Assessment of Bark Reaction of Select Tree Species as an Indicator of Acid Gaseous Pollution

摘要

pH values of the bark of the common tree species black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), sycamore maple (Acerpseudoplatanus L.), European yew (Taxus baccata L.), and European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) were evaluated to determine the acid gaseous pollution impact on their bark in eight heavily industrialized cities of southern Poland and relatively unpolluted areas of the Beskidy Mountains, Cze_stochowa Upland, and Nida Basin. It has been stated that the correlation between SO_2 levels in the atmosphere and the reaction of tree bark exists in all investigated tree species. Hence, the reaction of the bark of these species could be used as a simple indicator of air pollution. The results suggest that the European ash bark could be the best bioindi-cator.%Department of Ecology, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland;Department of Ecology, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland;Department of Ecology, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland;Department of Ecology, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland;