TO THE QUESTION OF THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE ECOLOGICAL STATE OF ARTIFICIAL PLANTATIONS OF PITSUNDSKAYA PINE IN THE SEASIDE AREA OF GELENDZHIK
Abstract and keywords
Abstract (English):
Gelendzhik is the resort town, there aren't a lot of industrial enterprises here. The main pollutant is transport. The work purpose is the assessment of a condition of the artificial landings of a pine located along the Federal highway "Don" and landings, which is nearly the sea coast. Researches were conducted to a standard technique of the General vital state (A. S. Bogolyubov). The assessment of a condition of pines was carried out during 6 years: from 2010 to 2015. For carrying out research we used 6 experimental grounds on the Markotkhsky spine and 2 control grounds within the town. We investigated 24 trees on each platform, middle age of the trees were 30 - 40 years. Results. 1. The condition of trees in the pine forests located in immediate proximity with the Federal highway "Don" (No. 1, 2, 3) is unsatisfactory. As even weak influences of the majority of atmospheric gaseous pollutants (sulphurous gas, nitrogen oxides, etc.) give effect of a necrosis and hloroz of pine needles, the condition of pines is connected with technogenic pollution. So near the Federal highway "Don" the air environment is strongly polluted by exhaust gases. Information of 2012 confirm that negative influence of the route on Markotkh's vegetation decreases at reduction of load of the route. 2. On the sites located above on a slope (No. 4,5,6) thanks to remoteness and the wind mode intensity of influence of pollutants is lower and a condition of pines the quite satisfactory. 3. Trees on the sites located near the sea (No. 7,8) are in a good shape. Small deterioration of a state is noted in very droughty years. Conclusion. Results of six years' research show that the condition of the plantings which are in close proximity with the road worsens. It is explained by increase in intensity of the movement on the road, especially during a resort season. Gelendzhik is the city with a good ecological shape, but the damage to environment is already caused. If not to take measures, we can lose a unique part of the nature in the future, recreate it will be impossible. Measures of reduction of negative impact of exhaust gases were offered. Results of researches are transferred to ecological department of the City administration of Gelendzhik.

Keywords:
Bioindication, climate change, technogenic pollution, General vital state
Text

 

Introduction.

Everything is interconnected in nature.

Forest areas have a beneficial effect on the composition of the air. In it turn the condition of forests greatly depends on the environment, including atmosphere. The air value can’t be overestimated. It is a source of oxygen for our breathing a provider of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. It is a heat keeper and a climate regulator. It is a habitat for flying beings. And it is chemical raw materials, a source of energy, utilization area and so on.

Different chemical substances are released into environment more and more. There are two main sources of the atmosphere pollution: natural and anthropogenic. Volcanoes, dust storms, wildfires and processes of decomposition of plants and animals are natural sources. Fuel and energy complex enterprises and transport are anthropogenic.

Gelendzhik is a resort town. There are not any industrial companies here. The main anthropogenic factor is transportation. Though Gelendzhik is still related to the cities with a favorable environmental condition, nature damage has already been done. It is due to the rapid increase of vehicles especially in summer. It is becomes evident from the condition of vegetation on Markhotsky ridge.

The relevance of the topic is connected with the fact that indicator species reveal the specific characteristics of the environment due to the anthropogenic load. State of the environment and air pollution sources are of great practical importance. Instrument control provides information about concentrations of pollutants that are presenting in the air at the moment, and plants like monitoring objects can be used to obtain the information about the duration of exposure to pollutants.

                                                                                                                      (Bioindication 1988)

The object of study: artificial forest plantations of pines along the “Don” federal high-way.

The subject of study: the effect of air pollution on the forest plantations of pines.

Purpose of the study: to study the effect of air pollution on the forest plantations of pines along the “Don” federal high-way.

Objectives of the study:

  •  to study the composition of the air and ins main pollutants;
  •  to study the scientific data on the indicative ability of Pitsundskaya Pine;
  • to rate the transport effect on the condition of the pines

Technique: bioindication of a condition of the air environment on complex properties of Pitsundskaya pine, standard technique (assessment of the vital state of the forest according to condition of the pine)

Forest ecosystems reaction to adverse environmental conditions is shown in violation of the structure and function both of the entire system and individual components. These violations can be noticed by several sings, which can be seen when you look attentively at the natural object. Common signs of the condition of the forest ecosystemare:

  • dryness and weakening of trees
  • reducing of the size of the pine’s needles compared to previous years
  • premature yellowing and defoliation 
  • slowing of the growth of trees
  • the appearance of the chlorosis and necrosis of needles and foliage, reducing of the lifetime of needles
  • noticeable increase of trees damage due to diseases, different insects and fungi
  • loss of forest communities tubular mushrooms and reducing of the species composition and strength of the plate mushrooms
  • reducing of the species composition of epiphytic lichens (living on the trunks) and reducing of the coverage area of trunks with lichens.

