Siberian fir

EFFECT OF COPPER SMELTER EMISSIONS ON THE STEM SHAPE OF SIBERIAN SPRUCE (PICEA OBOVATA LEDEB.) AND SIBERIAN FIR (ABIES SIBIRICA LEDEB.) (PINÁCEAE, PINOPSIDA)

The influence of industrial pollution on the stem shape of Siberian spruce and fir trees was estimated in the Middle-Ural Copper Smelter vicinity (Revda, Sverdlovsk region, the southern taiga). As the pollution source is approached, the stem taper increases with a decreasing form factor. A statistically significant increase of the stem taper of Siberian spruce in the butt end (by 22.9%), the lower (35.7%), middle (18.0%) and upper (9.0%) parts of the stem is shown.