AVALIAÇÕES FISIOLÓGICAS EM UMA RESERVA ÀS MARGENS DA RODOVIA BR 060: O IMPACTO DA POLUIÇÃO ATMOSFÉRICA NA VEGETAÇÃO DO CERRADO

Abstract

Gas emissions from vehicles, which, through chemical reactions in the air, are transformed into particles that contribute up to 90% of the particulate matter, capable of tropospheric oxidation, radiative balance and deterioration of air quality. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of proximity to sources of environmental pollution on the physiology of two plant species commonly found in Cerrado fragments. The studied area has native forest with species from the Brazilian Cerrado that is located in the municipality of Rio Verde, with its borders located on the margins of the BR 0-60 highway, which has a high flow of vehicles, in addition to being close to areas of plantations and of diverse industries. Thus, the species were established on the edge and inside the fragment, as they are exposed to different sources of atmospheric pollution, in order to verify changes in photosynthetically active radiation, leaf temperature and soil moisture, in order to ensure that the species were in homogeneous conditions of light and water as well as the physiological alterations were evaluated. The experimental design was entirely random, composing two species with five replications in each treatment (Bordadura and Center of the conservation area). The collected data were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means compared using Tukey's test. The greater proximity to anthropic activities altered the gas exchange variables analyzed and showed the same pattern of response, with all two species showing increases in parameters in the area farthest from the highway. Due to the physiological changes resulting from increased exposure to air pollution, all two species apparently have potential for air quality bioindicators.