Metabolic Responses of Steppe Forest Trees to Altirude-Associated Local Environmental Changes

Abstract

SUMMARYThe effect of altitude-associated environmental gradient on leaves metabolic features of Quercus robur L. (an oak) and Fraxinus excelsior L. (an ash) was investigated in the natural coastal forest at Bellegarde' International Biosphere Reserve in Steppe zone, Ukraine. Decrease in relative humidity contrary to increase in temperature and lighting under the forest canopy were observed on the river steep bank with altitudinal elevation from lower (52 m a.s.l.) to middle (74 m.), and upper (96 m). Responses of tree leaves photosynthetic and antioxidant systems to the environmental local changes were studied by measuring chlorophyll (Chl) content, as well as catalase and peroxidase activities. Decrease in Chl amount in the ash leaves at middle and upper altitudes (17 and 38% compared with lower), along with increase (8% and 13%, respectively) in the oak leaves was found out. Chl content was determined to correlate with light, temperature, and humidity in both leaves of ash (respectively, r = -0.94, r = -0.92, r = 0.90) and oak (r = 0.95, r = 0.93, r = -0.90). Catalase activity grew with increasing altitude in leaves of ash (2 and 2.2 fold compared to lower altitude) and oak (1.2 and 1.4 fold) as well. Contribution of catalase to the total antioxidant enzymes activity enhanced in leaves of both species with increasing altitude. The results confirmed high sensitivity of steppe forest trees even to slight altitude-associated environmental deviations. Data obtained can be used to assess the adaptive potential of woody species to the climate changes aiming towards greater aridity traits and select tree species for planted forest creation as well.

Assessment and Prediction of Viability and Metabolic Activity of Tilia Platyphyllos in Arid Steppe Climate of Ukraine

“…Activity of CAT in shaded leaves of T. platyphyllos was significantly lowered relative to conditional control (in a range 51 -67%) at all plots, especially at plot 7. The results obtained are consistent with previously reported (Lykholat et al, 2016) catalase activation in leaves of oak and ash for countering photorespiration due to temperature and light increasing. However, low level of catalase activity in the shaded linden leaves can not be unambiguously regarded as the evidence of insufficient active hydrogen peroxide eliminating.…”

“…Catalase (CAT) activity evaluations according to Goth (1991) as well as guaiacol-peroxidase (GPOD) activity determination in accordance with Ranieri et al (2001) were conducted as has been described before (Lykholat et al, 2016). All determinations of morphometric indexes and stomata number, as well as metabolites content and enzymes activity required three replicates.…”

Crops Adaptation Management in the Conditions of Steppe Landscape of Ukraine

“…Increasing of the adaptive capacity of crops is based on adaptation mechanisms similar to those for plants, which are representatives of natural flora (Lykholat et al 2016). The similar data were obtained when crops growth at specific landscape positions is influenced by several interacting hill slope process across a typical soil arena (Schipanski et al 2010;Snapp and Kravchenko, 2015;Russenes et al 2016).…”

Ecological and geological determination of the initial pedogenesis on devastated lands in the Kryvyi Rih Iron Mining & Metallurgical District (Ukraine)

“…On their territories there are spontaneous processes of self-healing of the vegetative cover and the processes of initial soil formation (initial pedogenesis) proceed gradually. An important component of such vegetation is trees and shrubs, which have a positive effect on the state of the environment in industrial regions (Lykholat et al, 2016a;Lykholat et al, 2016b;Savosko & Tovstolyak, 2017;Savosko et al, 2018;Tereschenko, 1992). However, the processes of self-healing of the film of life on devastated lands are exceedingly slow sometimes taking hundreds of years.…”