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Potential Impact of Urban Land Use on Microplastic Atmospheric Deposition: A Case Study in Pristina City, Kosovo
Microplastics (MPs) pervade various ecosystems, including urban landscapes. The aim of this study was to determine whether the presence of MPs in atmospheric deposition samples is related to land use. For this purpose, atmospheric deposition was collected from 15 to 25 March 2021 at seven research sites in the city of Pristina (Kosovo). Each research site was characterized by different land use. Collected atmospheric deposition samples were analyzed in the laboratory, and then the filtered samples were assessed using a light microscope. The type and size of microplastics in the samples were defined and statistically analyzed. The highest number of total MPs was noted on the highway, while the lowest one was near to the park. A positive relationship was observed between the number of total MPs and the proportion of areas classified as “roads and associated areas” in the land use of the analyzed research sites. Furthermore, a negative relationship was found between the number of total MPs and the proportion of areas classified as “green urban areas”. Based on our preliminary research, it can be observed that the type of land use may have a key role in MPs’ atmospheric deposition.
Does a gender of Welwitschia mirabilis plants influence their photosynthetic activity?
Welwitschia mirabilisHook.f. (Welwitschiaceae, Gnetales) is a gymnosperm plant unique in its habit with an isolated taxonomic position. This species is dioecious, but no studies of its photosynthetic activity were conducted with examination of differences among male and female plants. To fill this gap, the day and night photosynthetic activity of male and female specimens ofWelwitschia mirabiliscultivated in the botanical garden was studied in controlled conditions. Photosynthetic activity was studied using net photosynthetic rate (PN), stomatal conductance (gs) and intercellular CO2concentration (Ci) parameters. Additionally, a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was used to assess the condition among male and female plants in full sunlight. The studiedWelwitschiaplants revealed variability in photosynthetic activity both during the day and the night. The photosynthetic activity was low in the morning hours and higher in the afternoon. There is a difference in the photosynthetic activity during the night between sexes, being higher in female specimens. Stomatal density was evaluated separately for adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces. Statistically significant differences in the stomatal density on abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces were observed in both sexes, especially distinctive in female specimens. NDVI has revealed that there were weak differences between male and female plants.
Micromorphology of fern spores as a tool in taxonomy of East-Central European species from the family Aspleniaceae (Polypodiopsida)
The family Aspleniaceae consists of ca. 730 fern species found primarily in the tropics but present also in the temperate zone. Recently, researchers have been increasingly interested in spore morphology, as it provides valuable information used in taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses. This study aimed to (1) describe in detail spore morphology in species of the family Aspleniaceae from Central and Eastern Europe; (2) attempt to use their features in taxonomic analyses; and (3) create a key to species identification on the basis of spores. e study was based on <i>Asplenium</i> spores of 10 species from 57 localities. The morphological type of spores was very similar in all the studied species, whereas spore microsculpture varied widely between and within species. This makes it difficult to use spores for species identification. Nevertheless, spore morphology allows the identification of six species, while the others form groups composed of 2–3 species each. In the group consisting of <i>A. adulterinum</i>, <i>A. trichomanes</i>, and <i>A. ruta-muraria</i>, the last species is distinguished by larger spore size (more than 50 μm long).
Trifolium pratense and the Heavy Metal Content in Various Urban Areas
Effective biomonitoring strategies are essential for identifying and assessing the sources and levels of contamination of heavy metal pollutants in urban areas, given their negative impacts on human health and the environment. This study aimed to assess the potential of common weed, Trifolium pratense as a bioindicator of heavy metal contamination in various land uses in urban areas, with a focus on Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Pb. The results have shown that Cr and Ni had high bioconcentration factor (BCF) values in most sites, in comparison with Cu, Cd and Pb. Contamination factor (CF) values varied across all sites. The industrial area and old town sites had the highest translocation factor (TF) values for Cr and Ni, indicating greater transport of these metals from roots to aerial parts of plants. Differences between heavy metals (HMs) according to land use were observed; especially, Pb and Cu were more concentrated in soils than other heavy metals in industrial areas. Overall, these findings suggest that Trifolium pratense is a promising bioindicator for heavy metal contamination in various land uses in urban areas, making it a potentially valuable tool for monitoring heavy metal pollution in cities of the northern hemisphere.
Common weeds as heavy metal bioindicators: a new approach in biomonitoring
AbstractEnvironmental pollution by heavy metals affects both urban and non-urban areas of Europe and the world. The use of bioindicator plants for the detection of these pollutants is a common practice. An important property of potential bioindicators is their easy availability and wide distribution range, which means that they can be practically used over a wide area. Therefore, common and widely distributed weeds: Trifolium pratense L., Rumex acetosa L., Amaranthus retroflexus L., Plantago lanceolata L., ornamental species Alcea rosea L., and Lolium multiflorum L. var. Ponto were selected as a potential bioindicators of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn). Plants were exposed in the same soil conditions in three sample sites in the Poznań city. It was found that all species had heavy metal accumulation potential, especially A. rosea, P. lanceolata and L. multiflorum for Zn (BCF = 6.62; 5.17; 4.70) and A. rosea, P. lanceolata for Cd (BCF = 8.51; 6.94). Translocation of Cu and Zn was the most effective in T. pratense (TFCu = 2.55; TFZn = 2.67) and in A. retroflexus (TFCu = 1.50; TFZn = 2.23). Cd translocation was the most efficient in T. pratense (TFCd = 1.97), but PB was the most effective translocated in A. retroflexus (TFPb = 3.09).. Based on physiological response to stress, it was detected an increasing level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in roots and leaves of all samples, with the highest in all organs of A. rosea. Enzymatic activity levels of CAT, APOX, and also the marker of polyunsaturated fatty acid peroxidation MDA, were higher after 6 weeks of exposure in comparison to control samples and varied in time of exposure and between species and exposure. After the experiment, in almost all samples we detected a reduction of chlorophyll content and relative water content, but in efficiency of photosynthesis parameters: net photosynthesis rate, intercellular CO2 concentration and stomatal conductance, we noted increased values, which proved the relatively good condition of the plants. The examined weeds are good bioindicators of heavy metal contamination, and their combined use makes it possible to comprehensively detection of environmental threats.