Changes in the Fluctuating Asymmetry of the Leaf and Reproductive Capacity of <i>Betula pendula</i> Roth Reflect Pessimization of Anthropogenically Transformed Environment
We have estimated the reproductive capacity of <i>Betulapendula</i> Roth and its relationship with an integrated measure of developmental stability, i.e., fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of the leaf. On the territory of a city with moderate anthropogenic pollution, a change has been detected...
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Symmetry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/12/12/1970 |
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| author | Nina Turmukhametova Elena Shadrina |
| author_facet | Nina Turmukhametova Elena Shadrina |
| author_sort | Nina Turmukhametova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We have estimated the reproductive capacity of <i>Betulapendula</i> Roth and its relationship with an integrated measure of developmental stability, i.e., fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of the leaf. On the territory of a city with moderate anthropogenic pollution, a change has been detected in the integrated fluctuating asymmetry (IFA) of the morphology of the female reproductive sphere and reproductive capacity of <i>Betula pendula</i>. In conditions of anthropogenic stress, the birch is observed to produce a large yield of fruits annually, which is not subject to year-to-year fluctuations. Morphological variety of size and shape of fruit-producing organs increases along the gradient of industrial and transport pollution; part of morphotypes of infructescences and seeds is characterized by lowered or zero capacity for reproduction determined by seed quality (germination energy and germination capacity). The statistical data processing involved correlation, Shapiro–Wilk test, Levene’s test, factorial ANOVA, Scheffe test, Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA, Mann–Whitney test, χ<sup>2</sup> method. Analysis of IFA has allowed us to reasonably well assess the state of the plant organism and to characterize environmental quality. A negative correlation between IFA and quantitative parameters of the functions of the reproductive sphere of <i>B. pendula</i> (infructescence diameter, seed quality) has been found, and positive correlation with qualitative parameters (the number of morphs of infructescences and seeds, the share of rare morphs of infructescences). Pessimization of urban environment creates the conditions for an increase in the share of defective infructescences and non-germinating seeds; a compensatory mechanism for this is an increase in reproductive effort of <i>B. pendula</i>. The consistency of responses in the vegetative and reproductive spheres reflects the disturbances in developmental stability of plants in urban communities. |
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| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:28:40Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
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| series | Symmetry |
| spelling | doaj.art-f787ceeaf0a44608ae4817ec26be18672023-11-20T22:47:33ZengMDPI AGSymmetry2073-89942020-11-011212197010.3390/sym12121970Changes in the Fluctuating Asymmetry of the Leaf and Reproductive Capacity of <i>Betula pendula</i> Roth Reflect Pessimization of Anthropogenically Transformed EnvironmentNina Turmukhametova0Elena Shadrina1Institute of Natural Sciences and Pharmacy, Mari State University, Lenin Square 1, 424000 Yoshkar-Ola, RussiaInstitute for Biological Problems of Cryolithozone SB RAS, Lenin av, 41, 677980 Yakutsk, RussiaWe have estimated the reproductive capacity of <i>Betulapendula</i> Roth and its relationship with an integrated measure of developmental stability, i.e., fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of the leaf. On the territory of a city with moderate anthropogenic pollution, a change has been detected in the integrated fluctuating asymmetry (IFA) of the morphology of the female reproductive sphere and reproductive capacity of <i>Betula pendula</i>. In conditions of anthropogenic stress, the birch is observed to produce a large yield of fruits annually, which is not subject to year-to-year fluctuations. Morphological variety of size and shape of fruit-producing organs increases along the gradient of industrial and transport pollution; part of morphotypes of infructescences and seeds is characterized by lowered or zero capacity for reproduction determined by seed quality (germination energy and germination capacity). The statistical data processing involved correlation, Shapiro–Wilk test, Levene’s test, factorial ANOVA, Scheffe test, Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA, Mann–Whitney test, χ<sup>2</sup> method. Analysis of IFA has allowed us to reasonably well assess the state of the plant organism and to characterize environmental quality. A negative correlation between IFA and quantitative parameters of the functions of the reproductive sphere of <i>B. pendula</i> (infructescence diameter, seed quality) has been found, and positive correlation with qualitative parameters (the number of morphs of infructescences and seeds, the share of rare morphs of infructescences). Pessimization of urban environment creates the conditions for an increase in the share of defective infructescences and non-germinating seeds; a compensatory mechanism for this is an increase in reproductive effort of <i>B. pendula</i>. The consistency of responses in the vegetative and reproductive spheres reflects the disturbances in developmental stability of plants in urban communities.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/12/12/1970fluctuating asymmetrydevelopmental instabilitysilver birch<i>Betula pendula</i>urban areareproductive ability |
| spellingShingle | Nina Turmukhametova Elena Shadrina Changes in the Fluctuating Asymmetry of the Leaf and Reproductive Capacity of <i>Betula pendula</i> Roth Reflect Pessimization of Anthropogenically Transformed Environment Symmetry fluctuating asymmetry developmental instability silver birch <i>Betula pendula</i> urban area reproductive ability |
| title | Changes in the Fluctuating Asymmetry of the Leaf and Reproductive Capacity of <i>Betula pendula</i> Roth Reflect Pessimization of Anthropogenically Transformed Environment |
| title_full | Changes in the Fluctuating Asymmetry of the Leaf and Reproductive Capacity of <i>Betula pendula</i> Roth Reflect Pessimization of Anthropogenically Transformed Environment |
| title_fullStr | Changes in the Fluctuating Asymmetry of the Leaf and Reproductive Capacity of <i>Betula pendula</i> Roth Reflect Pessimization of Anthropogenically Transformed Environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in the Fluctuating Asymmetry of the Leaf and Reproductive Capacity of <i>Betula pendula</i> Roth Reflect Pessimization of Anthropogenically Transformed Environment |
| title_short | Changes in the Fluctuating Asymmetry of the Leaf and Reproductive Capacity of <i>Betula pendula</i> Roth Reflect Pessimization of Anthropogenically Transformed Environment |
| title_sort | changes in the fluctuating asymmetry of the leaf and reproductive capacity of i betula pendula i roth reflect pessimization of anthropogenically transformed environment |
| topic | fluctuating asymmetry developmental instability silver birch <i>Betula pendula</i> urban area reproductive ability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/12/12/1970 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ninaturmukhametova changesinthefluctuatingasymmetryoftheleafandreproductivecapacityofibetulapendulairothreflectpessimizationofanthropogenicallytransformedenvironment AT elenashadrina changesinthefluctuatingasymmetryoftheleafandreproductivecapacityofibetulapendulairothreflectpessimizationofanthropogenicallytransformedenvironment |