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Impact of metal accumulation on Quercus ilex L. leaf traits

  • Francesco Esposito
  • Valeria Memoli
  • Speranza Claudia Panico
  • Marco Trifuoggi
  • Gabriella Di Natale
  • Giulia MaistoEmail author
Regular Article
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Abstract

Aims

The aims of this research were: i) to compare Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb concentrations in Quercus ilex L. leaves collected at urban/industrial and urban areas; ii) to investigate the main pathway of leaf metal accumulation; iii) to evaluate probable differences in traits of leaves at the investigated area typologies; iv) to relate leaf metal concentrations and to leaf traits.

Methods

Leaves and soils were collected at six sites (three of urban area and three of urban/industrial area). Length, width, area, extract pH, relative water content, specific area and petiole length were evaluated in the leaves; besides, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb concentrations were measured in unwashed and chloroform washed leaves, and in soils.

Results

The comparison between leaves collected at the urban and urban/industrial area showed that higher Cr, Ni and Pb concentrations were measured at the urban/industrial area, greater leaves and longer petiole were observed at the urban area, whereas higher leaf extract pH were observed at the urban/industrial one. Air uptake seemed to be the main pathway of leaf metal accumulation, as soils were not metal contaminated.

Conclusions

Q. ilex leaves highlighted a diffuse and conspicuous air metal pollution in both urban/industrial and urban areas, although differences between the site typologies were observed. In fact, leaves of the urban/industrial area showed higher inner concentrations of all the investigated metals, with the exception of Cu. A direct leaf uptake by the air can be supposed, as the soils were scarcely metal contaminated. Greater leaves and longer petiole, among the investigated leaf traits, appeared the main leaf responses to metal accumulation.

Keywords

Unwashed leaves Chloroform washed leaves Bioaccumulation factor Soil Urban and industrial areas 
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Notes

Acknowledgements

The research was funded by MonAir Project (Monitoraggio dell’aria del Comune di Pomigliano d’Arco - NA) and by the Department of Biology of the University of Naples Federico II. The authors wish to thank Mrs. Roberta Leandri for English revision.

Supplementary material

11104_2019_3953_MOESM1_ESM.docx (13 kb)
ESM 1 (DOCX 12 kb)
11104_2019_3953_MOESM2_ESM.docx (22 kb)
ESM 2 (DOCX 22 kb)

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Copyright information

© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019

Authors and Affiliations

  • Francesco Esposito
    • 1
  • Valeria Memoli
    • 1
  • Speranza Claudia Panico
    • 1
  • Marco Trifuoggi
    • 2
  • Gabriella Di Natale
    • 3
  • Giulia Maisto
    • 1
    Email author
  1. 1.Department of BiologyUniversity of Naples Federico IINaplesItaly
  2. 2.Dipartimento di Scienze ChimicheUniversità degli Studi di Napoli Federico IINaplesItaly
  3. 3.CeSMA - CeSMA - Centro Servizi Metrologici e Tecnologici AvanzatiUniversità degli Studi di Napoli Federico IINaplesItaly

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