Ecology Journal

Ecology Journal

Ecology Journal

Ecology Journal

VARIATION IN THE MACRO-MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS OF LEAVES IN RESPONSE TO AUTOMOBILE POLLUTION IN SELECTED URBAN TREE SPECIES IN THE CITY OF DHAKA



 

ABSTRACT: The present study was carried out at National Botanical Garden, Dhaka, considered as control site and Motijheel- Sayedabad roadside areas as polluted site to compare the impact of automobile pollution on leaves macro- morphological  traits of  selected  ten plants  growingin  the  polluted  areas with  those growingin control sites. Leaf morphological characteristics including leaf abnormalities of both young and mature leaves were assessed. Variations in  leaf color such as light green, dark green, browning, yellowing and change in the leaf’s shape either normal or deformed were also assessed for both the sites. All the selected plant species showed highly significant (p<0.0001)  reduction at  polluted site in theirall leaf  macro-morphological  traits(leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf area, leaf perimeter, specific leaf area and petiole length) when compared with control site. The findings of  this study revealed that the automobile  pollution stress influenced tree morphological features in the Dhaka city. This study also indicated  that plants go through adaptive processes in order to survive in automobile polluted environments.

 

Keywords: Air pollution, leaf characteristics, urban areas