Relationship between epiphytic lichens, trace elements and gaseous atmospheric pollutants

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 112; no. 2; pp. 163 - 169
• Main Authors: van Dobben, H.F., Wolterbeek, H.Th, Wamelink, G.W.W., Ter Braak, C.J.F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - adverse effects; Air pollution; Analysis methods; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Ascomycetes; Atmospheric pollution; Bark; Biological and medical sciences; biologische monitoring; biomonitoring; conifers; copper; deposition; dioxide; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on plants and fungi; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Management (General); Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; growth; heavy metals; korstmossen; Lichen; Lichens; Metals, Heavy - adverse effects; Milieubeheer (algemeen); monitoring; mossen; mosses; Multivariate statistics; Netherlands; nitrogen dioxide; Pollution; Population Dynamics; Sensitivity; toxicologie; toxicology; Trace element; zware metalen; Netherlands; Europe; Trace element; Air pollution; Sensitivity; Multivariate statistics; Lichen; Bark; Statistical analysis; Air content; Toxicity; Epiphyte; Biological indicator; Multivariate analysis; Phytotoxicity; Correlation analysis; Lichenes; Biological accumulation; Thallophyta; Ecological abundance; Field study
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/S0269-7491(00)00121-4

Lichens were shown to be effective accumulator biomonitors for heavy metals in The Netherlands. A study was conducted to determine the joint effect of gaseous atmospheric pollutants and trace elements on epiphytic lichens. We used our data to test the hypothesis that lichens are generally insensitive to toxic effects of trace elements, and can therefore be used as accumulator organisms to estimate concentrations of these elements in the environment. In a field study in The Netherlands the abundance of epiphytic lichen species was estimated, and their supporting bark was collected. Concentrations of a range of trace elements were determined in the bark, and concentrations of atmospheric trace gases were estimated at the sites of collection. Multivariate statistics were used to determine the relation between the abundance of the species and pollutant concentrations. Atmospheric SO 2 and NO 2 appeared to be the most important factors determining lichen biodiversity. Nearly all species were sensitive to these compounds. The effect of the other trace elements was very slight; only Sb had a significantly negative effect on the abundance of a few species. It is concluded that lichens can safely be used as accumulator organisms in pollution studies, provided that concentration in lichen thalli reflect atmospheric concentrations.