Differential responses of C3 and CAM native Brazilian plant species to a SO2- and SPMFe-contaminated Restinga

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 22; no. 18; pp. 14007 - 14017
• Main Authors: da Silva, Luzimar Campos, de Araújo, Talita Oliveira, Martinez, Carlos Alberto, de Almeida Lobo, Francisco, Azevedo, Aristéa Alves, Oliva, Marco Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.09.2015
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - toxicity; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Brazil; Chlorophyll - metabolism; Clusiaceae - drug effects; Clusiaceae - growth & development; Clusiaceae - metabolism; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecosystem; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Iron - toxicity; Myrtaceae - drug effects; Myrtaceae - growth & development; Myrtaceae - metabolism; Particulate Matter - toxicity; Photosynthesis; Plant Leaves - growth & development; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Research Article; Sulfur Dioxide - toxicity; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Brazil; Symptomatology; Sensitive species; Native plants; Pollution
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4391-0
• ISSN: 0944-1344

Aiming to evaluate responses in terms of growth rates, physiological parameters, and degree of sensitivity to SO 2 and SPM Fe in Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae, a C 3 species) and Clusia hilariana Schlecht (Clusiaceae, a CAM species); saplings were exposed to emissions from a pelletizing factory for 7 months. The species were distributed along a transect (200, 500, 800, 1400, and 1700 m away from the emission source), and analyses were performed after 71, 118, and 211 days of exposure to the pollutants. E. uniflora received higher superficial deposition of particulate iron. The highest total iron foliar contents were observed 200 m away from the emission source in both plant species, while the highest total sulfur foliar contents were observed 200 m away in C. hilariana and 800 m away in E. uniflora. E. uniflora presented decreased values of height growth rate, number of necrotic leaves, chlorophyll analysis (SPAD index) and transpiration, in relation to the distances from the emission source. C. hilariana showed decreased values of height growth rate, number of leaves, number of necrotic leaves, total ionic permeability, stomatal conductance, transpiration, net CO 2 assimilation, and total dry matter, in relation to distances from the emission source. In relation to the days of exposure, both species presented increased number of necrotic leaves and foliar phytotoxicity index, and decreased values in the chlorophyll analysis. The two native plant species, both of which occur in the Brazilian Restinga, showed damage when exposed to emissions from an iron ore pelletizing factory. C. hilariana was considered the most sensitive species due to the decreased values in a higher number of variables after exposition.