Integrating leaf morphological traits can improve the predictive capacity of flux-based ozone metrics for ecophysiological responses in ornamental plant species.

Ozone (O) is a seasonal gaseous pollutant with a strong oxidizing effect on vegetation. In this study, photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (g), dark respiration (R), relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), and fluorescence (F/F) were recorded for 15 ornamental species during O Free-Air Controlled Exposure (O-FACE) experiments carried out in central Italy, to assess the ecophysiological response to O stress. The exposure- and flux-based O metrics (AOT40 and POD, respectively) were calculated, as well as the Leaf Index Flux (LIF), an innovative species-specific O index obtained by the ratio of POD to Leaf Mass per Area (LMA).

Effect of tree canopy cover on air pollution-related mortality in European cities: an integrated approach.

Background: In urban areas, fine particles (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO), and tropospheric ozone (O) are the most harmful air pollutants for human health. Urban greening is seen as a strategy for co-benefitting air quality, climate, and citizens' wellbeing. We aimed to estimate the changes in tree cover, the mortality burden attributable to air pollution, and the mortality that could be potentially prevented by increasing tree coverage in European cities.

Leaf phenology determines the response of poplar genotypes to O through mesophyll conductance.

Tropospheric ozone (O) is a phytotoxic air pollutant that impairs photosynthesis. The mechanisms of O-induced reduction of mesophyll conductance (g) are not clear. We investigated the interaction of O and leaf age on g by using structural equation modelling (SEM) for two poplar clones (I-214 and Oxford) exposed to three O levels (ambient air, AA; 1.

Inconsistency between process-based model and dose-response function in estimating biomass losses in Northern Hemisphere due to elevated O.

Tropospheric ozone (O) concentrations in the Northern Hemisphere have significantly increased since the pre-industrial era, with ongoing growth driven by emissions from industrial, agricultural, and transportation activities, further exacerbated by the warming temperatures and altered atmospheric circulation patterns associated with climate change. This study compared different methodologies for estimating biomass potential losses (BPL) in forests due to elevated O using both concentration-based (AOT40) and flux-based (POD1) metrics. Moreover, to further assess the impact of O on forest health and carbon uptake across the dominant forest types in the Northern Hemisphere, we also compared BPL estimates from dose-response functions with those derived from the process-based model ORCHIDEE.

Probing ozone effects on European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L. and Ostrya carpinifolia Scop.) leaf water content through THz imaging and dynamic stomatal response.

We investigated the impact of ozone exposure on Hornbeam using a novel dual approach based on Terahertz (THz) imaging in a free-air ozone exposure experiment (three ozone levels: ambient; 1.5 times ambient; twice ambient). The research aims at unraveling the physiological responses induced by elevated ozone levels on water dynamics.

Stress physiology of Moringa oleifera under tropospheric ozone enrichment: An ecotype-specific investigation into growth, nonstructural carbohydrates, and polyphenols.

Ozone (O) is an oxidative pollutant that significantly threatens plant development and ecological dynamics. The present study explores the impact of O on Moringa (Moringa oleifera) ecotypes when exposed to ambient and elevated O levels. Elevated O concentrations resulted in significant reductions in total biomass for all ecotypes.

Unraveling the difference of sensitivity to ozone between non-hybrid native poplar and hybrid poplar clones: A flux-based dose-response analysis.

Poplars are economically important tree crops and biologically important model plants, which are known to be sensitive to ozone (O). Although surface O is considered as a significant global environmental issue because of its phytotoxicity and greenhouse effect, the knowledge of the dose-response (DR) relationships in poplars for the assessment of O risk is still limited. Hence, this study aimed at collecting data of studies with manipulative O exposures of poplars within FACE (Free Air Concentration Enhancement) and OTC (Open-Top Chamber) facilities.

Meteorological, chemical and biological evaluation of the coupled chemistry-climate WRF-Chem model from regional to urban scale. An impact-oriented application for human health.

Extreme climatic conditions, like heat waves or cold spells, associated to high concentrations of air pollutants are responsible for a broad range of effects on human health. Consequently, in the recent years, the question on how urban and peri-urban forests may improve both air quality and surface climate conditions at city-scale is receiving growing attention by scientists and policymakers, with previous studies demonstrating how nature-based solutions (NBS) may contribute to reduce the risk of population to be exposed to high pollutant levels and heat stress, preventing, thus, premature mortality. In this study we present a new modeling framework designed to simulate air quality and meteorological conditions from regional to urban scale, allowing thus to assess the impacts of both air pollution and heat stress on human health at urban level.

