Biological indication of heavy metal pollution in the areas of Donje Vlase and Cerje (Southeastern Serbia) using epiphytic lichens

• