Ecological–Biogeochemical Monitoring of a Linden Avenue in a Megapolis

Abstract

Ecological–biogeochemical monitoring of a linden avenue on Kosygin Street, Moscow, has revealed that soils at sites regarded as contaminated contain elevated Mn, Fe, Sr, and Se concentrations and lower Zn contents. Linden leaves at the assumed contaminated sites typically contain higher Cu and Fe concentrations and not as much higher Zn, As, and Cr concentrations but much lower Mn and Sr concentrations. Water leachates of soils at sites regarded as background have slightly lower pH and lower Ca, Mg, K, and Na concentrations and total mineralization. Test for phytochelatins in the leaves proved to be rather ineffective, as also were estimates of the fluctuating asymmetry of the leaf laminas. The greatest differences were detected in the degree of leaf pathology and the contents of pigments.