EPIPHYTIC HABITATS IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT; CONTAMINATION BY HEAVY METALS AND SULPHUR IN THE BARKS OF DIFFERENT TREE SPECIES

摘要

Air pollution is mentioned as one of the major factors that limit the occurrence of epiphytes in urban areas. The purpose of the investigation was to analyze any dissimilarity in the amount of heavy metals and sulphur to the bark of different tree species that had been subjected to bark pollution (pH values were also analyzed). In order to estimate the differences in the amount of pollutants that had reached the bark; the "moss-bag" method was also used.The present study confirms that the barks of tree species differ in the level of pollutants (such as heavy metals and sulphur). The higher pH values of the bark appears to be an important buffer for the adverse effects of air pollution and determines therecolonization processes of epiphytic species in urban areas.