title: Monitoring of ozone effects on the vitality and increment of Norway spruce and European beech in the Central European forests.
abstract: The ozone effect on Norway spruce (Picea abies (L) Karst.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) was studied on 48 monitoring plots in 2005-2008. These plots represent two major forest tree species stands of different ages in eight regions of the Czech Republic. The forest conditions were represented by defoliation and the annual radial increment of individual trees. The ozone exposure was assessed by using modeled values of mean annual O(3) concentration and the AOT40 index. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content of the foliage was analysed and used as an indicator of oxidative stress. The correlation analysis showed a significant relation of Norway spruce defoliation to the AOT40 exposure index, and European beech defoliation to the MDA level. The radial increment response to ozone was significant only for the European beech: (a) the correlation analysis showed its decrease with increasing AOT40; (b) the regression model showed its decrease with increasing mean annual ozone concentration only at lower altitudes (<700 m a.s.l.).
authors.affiliation: Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Strnady 136, 252 02 Jíloviště, Czech Republic. sramek@vulhm.cz
authors.forename: Vít
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: rámek
authors.forename: Radek
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Novotný
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vejpustková
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hůnová
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uhlířová
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018153:Czech Republic; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D029964:Fagus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D028222:Picea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014197:Trees / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D010126:Ozone