ABSTRACT It is known that environmental pollution causes a disturbance of phenological indexes of different plant species. However, the suitability of these parameters for assessing the level of environmental pollution is insufficiently studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the dependence of emergence rate from winter dormancy in spring (using share of blossom buds) and vegetation period termination in autumn (using share of fallen leaves) of B. pendula on the intensity of motor traffic pollution in a wide range of values, over 2 years of observation (in 2011–2012). B. pendula emergence rate from winter dormancy (estimated by share of blossom buds) and vegetation period termination in autumn (estimated by share of fallen leaves) depended on the intensity of motor traffic pollution over 2 years of observation. An increase in motor traffic caused a significant reduction of these plant parameters in comparison with the control. The share of blossom buds of B. pendula was more dependent on traffic intensity than the share of fallen leaves. The studied dependencies of phenological indexes of B. pendula did not vary significantly between the different years of observation (in 2011–2012). Therefore, the share of blossom buds and share of fallen leaves of B. pendula can be used for bioindication.
Advances in Environmental Biology, 8(10) June 2014, Pages: 212-215