            These symptoms can be fixed without using of special instruments and scientific equipment. But to observe and evaluate the degree of danger it is necessary to have a starting point that is the normal condition of the ecosystems or some trees in undisturbed forest area.

To determine the life condition of the forest according to condition of the pine we have chosen the following factors:

  1. Dechromatsiya (damage of the large coniferous arrays in the area of stable air pollution. These damages are assessed in four main classes. Each class corresponds to a certain percentage of needle loss.

Visual evaluation of forest stands can be carried according to the following scale:

  • 0 – Healthy trees – It is allowed to have trees damage no more than 5% of the total tree;
  • 1 – Weakened trees –it is allowed to have trees damage no more than 30-40% of needles, this can be a disease and insects branches, drying of individual branches, chlorosis and necrosis  no more than 10% of needles or foliage of the tree.
  • 2 – Heavily Weakened trees – openwork crown damage and drying of needles up to 60-70%, chlorosis and necrosis  more than 10% of needles or foliage of the tree ;
  • 3 – Drying trees – severally damage trees – more than 70-80% of needles, lack of the tree growth, chlorosis and necrosis , lifetime of needles no more than 1-2 years.

 2. Yellowing is usually assessed in four classes:

        0 –  no Yellowing

        1 – light Yellowing (the loss of coloring 10-25%);

        2 – average Yellowing (25-60 %);

        3 – strong Yellowing (more than 60 %).     

 3. Tree growth. Assessment is based on 4-point scale with intervals of 5 cm

- 0  -  15 см,

 - 1 – 10 -15 см,

- 2  -  5 – 10 см,

- 3 – less than 5 см.

 Each class corresponds to the average estimate of the number of years to complete extinction. 0 class – more than 20 years, 1 class – 10-20 years; 2  class – 3-9 years, 3 class – less then 3 years. To determine the class of damage and needles drying the scheme number 2 is used.

I.  1. Topography, Climate and vegetation features of the study area.

Coniferous forest, which is the object of study, is located on the Black Sea - facing slopes of Markhotsky ridge. According to the research of Kyznetsov and Figurovsky, it belongs to the Crimean-Novorossiysk province. There are a great number of cross narrow valleys, crevices with steep slopes, covered with forests. Description of the soil north-western part of the Black sea coast is shown in works of Zaharov and Gerasimov. Pitsundskaya pine mainly grows on the lower part of Markhotsky ridge along the “Don” federal high-way.

2. Accumulative properties of plants.

Living organisms have a tendency to accumulate pollutants from the environment. These organisms called bioindicators. They may have symptoms that indicate the presence of pollutants in the air.

Bioindication of a condition of the air environment on complex properties of plant is a method of scientific research.

Close to roads trees have the greatest capacity to absorb. Trees along 100-300 meters from road have a high level of accumulation of lead, zinc, nickel, copper and manganese.

II. An estimate of the impact of transport on the pine forest of Markhotsky ridge.

 Pitsundskaya Pine (Pinus brutia var. Pityusa) responds to the environment pollution with technogenic products and reflects the overall level of pollution by chemical of different nature.

The assessment of a condition of pines was carried out during 6 years: from 2010 to 2015. For carrying out research we used 6 experimental grounds on the Markhotsky spine and 2 control grounds within the town. We investigated 24 trees on each platform, middle age of the trees were 30 - 40 years.

  1. The first site: 70m above the sea level. Distance to the track – 30m.
  2. The second site: 100m above the sea level. Distance to the track – 5m.
  3. The third site: 90m above the sea level. Distance to the track – 15m.
  4. The fourth site: 110m above the sea level. Distance to the track – 250m.
  5. The fifth site: 2500m above the sea level. Distance to the track – 200m.
  6. The sixth site: 120m above the sea level. Distance to the track – 200m.
  7. The seventh site: 10m above the sea level. Distance to the track – 1km.
  8. The eighth site: 10m above the sea level. Distance to the track – 1,5km.

