scholarly journals Changes in the Fluctuating Asymmetry of the Leaf and Reproductive Capacity of Betula pendula Roth Reflect Pessimization of Anthropogenically Transformed Environment

Symmetry ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1970
Author(s):  
Nina Turmukhametova ◽  
Elena Shadrina
Keyword(s):  
Urban Communities ◽  
Fluctuating Asymmetry ◽  
Betula Pendula ◽  
Seed Quality ◽  
Anthropogenic Pollution ◽  
Developmental Stability ◽  
Reproductive Capacity ◽  
Compensatory Mechanism ◽  
Factorial Anova ◽  
Zero Capacity

We have estimated the reproductive capacity of Betulapendula Roth and its relationship with an integrated measure of developmental stability, i.e., fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of the leaf. On the territory of a city with moderate anthropogenic pollution, a change has been detected in the integrated fluctuating asymmetry (IFA) of the morphology of the female reproductive sphere and reproductive capacity of Betula pendula. In conditions of anthropogenic stress, the birch is observed to produce a large yield of fruits annually, which is not subject to year-to-year fluctuations. Morphological variety of size and shape of fruit-producing organs increases along the gradient of industrial and transport pollution; part of morphotypes of infructescences and seeds is characterized by lowered or zero capacity for reproduction determined by seed quality (germination energy and germination capacity). The statistical data processing involved correlation, Shapiro–Wilk test, Levene’s test, factorial ANOVA, Scheffe test, Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA, Mann–Whitney test, χ2 method. Analysis of IFA has allowed us to reasonably well assess the state of the plant organism and to characterize environmental quality. A negative correlation between IFA and quantitative parameters of the functions of the reproductive sphere of B. pendula (infructescence diameter, seed quality) has been found, and positive correlation with qualitative parameters (the number of morphs of infructescences and seeds, the share of rare morphs of infructescences). Pessimization of urban environment creates the conditions for an increase in the share of defective infructescences and non-germinating seeds; a compensatory mechanism for this is an increase in reproductive effort of B. pendula. The consistency of responses in the vegetative and reproductive spheres reflects the disturbances in developmental stability of plants in urban communities.

scholarly journals Fluctuating Asymmetry in Morphological Characteristics of Betula Pendula Roth Leaf under Conditions of Urban Ecosystems: Evaluation of the Multi-Factor Negative Impact

Symmetry ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Shadrina ◽  
Nina Turmukhametova ◽  
Victoria Soldatova ◽  
Yakov Vol'pert ◽  
Irina Korotchenko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluctuating Asymmetry ◽  
Betula Pendula ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Developmental Stability ◽  
Anthropogenic Load ◽  
Traffic Load ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Betula Pendula Roth ◽  
The Impact

The fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in Betula pendula Roth was estimated as an integrated measure of five morphometric characteristics of a lamina. Samples were collected in seven cities that differ both in climatic conditions, moderately to sharply continental. In total, 33 ecotopes were distinguished with various level of anthropogenic load. The statistical data processing involved correlation, one-way and factorial ANOVA, regression analyses, and principal component analysis (PCA). The impact of 25 climatic and anthropogenic factors on the FA value was considered. In most urban ecotopes, the integrated fluctuating asymmetry (IFA) value was higher than in natural biotopes of the same region. No significant inter-annual differences in IFA values were found. FA dependence on traffic load is noted to be statistically significant. The covariation analysis of IFA, climatic, and anthropogenic variables in various urban ecotopes revealed the impact of three groups of factors that together explain 93% of the variance in environmental parameters. The complex analysis clearly arranged the studied ecotopes by pollution gradient and climatic patterns. The primary effect of the total anthropogenic load on the developmental stability of B. pendula results in an IFA increase. IFA can play a key role in bioindication assessment of environmental quality. The climatic factors have no significant effect on the developmental stability of B. pendula in urban conditions.

scholarly journals Developing a list of woody plants recommended for landscaping and reconstruction of Cheboksary green areas based on the assessment of the urban environment quality

