SUMMARY In the research work for Master degree the variance of morphological-physiological characteristics of the needles of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in the vicinity of local pollution sources of Lithuania were investigated. Subject of research: Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing near the largest industrial pollution sources in Lithuania: a cement factory, a nitrogen fertilizer factory and an oil refinery. Goals of the research: to estimate morphological and physiological features of the needles sampled from the pines growing at different distances from the largest industrial pollution sources. Methodology: the needle morphological features were determined by evaluating needle fluctuating length asymmetry and needle fluctuating mass asymmetry. The needle surface quality was evaluated by measuring contact angles of the water droplets and following the dynamics of water loss from excised needles. Research results: Significant differences were documented between the pine stands located at different distances from the cement factory. The needle asymmetry and surface data of the pine stand near the cement factory showed that the cement dust had a negative effect on the needle development and structure. The pine stand growing in the vicinity of the cement factory was characterised by increased needle asymmetry, faster water loss from the excised needles and increased surface wettability. No morphological and physiological changes as caused by air... [to full text]

Disertacijoje nagrinėjama technogeninės taršos pažeistų skirtingų miško ekosistemos komponentų (medyno, dirvožemio, krūmokšnių, žolinių augalų ir samanų danga) pokyčiai sumažėjus gamyklos AB „Achema“ taršai. Naudojant 26 metų (1981–2007) ir dabartinių metų (2011–2012) tyrimų duomenis yra atlikta analizė apie skirtingus miško ekosistemos komponentų pokyčius ir įvertinta miško ekosistemų atsikūrimo galimybės. Remiantis tyrimų rezultatais nustatyta, kad praėjus 10–20 metų laikotarpiui nuo gamyklos teršimo pradžios (1979 m.) gali atskurti pažeistos miško ekosistemos. Pirmiausia atsikuria pažeisti medynai, po to – dirvožemio cheminės ir biologinės savybės, vėliausiai – krūmokšnių, žolinių augalų bei samanų danga ir dabartinė ekosistemų būklė yra artima neužterštiems žaliašiliams. Tačiau arčiausiai gamyklos krūmokšnių, žolinių augalų ir samanų dangoje vis dar randami nitrofiliniai augalai, kurie nebūdingi neužterštiems žaliašiliams. Tai rodo, kad dėl medyno struktūros negrįžtamumo prie AB „Achema“ krūmokšnių, žolinių augalų ir samanų danga išlieka pakitusi. / Doctoral dissertation presents the restoration of various components of forest ecosystem (stand, soil, the cover of brush, herbaceous vegetation and mosses) after the reduction of air pollution from the plant of fertilizers Achema. Using study data of 26 years (1981–2007) and of the current year (2011-2012), an analysis of the changes of different components of forest ecosystems has been carried out and recovery possibilities of forest ecosystems were evaluated. Based on the survey results it was found that after 10–20 years since the beginning of pollution from the factory (1979) damaged forest ecosystems are able to recover. First of all recover damaged stands, then – chemical and biological soil properties, at the latest – the cover of shrubs, herbaceous plants and mosses, and the current state of forest ecosystems is similar to control pine stands. However, ground vegetation in the nearest to the factory sites still contains nitrophilous plants which are not typical for uncontaminated pine forests. This shows that due to the irreversibility of the structure of stands near Achema, the cover of shrubs, herbaceous plants and mosses remains altered.