THE USE OF PHYSIOLOGICAL-PARAMETERS OF SPRUCE NEEDLES AS A BIOINDICATION TOOL

This paper shows the results of the application of explorative statist ical techniques to physiological data of spruce needles obtained in fi eld studies. The data set was comprimed to six variables by principal- component analysis. Based on this new data set the trees were classifi ed by cluster analysis. The results were in good accordance with origi nal interpretations of the data of single case studies based on compar isons of physiological, aerochemical, and biochemical parameters. Clas sification of the trees according to these reproducible and objective algorithms allowed comparisons between different study areas. We found that response patterns were similar in high altitudes, but more diffe rent at valley sites of different locations.