Ozone risk assessment with free-air controlled exposure (FACE) experiments: A critical revisit.

Since risk assessments of tropospheric ozone (O) are crucial for agricultural and forestry sectors, there is a growing body for realistic assessments by a stomatal flux-based approach in Free-Air Controlled Exposure (FACE) facilities. Ozone risks are normally described as relative risks (RRs), which are calculated by assuming the biomass or yield at zero O dose as "reference". However, the estimation of the reference biomass or yield is challenging due to a lack of O-clean-air treatment at the FACEs and the extrapolation without data in a low O range increases the bias for estimating the reference values.

Allocation of Nutrients and Leaf Turnover Rate in Poplar under Ambient and Enriched Ozone Exposure and Soil Nutrient Manipulation.

An excess of ozone (O) is currently stressing plant ecosystems and may negatively affect the nutrient use of plants. Plants may modify leaf turnover rates and nutrient allocation at the organ level to counteract O damage. We investigated leaf turnover rate and allocation of primary (C, N, P, K) and secondary macronutrients (Ca, S, Mg) under various O treatments (ambient concentration, AA, with a daily hourly average of 35 ppb; 1.

Untangling the role of leaf age specific osmoprotectant and antioxidant responses of two poplar clones under increasing ozone concentrations.

Plants possess different degrees of tolerance to abiotic stress, which can mitigate the detrimental effect of environmental inputs affecting carbon balance. Less is known about the functions of osmoprotectants in scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS), generated at different sites depending on leaf age. This study aimed to clarify the osmotic adjustments adopted by old and young leaves of Oxford and I-214 poplar clones [differing in ozone (O) sensitivity] to cope with three levels of O [ambient (AA), and two elevated O levels].

An assessment of ozone risk for date palm suggests that phytotoxic ozone dose nonlinearly affects carbon gain.

Tropospheric ozone (O) is a significant phytotoxic air pollutant that has a negative impact on plant carbon gain. Although date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a globally important crop in arid or semi-arid regions, so far O risk assessment for this species has not been reported.

The magpie and the grapes: increasing ozone exposure impacts fruit consumption by a common corvid in a suburban environment.

Background: The Eurasian magpie Pica pica is a resident bird species able to colonize farmlands and anthropized environments. This corvid shows a wide trophic spectrum by including fruits, invertebrates, small vertebrates and carcasses in its diet. A camera-trap experiment was carried out to test the effect of different ozone (O) concentrations on potted Vitis vinifera plants, which resulted in different grape consumption rates by suburban birds.

A three-year free-air experimental assessment of ozone risk on the perennial Vitis vinifera crop species.

Tropospheric ozone (O) is an oxidative air pollutant that promotes damage to several crops, including grapevine, which is considered moderately resistant to O stress. To study the O effect on this perennial crop species under realistic environmental conditions, a three-year experiment was performed using an innovative O-FACE facility located in the Mediterranean climate region, where the target species, Vitis vinifera cv. "Cabernet sauvignon", was exposed to three O levels: ambient (AA), 1.

Surface ozone risk to human health and vegetation in tropical region: The case of Thailand.

Tropospheric ozone (O) is a threat to vegetation and human health over the world, in particular in Asia. Knowledge on O impacts on tropical ecosystems is still very limited. An O risk assessment to crops, forests, and people from 25 monitoring stations across the tropical and subtropical Thailand during 2005-2018 showed that 44% of sites exceeded the critical levels (CLs) of SOMO35 (i.

Functional responses of two Mediterranean pine species in an ozone Free-Air Controlled Exposure (FACE) experiment.

Effects of the phytotoxic and widespread ozone (O3) pollution may be species specific, but knowledge on Mediterranean conifer responses to long-term realistic exposure is still limited. We examined responses regarding to photosynthesis, needle biochemical stress markers and carbon and nitrogen (N) isotopes of two Mediterranean pine species (Pinus halepensis Mill. and Pinus pinea L.

Trends in urban air pollution over the last two decades: A global perspective.

Ground-level ozone (O), fine particles (PM), and nitrogen dioxide (NO) are the most harmful urban air pollutants regarding human health effects. Here, we aimed at assessing trends in concurrent exposure of global urban population to O, PM, and NO between 2000 and 2019. PM, NO, and O mean concentrations and summertime mean of the daily maximum 8-h values (O MDA8) were analyzed (Mann-Kendall test) using data from a global reanalysis, covering 13,160 urban areas, and a ground-based monitoring network (Tropospheric Ozone Assessment Report), collating surface O observations at nearly 10,000 stations worldwide.