Palino-indication method in the estimation of the White Sea marine plants’ adaptive ability

A study (2014 year) of the adaptive ability of the salt marsh species Tripolium pannonicum (Jacq.) Dobrocz. subsp. tripolium (L.) Greuter., Plantago maritima L. s. str., Alopecurus arundinaceus Poir., growing in the tidal zone of the western coast of the White Sea near the mouth of Keret’ river (Louchi region, Karelia) was conducted. The state of the pollen grain in the inflorescences of these species during the period of maximum blossoming was studied. The applicable abnormality in the pollen grains’ structure for all three species on all plots were observed correspondently: for Tripolium pannonicum subsp. tripolium - from 9 up to 25 %, for Plantago maritima - from 41 up to 59 %, and for Alopecurus arundinaceus - from 34 up to 37 %. The estimation of variations in the amount of normally formed pollen grains revealed different adaptation levels of the investigated plants to the tidal conditions. Thus, the above investigated plants can be arranged in the follow order according to their resilience to the dynamic habitat conditions: Tripolium pannonicum subsp. tripolium - Plantago maritima - Alopecurus arundinaceus. Tripolium pannonicum subsp. Tripolium has features of indicator species and can be recommended for palinoindication analysis.