Pine

Scots Pine, Scotch Pine; scientific name: Pinus sylvestris
A pine shoot with cones
Photo: UPB-Projektgruppe Trier

A major primary producer in semi-natural and anthropogenic affected ecosystems.

The pine is widespread in Central Europe due to its popularity with forestry managers and as a result its incidence is high. Its suitability as a specimen type for the Environmental Specimen Bank is founded on its economic and ecological significance, our considerable understanding of its ecology, population genetics, sensitivity and patterns of accumulation in relation to many hazardous substances.

The target organ is the one-year-old shoot which, when sampled in spring from February to late May before sprouting begins, presents a comprehensive picture of winter pollution in the environment, unlike the deciduous beech and poplar.

The information provided by this specimen type is analogous to that from the spruce, which means that is can be used as a substitute for spruce in areas where pine is the numerically predominant of the two, e.g. in the Düben Heath (Dübener Heide) sampling area.

For more information about the specimen, the sampling and the processing of samples see the Guideline for Sampling and Sample Processing Norway Spruce (Picea abies) / Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris).

Target organs/Matrices

Sampling area

Analytes

Sampling period

1991 - 2023

Extended information

Links to external information and legislation

Literature