Short-term changes of response indicators of ecosystem status in broadleaved forests in Tuscany (central Italy)

The status of different response indicators of forest condition were measur ed and assessed between 1995 and 1997 at 6 Permanent Monitoring Plots (PMPs ) in Tuscany (central Italy), where beech, holm oak and Turkey oak are the most frequent tree species. Foliage transparency, leaf damage and crown die back have changed significantly over the monitoring period. Leaf area, leng th of the current year shoots, and total leaf area changed as well, but onl y for Turkey oak. Changes were consistent between and within the plots. Dif ferent indices of plant diversity showed marked changes, apparently linked to natural dynamics within individual ecosystems. These rapid and contrasti ng fluctuations in the various indicators of forest ecosystem make it diffi cult to derive a synthesis about the general condition of ecosystems and - especially - about the effects of air pollution.