Jukka Lamppu

Relations between Scots pine needle element concentrations and decreased needle longevity along pollution gradients

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) shoots were sampled along transects near one urban pollution source and two smelters. Needle Mg, P and K concentrations decreased from the second to the fourth age class linearly with needle survival along the urban pollution gradient. Still, over 80% of the average concentration of these nutrients remained in the fourth needle age class. Decreased needle longevity was closely related to the increased heavy metal concentrations near the smelters. Near the urban pollution source, it was related to the increased annual needle mass and the increased needle nutrient concentrations. Decreased Mn accumulation along with needle age was detected near all pollution sources. Leaching of Mn from needles and especially from soil as a cause of decreased needle concentrations is discussed.

Element Concentrations in Scots Pine Needles on Radial Transects Across a Subarctic Area

Concentrations of aluminium (Al), arsenic (As), calcium (Ca), cadmium (Cd), chlorine (Cl), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), phosphorus (P), lead (Pb), sulphur (S), silicon (Si) and zinc (Zn) were measured by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) in Scots pine needles collected from transects across Finnish Lapland and the Kola Peninsula in Russia. Ni, Cu, Fe, P and S concentrations were significantly higher in the needles collected in the vicinity of the smelters in Monchegorsk, whereas Mn and Zn decreased towards Monchegorsk. No distinct increase of S or decrease of Mn and Zn concentrations in the needles were observed when approaching Nikel. Foliar S concentrations were higher in C needles than in C+1 needles, even in plots close to the smelters. The effect of the emissions from the smelters was clearly seen in the needle chemistry up to 50 km away from smelters and was still perceivable over 100 km away.

Deposited particles, element concentrations and needle injuries on Scots pines along an industrial pollution transect in northern Europe

Effects of total foliar element concentrations and particles deposited on needle surfaces on visible and cell level needle injuries were studied from Scots pines. A factor representing high foliar levels of Ni, Cu and S and low levels of Zn and Mn explained most of the variation in the number of needle age classes (r=−0.67) and tip necrosis (r=0.52). Stomatal chlorosis and other discolourations were explained by a factor representing high foliar concentrations of Ca, Fe, Si and Cl (r=0.74 and r=0.69 respectively). These injury variables also correlated clearly with the modeled SO2 concentration in the air. The cell level injuries studied did not show distinct relations to either the foliar element concentrations or the deposited particles.

Effects of sulphur and heavy metal deposition on foliar chemistry of Scots pines in Finnish Lapland and on the Kola Peninsula

Foliar concentrations of sulphur (S), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) were measured from Scots pine needles collected from a gradient on the Kola Peninsula and in Finnish Lapland. S, Cu and Ni levels rose in the vicinity of the smelter complex in Monchegorsk. K and P concentrations followed the same pattern due to enhanced foliar senescence close to the smelters, whereas those of Mn and Zn decreased in the vicinity of the smelters, possibly because of increased leakage from foliage and soil and antagonistic interactions between Mn, Zn and the emitted elements.

Seasonal foliar chemistry of northern Scots pines under sulphur and heavy metal pollution

Foliar element concentrations (Al, Ca, Cl, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, S and Zn) were determined in needles of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) collected from northern Finland and the Kola Peninsula. On the Finnish side of the border K, Mg, P and S decreased from autumn to spring, indicating translocation to new growth, whereas on the Russian side the Mg, P and S concentrations increased during the winter. K and P concentrations were the higher, the closer to the smelters on the Kola Peninsula the plots were situated, probably on account of the fewer needle age classes. The foliar Mn and Zn contents decreased close to the smelters, which suggests that enhanced leaching and competition between the above divalent nutrients and Cu and Ni have caused anomalies in the nutrient status of pines.

Characteristics and Geographical Distribution of the Changes in Scots Pine Needle Surfaces in Finnish Lapland and the Kola Peninsula

Effects of air pollution and a variety of other environmental factors on physicochemical characteristics of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) needle surfaces were studied in an extensive field investigation, comprising 114 sample plots (356 trees) on transect lines extending from the Nikel and Monchegorsk industrial complexes on the Kola Peninsula, Russia, across Finnish Lapland. Preliminary results from some of the investigated physicochemical parameters are presented in this paper. Condition of epicuticular wax structures, occurrence of particle deposition, fungal hyphae and insect damage on needle surfaces were investigated quantitatively under a scanning electron microscope, and needle wettability was measured in terms of contact angles. The investigated parameters showed great variability in terms of pollution, climate and ecology. Both the epicuticular wax erosion rate and needle wettability changed significantly faster during the first year on pines in Kola Peninsula, Russia (transect 1, extending to Monchegorsk) than on pines in Finland (transects 1,2,3,7). Site dependent effects, e. g., variation in ecological conditions of the sample plot, could be diminished by investigating the rate of change in the physicochemical parameter of pine needle surface during the first year, instead of using absolute values from different needle age classes.