Ecological Assessment of Spiraea salicifolia L. in Arctic Urban Environment

The negative impact of road transport on the dynamics of the distribution of biometric parameters (length, width, and area) and pigment fund of leaves of Spiraea salicifolia in the period 2021–2023 was assessed. This species grows in such landscaping objects as streets and squares of Murmansk, Apatity (Murmansk region, Russia), and is limitedly used in the landscaping of urban objects. The nursery of the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden Institute was used as a regional background. It was noted that the content of metals (Ni, Cu) in the leaves of Spiraea salicifolia in 3-year dynamics in cities in 2–5 times exceeded the background values, especially in street plantings of Murmansk. In squares, the content of metals in leaves and soil was 1.5–2 times lower than in street plantings. The analysis of biometric parameters (leaf length, leaf width, and leaf area) revealed that predominantly higher values were typical for squares; the maximum leaf sizes of 12.01 cm2 are observed in Apatity. It was shown that the content of chlorophylls and carotenoids in 2021 and 2023 was 1.3–2 times higher in urban conditions compared to that in the regional background. No relationship was found between the content of heavy metals in Spiraea leaves, the size of leaf lamina, and the dynamics of the pigment fund. Spiraea salicifolia has shown stability in urban conditions and is recommended for landscape design of northern territories. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.