The fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in Betula pendula Roth was estimated as an integrated measure of five morphometric characteristics of a lamina. Samples were collected in seven cities that differ both in climatic conditions, moderately to sharply continental. In total, 33 ecotopes were distinguished with various level of anthropogenic load. The statistical data processing involved correlation, one-way and factorial ANOVA, regression analyses, and principal component analysis (PCA). The impact of 25 climatic and anthropogenic factors on the FA value was considered. In most urban ecotopes, the integrated fluctuating asymmetry (IFA) value was higher than in natural biotopes of the same region. No significant inter-annual differences in IFA values were found. FA dependence on traffic load is noted to be statistically significant. The covariation analysis of IFA, climatic, and anthropogenic variables in various urban ecotopes revealed the impact of three groups of factors that together explain 93% of the variance in environmental parameters. The complex analysis clearly arranged the studied ecotopes by pollution gradient and climatic patterns. The primary effect of the total anthropogenic load on the developmental stability of B. pendula results in an IFA increase. IFA can play a key role in bioindication assessment of environmental quality. The climatic factors have no significant effect on the developmental stability of B. pendula in urban conditions.

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New approaches to the analysis of the structure of the consortium of woody plants are considered. The structure of the consortia of Betula pendula Roth and Tilia cordata Mill. of various ontogenetic conditions in the districts of Yoshkar-Ola and the Republic of Mari El, Russia is described. There are 126 species of arthropods (Insecta and Arachnida) associated with Betula pendula cenoses, and 129 species for Tilia cordata. It is shown that the diversity of tree consortial connections characterizes the quality of the environment and indicates the degree of stability of its population to the anthropogenic load. For the first time, a parametric method for visualizing the structure of a consortium was used. The order of filling of separate ecological niches of consortia, connected with ontogenetic state of the determinant of a consortium and the supposed degree of anthropogenic load is revealed. This allows us to hope for the possibility of using the parametric imaging method for bioindication purposes. It was suggested that for the detailed characterization of the consortium, it is necessary to organize a long-term monitoring of the state of woody plantations and the composition of their consorts.

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