FOLIAR EPIDERMAL CHARACTERS ALONG AN URBAN-PERIURBAN GRADIENT: ¿BIOINDICATORS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION?

ARRIAGA MIRTA O.; STAMPACCHIO, M.L.; FERNÁNDEZ PEPI, M.G.; PERELMAN, P.; FAGGI, A.M.

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2012

0167-6369

Abstract: The present study explores the use of micromorphological leaf epidermal characters of Ficusbenjamina ( perennial) and Fraxinus pennsylvanica (deciduous) as indicators of pollution in theMetropolitan Area of the city of Buenos Aires. Mature leaves of both species were sampled along anurban - periurban gradient, with a rural area as control for epidermal characters. Parameters examinedfrom abaxial and upper epidermis were (1) length and width of stomata, (2) number of stomata perarea unit, (3) length and width of epidermal cells, (4) number of epidermal cells per area unit. Datawere analyzed with basic statistical and multivariate techniques. Principal Component Analysis (PCA)clearly grouped foliar samples according to three zones: urban, periurban and rural, areas withdifferent pollution values. No correlations were observed between epidermal character variations andenvironmental variables (mean temperature, mean precipitation and heliophany), neither regardingpollutants retained in tree barks nor regarding C, N, P and metals concentration in soil, with respect todata obtained from previous studies. Only one positive correlation (p=0.006) was found betweenstomatal length in leaves from Ficus and iron concentration in soil.