On Assessing Environmental Quality
in Forest Ecosystems of South Vietnam

V. N. Vtorova and T. K. Sergeeva

Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskii pr. 33, Moscow, 117071 Russia

Received February 25, 1998

Abstract—Sensitivity to anthropogenic effects of test plant species was estimated in South Vietnamese tropical
forests that were affected to different degrees by defoliants during the war. The distribution of microelements
(Cu, Pb, Mn, Fe, Zn, Ni) in plant samples was analyzed. Specific distribution with prevalence in dead parts of
the plant was confirmed for Pb and Ni, which are known as the most dangerous pollutants. Accumulation of Pb
and Ni in the substrate was 5–7 and 1.3–2.0 times greater, respectively, than in fern fronds. This fact suggested
that the chemical composition of fronds and substrates of epiphytic vascular plants may be used as a model
object for assessing the current environmental state of tropical ecosystems.

Pleiades Publishing home page | journal home page | top

If you have any problems with this server, contact webmaster.