Use of Picea abies Needles as Indicators of Air Pollution: Epicuticular Wax Morphologie

1988

11 Abb., 2 Tab., 52 Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

4570

200026226

The study was undertaken to develop a microscopic observation system for estimating the degree of damage caused by air pollution in Norway Spruce forests. One-year-old Picea abies (L.) Karst. needles were collected from three sites in Southern Finland. The morphology of the epicuticular wax ofthe needles was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. A classification of the epicuticular wax forms was created, and the abundance of each wax type was estimated. A significant correlation was observed between the proportion oferoded wax types and the level of air pollution in the site of origin. The met hod was found promising, as the differences between study sites were clear and readily identified with the help of simple statistics. Preparation of samples for SEM is also easy, which enables the use of a large needle material.