title: The effects of short- and long-term air pollutants on plant phenology and leaf characteristics.
abstract: Pollution adversely affects vegetation; however, its impact on phenology and leaf morphology is not satisfactorily understood yet. We analyzed associations between pollutants and phenological data of birch, hazel and horse chestnut in Munich (2010) along with the suitability of leaf morphological parameters of birch for monitoring air pollution using two datasets: cumulated atmospheric concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and ozone derived from passive sampling (short-term exposure) and pollutant information derived from Land Use Regression models (long-term exposure). Partial correlations and stepwise regressions revealed that increased ozone (birch, horse chestnut), NO2, NOx and PM levels (hazel) were significantly related to delays in phenology. Correlations were especially high when rural sites were excluded suggesting a better estimation of long-term within-city pollution. In situ measurements of foliar characteristics of birch were not suitable for bio-monitoring pollution. Inconsistencies between long- and short-term exposure effects suggest some caution when interpreting short-term data collected within field studies.
authors.affiliation: Physical Geography/Landscape Ecology and Sustainable Ecosystem Development, Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Ostenstraße 18, 85072 Eichstätt, Germany; Ecoclimatology, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Technische Universität München, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354 Freising, Germany; Institute for Advanced Study, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstraße 2a, 85748 Garching, Germany. Electronic address: susanne.jochner@ku.de.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jochner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology I, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; Division of Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Lindwurmstraße 4, 80337 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Iana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Markevych
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine (UNIKA-T), Technische Universität München, Neusässer Straße 47, 86156 Augsburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine (UNIKA-T), Technische Universität München, Neusässer Straße 47, 86156 Augsburg, Germany; CK CARE - Christine Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education, Herman-Burchard-Straße 1, 7265 Davos, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Traidl-Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology I, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.affiliation: Ecoclimatology, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Technische Universität München, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354 Freising, Germany; Institute for Advanced Study, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstraße 2a, 85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menzel
mesh_terms: D031319:Aesculus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D029662:Betula / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D031211:Corylus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005858:Germany; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014507:Urbanization
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D052638:Particulate Matter; D010126:Ozone
keywords: Air pollution; Leaf morphology; Phenology; Specific leaf area; Temperature