The effect of gold mining on developmental instability in leaves of Betula platyphylla (Betulaceae) and Populus tremula (Salicaceae)

Abstract Leaf fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of Betula platyphylla (Betulaceae) and Populus tremula (Salicaceae) statistically significantly increased in the neighborhood with gold mining plant owned by gold mining holding Seligdar (Aldansky District of the Sakha Republic, Russia). The effect of distance from gold mining plant on the FA of both species can be described by power function with coefficients of determination of 0.9997 for B. platyphylla and 1.0000 for P. tremula. In terms of developmental stability P. tremula is statistically significantly more susceptible to environmental stress caused by gold mining than B. platyphylla. At a distance of 100 m from the gold mining plant FA of P. tremula is 1.8 times higher than FA of B. platyphylla whereas at a distance of a 1000 m and 2000 m from the plant FA of both species is equal.