Fifteenth webinar: The Functionality of trees inside and outside cities: human and climate effects on isotopes characterization in Pinus pinea

In the context of climate change, trees are increasingly used as tools to create healthier, more comfortable urban environments. However, the extent of their impact on urban settings is intricately tied to their physiological health, growth, and vitality. This study aims to evaluate the physiological response of urban trees to two primary stressors of the urban climate: the urban heat island phenomenon and drought, as well as traffic emissions. We investigated tree growth and δ 13 C, δ 18 O, δ 15 N, and radiocarbon (F 14 C) levels in tree rings, comparing urban and periurban sites in two Italian cities: Firenze and Pisa. Our findings indicate that tree growth was not directly affected by climatic conditions. However, the urban heat island effect and reduced precipitation influence tree physiology more than pollution. In detail, carbon (δ 13 C) and oxygen (δ 18 O) stable isotopes reveal sensitivity to high temperatures and drought in urban areas, whereas the indicators of pollution investigated in this study (δ 15 N and F 14 C) did not exhibit pronounced differences between urban and periurban sites. These findings underscore the importance of selecting tree species adapted to urban conditions to maximise the ecosystem services provided by trees. Ultimately, our data demonstrate the utility of tree rings as an effective tool for assessing air quality in urban areas compared to periurban regions.

Where:  https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/66664ea5-b1ba-4f54-bee5-159e42b1d642@c715e6ac-7770-4e32-8741-3be9759766f0

Deadline: please sign-up via the registration link above BEFORE the webinar.

Contact:

• Presenter: Lucia Mondanelli (lucia.mondanelli@unifi.it)
• Webinar convenor: Andrei Popa (popa.andrei.dorna@gmail.com)
• Webinar co-convenor: Klaudia Ziemblinska (klaudiaziem@wp.pl)