Determining results reliability of assessing urban environment ecological state based on fluctuating asymmetry of Syringa vulgaris L. leaves analysis

The aim of the study is to determine the degree of ecological transformation of the urban environment using the fluctuating asymmetry method of Syringa vulgaris L. leaves. Objectives: to determine the sampling points of phytomass in the city with subsequent evaluation of the indices of bilateral traits of Syringa vulgaris L. leaves; to establish whether the leaf asymmetry is directed or random; to evaluate the degree of dependence of bilateral leaf traits on the environmental stress of the sampling point; to determine the concentrations of heavy metals (Cd and Pb) at sampling points in order to confirm or refute the data on the quality of the environment obtained using the fluctuating asymmetry method. It was found that high and medium variability indices for five metric traits indicate their significant asymmetry. The analysis of bilateral traits using the Wilcoxon test revealed significant differences in the values between the left and right halves of the leaf (p ≤ 0.05). The values of the Spearman rank correlation coefficient indicate different degrees of dependence of bilateral leaf traits depending on the point of phytomass sampling. A trend toward a decrease in the integral FA indicator with decreasing anthropogenic load was noted. The width of the left and right halves of the leaf was identified as the most important parameter when assessing Syringa vulgaris L. leaves as indicators of anthropogenic pollution. Eliminating other parameters from the analysis makes it possible to obtain reliable information on environmental quality while significantly reducing the time spent processing biometric data. The data obtained using the morphometric method are confirmed by the results of biochemical studies aimed at determining the concentration of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), as priority pollutants in anthropogenically transformed urban environments. Fluctuating asymmetry of Syringa vulgaris L. leaves can be used to determine the degree of ecotoxicity of the environment, offering an alternative to more expensive environmental monitoring methods.