We studied the influence of limestone dust on spectral and functional properties of European beech leaves (Fagus sylvatica L.) at three different locations along a limestone quarry and compared them to a reference location in two growing seasons. In the third season measurements were conducted in an independent experiment under partially controlled conditions by the controlled feeding of limestone dust in two different concentrations of the dust. Measurements of anatomical and biochemical properties of the leaves were performed. The reflectance spectra of the leaves with the dust and of those where the dust was removed were measured in the range of 280%880 nm. The effect of the dust on the measured parameters was studied and correlations among the presence of dust, leaves' and spectral reflectance properties were analysed. The results from nature where the dust concentrations were low (max 0,25 + 0,11 mg/cm2) showed differences in anatomical, biochemical and physiological characteristcs of beech leaves from different test sites. This was not only a consequence of the presence of the dust but also of the environmental conditions on the test sites. The results of the short experiment showed that only high concentrations (8,98 + 4,05 mg/cm2) of limestone dust on beech leaves significantly changed the reflectance properties of the leaves of common beech in the visible and UV spectra, while low concentrations had no major effect on the leaves. The transmittance of the sunlight through the leaves was changed in the visible and near infrared spectra, which was reflected in the increased concentration of photosynthetic pigments and reduced substances for photoprotective function: anthocyanins and UV absorbing substances. The redundancy analysis revealed that the dust concentration in natural conditions explained only 16 % (p < 0,001) of the variability of the reflection spectra. In the short experiment with high dust concentrations the presence of the dust explained 67 % (p < 0,001) of the variability of the reflection spectra and 12 % (p < 0,001) of the variability of the
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