Plant Traits of Tilia tomentosa Moench, Fraxinus excelsior L., and Pinus nigra J.F.Arnold as a Proxy of Urbanization

Linden, ash, and pine are ubiquitous ornamental trees due to their ability adapt the urban environment. They have been key species in green infrastructure from more than hundreds of years play an active role maintaining ecosystem services. The urbanization rate recent decades, combined with global climate change, has led dynamic changes environmental factors which pose new challenges vegetation. Hence, aims this study were as follows: (i) track content some elements plant leaves after transplanting them into environment; (ii) investigate relationship between intensity traits (leaf injuries, photosynthetic activity, transpiration, stomatal conductance, molecular changes); (iii) provide recommendations for improving management ecological functions trees. To address these aims, data on (according percentage built-up area traffic volume), performance, intraspecific variations silver linden (Tilia tomentosa), European ash (Fraxinus excelsior), black (Pinus nigra) collected at four experimental plots city Plovdiv (Bulgaria) during 2015–2020. initial concentrations potentially toxic (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb, V, Zn) tree beginning (prior planting environment) end experiment also measured. We illustrate that growth increased leaves, caused leaf enhanced maximum but decreased transpiration conductance. At level, polymorphic bands was found depend intensity. High similarity observed first three (subjected load), lowest control plot. These findings high practical value planners regarding how build a preserve diversity areas across gradients.