FLUCTUATING ASYMMETRY OF LEAF BLADES OF WOODY PLANTS IN INDUSTRIAL LANDFILLS OF DONBASS

The paper evaluates the fluctuating asymmetry of leaf blades of some of the most common woody plants in the landscaped and self-overgrown landfills of Donbass. The following rock dumps of the mines of the Donetsk-Makeyevka urban agglomeration were selected as models: the greened dump of the former mine (sh.) 6/14 (Chervonogvardeysky district, Makeyevka), the greened dump of sh. 5/6 named after Dimitrova (Kalininsky district, Donetsk), the landscaped Zaperevalnaya dump (Budennovsky district, Donetsk) and the self-overgrown dump 9 Kapitalnaya (Proletarian district, Donetsk). Samples of plant material were taken in several stages in June, July and August 2024 within a certain site (about 25 m2), from a height of 1.5-2 m in 10-fold repetition in accordance with the established methodology at the landfills and within their sanitary protection zone (SPZ). The studied tree species are Acer negundo, Acer platanoides, Juglans regia and Robinia pseudoacacia. The number of samples for each species was 10 leaves from 1 tree on the dump and 10 leaves from 1 tree within the SPZ. Biomonitoring of plantings by area and fluctuating asymmetry of leaf blades of woody plants was carried out according to the method of V. M. Zakharov et al. A total of 320 leaves collected at landfills and within the SPZ were measured. The authors used a leaf measurement system for plants with bilaterally symmetrical leaves. The condition of Robinia pseudoacacia in the landfills is assessed as a significant deviation from the norm, and quite favorable conditions for growth are observed within the sanitary protection zone. Acer negundo, Acer platanoides and Juglans regia are in critically depressed condition both at the landfills and in the sanitary protection zone. The method of fluctuating asymmetry can be used to assess the quality of the environment and its suitability for vegetation growth. According to the results of research on mine rock dumps, the most optimal conditions for growth are for Robinia pseudoacacia. Nevertheless, the condition of woody plants indicates a critical load on the environment in the area of rock dumps, which has a negative impact on all living organisms.