relictual as a result of habitat fragmentation caused by climatic shifts during the Holocene, rather than due to recent colonization of industrially polluted sites. In addition, we find evidence that some nonmetallicolous lowland populations may have actually derived from metallicolous populations. Meanwhile, the distribution of quantitative variation in zinc hyperaccumulation did separate metallicolous and nonmetallicolous accessions, indicating more recent adaptive evolution and diversifying selection between metalliferous and nonmetalliferous habitats. This suggests that zinc hyperaccumulation evolves both ways—towards higher levels at nonmetalliferous sites and lower levels at metalliferous sites. Our results open a new perspective on possible evolutionary relationships between A. halleri edaphic types that may inspire future genetic studies of quantitative variation in metal hyperaccumulation

First thorough identification of factors associated with Cd, Hg and Pb concentrations in mosses sampled in the European Surveys 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005

The aim of this study was, for the first time ever, to thoroughly identify the factors influencing Cd, Hg and Pb concentrations in mosses sampled within the framework of the European Heavy Metals in Mosses Surveys 1990–2005. These investigations can be seen as a follow up of a previous study where only the moss data recorded in the survey 2005 was included in the analysis (Schröder et al. 2010). The analyses of this investigation give a complete overview on the statistical association of Cd, Hg and Pb concentrations in mosses and sampling site-specific and regional characteristics, encompassing data from 4661 (1990), 7301 (1995), 6764 (2000) and 5600 (2005) sampling sites across Europe. From the many metals monitored in the European moss surveys, Cd, Hg and Pb were used as examples, since only for these three metals deposition measurements are being recorded in the framework of the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP). As exemplary case studies revealed that other factors besides atmospheric deposition of metals influence the element concentrations in mosses, the moss datasets of the above mentioned surveys were analysed by means of bivariate statistics and decision tree analysis in order to identify factors influencing metal bioaccumulation. In the analyses we used the metadata recorded during the sampling as well as additional geodata on, e.g., depositions, emissions and land use. Bivariate Spearman correlation analyses showed the highest correlations between Cd and Pb concentrations in mosses and EMEP modelled total deposition data (0.62 ≤ rs ≤ 0.73). For Hg the correlations with all the tested factors were considerably lower (e.g. total deposition r s  ≤ 0.24). Decision tree analyses by means of Classification and Regression Trees (CART) identified the total deposition as the statistically most significant factor for the Cd and Pb concentrations in the mosses in all four monitoring campaigns. For Hg, the most significant factor in 1990 as identified by CART was the distance to the nearest Hg source recorded in the European Pollutant Emission Register, in 1995 and 2000 it was the analytical method, and in 2005 it was the sampled moss species. The strong correlations between the Cd and Pb concentrations in the mosses and the total deposition can be used to calculate deposition maps with a regression kriging approach on the basis of surface maps on the element concentrations in the mosse

New international long-term ecological research on air pollution effects on the Carpathian Mountain forests, Central Europe

An international cooperative project on distribution of ozone in the Carpathian Mountains, Central Europe was conducted from 1997 to 1999. Results of that project indicated that in large parts of the Carpathian Mountains, concentrations of ozone were elevated and potentially phytotoxic to forest vegetation. That study led to the establishment of new long-term studies on ecological changes in forests and other ecosystems caused by air pollution in the Retezat Mountains, Southern Carpathians, Romania and in the Tatra Mountains, Western Carpathians on the Polish-Slovak border. Both of these important mountain ranges have the status of national parks and are Man & the Biosphere Reserves. In the Retezat Mountains, the primary research objective was to evaluate how air pollution may affect forest health and biodiversity. The main research objective in the Tatra Mountains was to evaluate responses of natural and managed Norway spruce forests to air pollution and other stresses. Ambient concentrations of ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) as well as forest health and biodiversity changes were monitored on densely distributed research sites. Initial monitoring of pollutants indicated low levels Of O3, SO2, and NOx in the Retezat Mountains, while elevated levels of O3 and high deposition of atmospheric sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) have characterized the Tatra Mountains. In the Retezat Mountains, air pollution seems to have little effect on forest health; however, there was concern that over a long time, even low levels of pollution may affect biodiversity of this important ecosystem. In contrast, severe decline of Norway spruce has been observed in the Tatra Mountains. Although bark beetle seems to be the immediate cause of that decline, long-term elevated levels of atmospheric N and S depositions and elevated O3 could predispose trees to insect attacks and other stresses. European and US scientists studied pollution deposition, soil and plant chemistry, O3-sensitive plant species, forest insects, and genetic changes in the Retezat and Tatra Mountains. Results of these investigations are presented in a GIS format to allow for a better understanding of the changes and the recommendations for effective management in these two areas