🌿 Assessing the Influences of Leaf Functional Traits on Plant Performance Under Dust Deposition and Microplastic Retention
🌍 1. Introduction to Emerging Environmental Stressors Rapid industrialization and urban expansion have intensified the release of atmospheric pollutants such as dust particles and microplastics . These contaminants settle on plant surfaces, particularly leaves, influencing physiological and ecological functions. Understanding how plants respond to these pollutants is essential for sustainable ecosystem management and urban environmental planning. 🌱 🍃 2. Leaf Functional Traits and Their Ecological Importance Leaf functional traits refer to measurable characteristics of leaves that influence plant survival, productivity, and adaptation. Traits such as leaf surface roughness, trichome density, wax composition, stomatal density, and leaf thickness play critical roles in determining how leaves interact with environmental particles. Plants with rough or hairy leaf surfaces often capture more airborne particles, while smooth and waxy leaves may reduce deposition. These structural...