Leaf morphology in Arenaria patula and Lonicera japonica along a pollution gradient
Certain plant species have persisted in denuded areas subjected to heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu) and SO/sub 2/ air pollution from two zinc smelters in Palmerton, Pennsylvania. The objectives of this research were to determine if correlations existed between the degree of environmental pollution and changes in leaf morphology along a local pollution gradient, and to determine the relative importance of genetic and environmental components responsible for the observed variations in leaf phenotypes. Leaves and epidermal peels from field samples of Arenaria patula and Lonicera japonica were examined microscopically. Sample sites were chosen to coincide with a previously documented air pollution gradient, and field conditions were monitored. Although stomatal size and leaf volume were not significantly different among populations of a species in the field, those populations of Arenaria and Lonicera exposed to the highest concentrations of pollutants exhibited the lowest stomatal density and the highest trichome density. Such alterations in leaf morphology should reduce the penetration of gaseous, and especially particulate matter, into the mesophyll and thus reduce susceptibility to pollution damage. Comparisons of results from the field with those of common environments (greenhouse and greenhouse courtyard) indicated phenotypic plasticity as the source of most of the observed field differences in Arenaria and Lonicera; however, they also provided some evidence for genetic dissimilarity in Lonicera populations in stomatal and trichome densities. 30 references.
- Research Organization:
- Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ
- OSTI ID:
- 5320670
- Journal Information:
- Bull. Torrey Bot. Club; (United States), Vol. 107:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
HERBS
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
LEAVES
MORPHOLOGY
CADMIUM
COPPER
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
LEAD
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
NEW JERSEY
PENNSYLVANIA
PH VALUE
SMELTERS
SOIL CHEMISTRY
STOMATA
SULFUR DIOXIDE
ZINC
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
DATA
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION II
FEDERAL REGION III
INFORMATION
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OPENINGS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
560303* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987)
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)