Orlovskyi O.V. Vitality of the trees in the urban cenoses of Poltava in dependence on the anthropogenic load. – Qualifying scientific work on the rights of the manuscript. Thesis for a Doctor of Philosophy Degree, Speciality 091 – «Biology». Korolenko National Pedagogical University, Poltava, 2025.
The dissertation presents theoretical generalizations and data analysis on the species composition of trees in the urban ecosystems of Poltava and the features of the response of tree health and growth indicators to anthropogenic factors. In the surveyed plantings of Poltava, 30 tree species from 21 genera of 15 families were identified, with the most represented species being Acer platanoides, Aesculus hippocastanum, Tilia cordata and Populus nigra. Changes in biodiversity indices have been found as the intensity of anthropogenic load increases. The deterioration of the health condition of all tree species as the intensity of traffic increases has been proven, with the greatest resistance of Quercus robur and Robinia pseudoacacia, and the least resistance of Aesculus hippocastanum. In areas with high traffic intensity, the prevalence of damaged leaves of small-leaved lime reached 100%, of horse chestnut and Norway maple - 87.8 and 86.4%, and of Silver birch - only 48.2%. Burns, mines, gnaws, punctures, galls and spots were found on the leaves of trees. The leaves of the horse chestnut were mainly damaged by Cameraria ohridella, and the leaves of Norway maple were mainly damaged by Rhytisma acerinum. Leaf burns were found at all tree species at medium traffic intensity and their spread increased at high traffic intensity. The spread of leaves with burns was the greatest on the small-leaved lime (10.2±3.03% and 42.2±4.94% in areas with medium and high traffic intensity, respectively) and on the Norway maple (12.5±3.31% and 36.3±4.81%, respectively). As the traffic intensity increased, a decrease in the growth of the current year's shoots, the average number of leaves per shoot and their area, as well as an increase in the share of the damaged leaf area were determined. The joint and separate impact of transport emissions, root growth restriction and crowning on tree health was assessed. The increase in the proportion of damaged leaf area as traffic intensity increased to an average level and the negative impact of air pollutants on biotic factors of leaf damage at high traffic intensity was quantified. It was found that the average annual radial growth of horse chestnut in the arboretum was greater than near the road with intensive traffic, in the periods before the beginning of horse chestnut miner invasion (1992–2007) (2.55±0.11 and 2.27±0.09 mm, respectively) and after it (2008–2023) (1.91±0.10 and 1.36±0.08 mm, respectively). Significant correlations of growth with climatic indicators, in particular, with FAI, were determined. The trend of increasing air temperature, earlier beginning and increase in the duration of the growing season and decrease in precipitation and hydrothermal coefficient compared to long-term data was confirmed for the research region, which may negatively affect the health of trees in the urban environment of Poltava. The feasibility of considering the ecological amplitudes of factors when choosing tree species in urban environments was proven. The data obtained in other regions regarding the decrease in the growth of shoots of the current year, the average number of leaves per shoot and their area as the intensity of traffic increases was confirmed. The results of the assessment of dendroflora species diversity in different types of plantings in Poltava, ecological requirements and resistance of individual species to natural and anthropogenic factors can be taken into account when enriching the range of species in urban forests of Poltava in the context of climate change. Identifying biotic factors of damage to individual tree species allows to improve surveillance, and measures to prevent leaf damage and minimize the consequences. Identifying informative morphometric indicators of trees that respond to anthropogenic emissions is appropriate for use in monitoring programs. At the same time, other factors affecting the growth and health of these trees, whose impact is integrated by radial growth, must be considered. These methodological provisions can be implemented in practice and the educational process.
Keywords: dendroflora, anthropogenic loading, tree health, damage factors, bioindication.
