August 15, 2025

Analysis of the condition of woody plants growing in urban ecosystems, using the example of the city of Donetsk

Key Points

The study indicates a clear decline in woody plant viability due to high traffic flow and noise pollution, leading to critical conditions in urban areas.
Traffic intensity averaged 1,330 units/hour with noise levels exceeding permissible limits by up to 37%, showing severe anthropogenic impacts.
Observational analysis across Donetsk revealed 23 species of woody plants, highlighting a moderate level of species diversity in urban habitats.
The findings suggest that increased urbanization may lead to greater vulnerability in key woody species, emphasizing the need for urban ecosystem management.

Abstract

Urbanization and the steady development of cities entail a noticeable increase in anthropogenic pressure on the environment. In the conditions of Donbass, the main sources of pollution are metallurgical plants, coal mines, chemical and coke industry enterprises, as well as motor transport as the main source of noise in any megalopolis. Vehicle emissions contain a wide range of toxicants that have a negative impact on phytocenoses. As a result of the conducted research, the intensity of traffic flow (on average 1,330 ± 680 units/hour) and vibration-acoustic noise (exceeding the remote control by 37 ± 4% (according to the average values) and 24 ± 3% (according to their maxima)), as a complex indicator of anthropogenic pollution of the territory, the sites were ranked at 3 levels: high, by medium and low anthropopressing. The ecological significance of the anthropogenic impact was manifested in a decrease in the viability of woody plants and an increase in the number of damages. In areas with high traffic intensity (more than 1,000 units per hour) and increased noise pollution (over 30% of the maximum permissible level), the most pronounced negative biological effects were manifested.: a decrease in the proportion of trees in satisfactory condition and an increase in the number of plants with a high proportion of damage or in critical condition (21–57% of the sample). Morphological disorders such as trunk curvature, bark detachment, rot, changes in crown architecture, as well as mechanical damage disrupted the integrity of plant protective tissues. These factors create favorable conditions for the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms and pests, the development of putrefactive processes and the general deterioration of trees. 23 species of woody plants belonging to 13 different genera were identified in the study area, indicating a moderate level of species diversity. In terms of the number of species, the genusUlmusL. andAcerL. are dominant. andPopulusL. The number of specimens is dominated byRobinia pseudoacaciaL.,Ulmus laevisPall.,Acer pseudoplatanusL.,Acer platanoidesL.,Ulmus pumilaL.,Syringa vulgarisL.,Populus simoniiCarriere,Ulmus glabraHuds.,Acer saccharumMarshall,Populus bolleanaLauche,Sorbus intermedia(Ehrh.) Pers.,Fraxinus pennsylvanicaMarshall. Several main species have been identified that are susceptible to crowning and sanitary pruning:Ulmus laevisPall.,Ulmus glabraHuds.,Ulmus pumilaL. andRobinia pseudoacaciaL. These plants were all in the age group of 50–59 years and had reached a critical age in the region. As a result of windstorms, which are increasingly occurring in the region, the skeletal branches of such plants are prone to breakage, as new shoots are weaker in attachment and easier to deform irreversibly.

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