III. The results of researchers.

1. An 2010 according to the obtained results from the sites №1,2,3  no more than 3 year left before the complete dying of the trees in the sites. The trees are severely weakened; they have openwork crown, damage and desiccation of needles, dry branches in the middle and upper parts of crown.

2011. The general condition of the pines has not improved. Both the number of necrotic spots and the speed of shrinkage have increased (8-30mm)

2012. This year was unusual because of the shower on the 6th of July in Gelendzhik (3 monthly norms of precipitation fell on this day). The number of tourists and transport was decreased. Thanks to those facts, the environmental situation along the track became more favorable and the condition of the pines became a little better.

2013. There were not any serious deterioration.

2014. Increasing off the number of necrotic spot, drying up of the tree crown, needles drying – 8-20cm; tree growth – no more than 10cm.

2015. The second site: excessive coverage necrotic spot, needles drying – 8-20cm. The fist site: trunks are damaged by insects (10%), strong drying of branches (25%).

2. On the test site №4 and №6 the pines condition was a little better. Assessment of the vital state of the pines – 6-9 years left before the complete dying of the trees of these sites. The needles were clean, almost without necrotic spots, but with some yellowing. There was a partial drying of the crown.

2011. Tree condition has not changed.

2012. Tree condition has not changed. And some tree condition has become better.

2013. The pine condition has remained at the same level.

2014. Compared with 2013 it was possible to observe a slight increase of needles drying (8-10mm), perhaps, because of the high temperature (the summer was very hot and dry, t – 48C)

2015. The pine condition has remained at the same level.

3. The most prosperous sites in 2010 were number 5, 7, 8 – 10-20 years left before the complete dying. №7, №8 – the trees are healthy, the needles were clean, and there was a good trees growth. №5 – there was a slight yellowing and needles drying (no more than 1-2mm). There was a slight necrotic coating and a slight decrease in growth.

2011. The trees condition has remained the same in the 7th and 8th site. But on 5th site the tree condition became worse.

2012. The tree condition was satisfactory. The number of yellow and drying needles decreased. (1-2mm) The tree growth – 15-20cm.

2013. The tree condition has remained at the same.

2014. An increase in the amount of yellowing and drying needles could be seen (1-5mm) and slight decrease of the tree growth (15-18cm).

2015. The tree condition has remained at the same level.

The results of the researches were compiled in the tables.

Conclusion.

The conditions of the trees in the pine forests, which are located close to the “Don” federal high-way, remain unsatisfactory. It is connected with intensive move on the high-way and big number of tourists transport in summer and also with problem of global warming (summer temperatures has changed).

Gelendzhik is the city with a good ecological shape, but the damage to environment is already caused. If not to take measures, we can lose a unique part of the nature in the future, recreate it will be impossible.

Proposed measures of reduction of negative impact of exhaust gases:

  1. to organize car parks outside the town during a holiday season;
  2. social advertisement of neutralizer of gases on cars;
  3. to organize sparing regimen of the traffic.

The results of the researches were referred to the environmental department of Gelendzhik administration.

 

Table with results of biomonitoring

 

Year of research

2010

2011

2012

№  site

№1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

№1

2

3

4

5

6

№7

8

№1

2

3

4

5

6

№7

8

Dehromatsia

2

2

2

1

1

1

0

0

2

3

3

2

2

1

0

0

2

3

3

2

2

1

0

0

Yellowing

2

3

3

1

1

2

0

0

2

3

3

1

1

2

0

0

2

3

3

1

1

2

0

0

Tree growth

1

2

2

0

1

0

0

0

1

2

3

2

2

1

0

0

1

2

3

2

2

1

0

0

Assessment of the vital state

3

3

3

1

1

2

0

0

3

3

3

2

2

2

0

0

3

3

3

2

2

2

0

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

1. Alexeev V.A. “Assessment of the vital state of trees”

2. Alexeev V.A. // “Tree research”. 1989. -№ 4. - p. 51-57.

3. Alexeev V.A. “Metals in soil and plants”, 1987.

4. V.V.Batoian, N.S.Kasimov // Research of biochemical laboretory 1990. p. 108-124.

5. Gerasimov I.P., “Soil of Kavkaz”, 1952g.

6. N.I.Kyznetsov “Crimean-Novorossiysk province research”

7. Maleev V.N. “Geobotanic”, 1946g.

8. eugenyshultz.livejournal.com

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