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 122-128
Author(s):  
Konstantin V. Samokhvalov ◽  
Evgeny A. Sinichkin
Keyword(s):  
Urban Environment ◽  
Fluctuating Asymmetry ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Betula Pendula ◽  
Central Zone ◽  
Anthropogenic Pollution ◽  
Asymmetry Coefficient ◽  
Environment Quality ◽  
Economic Significance

The paper presents the results of research to assess the quality of the urban environment in the areas we have identified by the functional and economic significance of Cheboksary using a method of fluctuating asymmetry of Betula pendula Roth leaves and a scale of gas resistance of tree and shrub plants. The studies have showed that the integral indices of fluctuating asymmetry of Betula pendula leaf plates of all surveyed green planting objects vary from 0,038 to 0,054. The highest levels of asymmetry were found in the eastern and southern parts of the city, where the values of leaf asymmetry fluctuations range from 0,050 to 0,054. Based on an assessment of the quality of the urban environment the authors have developed recommendations to improve and expand the range of resistant woody plants to anthropogenic stress of Cheboksary. Depending on the nature of the urban environment and the degree of woody plants resistance to anthropogenic pollution, we offer a range of woody and shrub plants for landscaping, it contains 73 species. The recommended range of trees and shrubs for landscaping in the Central zone of Cheboksary is 68 species (asymmetry coefficient 0,040 to 0,044), in the Coastal and Suburban areas 62 species (asymmetry coefficient 0,046 to 0,049), in the Industrial zone 29 species (asymmetry coefficient 0,050 to 0,053).

scholarly journals Fluctuating Asymmetry, Developmental Noise and Developmental Stability: Future Prospects for the Population Developmental Biology Approach

Symmetry ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir M. Zakharov ◽  
Elena G. Shadrina ◽  
Ilya E. Trofimov
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Biology ◽  
Fluctuating Asymmetry ◽  
Population Biology ◽  
Phenotypic Diversity ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Developmental Stability ◽  
The State ◽  
Future Prospects ◽  
Genetically Determined ◽  
Developmental Noise

Developmental noise—which level may vary within a certain backlash allowed by natural selection—is a reflection of the state of a developing system or developmental stability. Phenotypic variations inside the genetically determined norm observed in case of fluctuating asymmetry provide a unique opportunity for evaluating this form of ontogenetic variability. Low levels of developmental noise for the biologic system under study is observed under certain conditions, while its increase acts as a measure of stress. The concordance of changes in developmental stability with changes in other parameters of developmental homeostasis indicates the significance of fluctuating asymmetry estimates. All this determines the future prospects of the study of fluctuating asymmetry not only for developmental biology, but also for population biology. The study of developmental stability may act as the basis of an approach of population developmental biology to assess the nature of the phenotypic diversity and the state of natural populations under various impacts and during evolutionary transformations.

Human Fluctuating Asymmetry and Sexual Behavior

1994 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 297-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randy Thornhill ◽  
Steven W Gangestad
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Selection ◽  
Fluctuating Asymmetry ◽  
Physical Attractiveness ◽  
Sexual Experience ◽  
Body Height ◽  
Prenatal Development ◽  
Developmental Stability ◽  
Sex Partners ◽  
Student Sample ◽  
College Student Sample

This report presents evidence that sexual selection may favor developmental stability (i e, the absence of fluctuating asymmetry) in humans Subtle, heritable asymmetries in seven nonfacial human body traits correlated negatively with number of self-reported, lifetime sex partners and correlated positively with self-reported age at first copulation in a college student sample These relationships remained statistically significant when age, marital status, body height, ethnicity, physical anomalies associated with early prenatal development, and physical attractiveness were statistically controlled The strength of the relationships did not differ significantly as a function of sex It is unlikely that the relationships are generated by false self-reporting of sexual experience

scholarly journals STRESS AND DEVELOPMENTAL STABILITY: VEGETATION REMOVAL CAUSES INCREASED FLUCTUATING ASYMMETRY IN SHREWS

Ecology ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 336-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander V. Badyaev ◽  
Kerry R. Foresman ◽  
Miguel V. Fernandes
Keyword(s):  
Fluctuating Asymmetry ◽  
Developmental Stability ◽  
Vegetation Removal
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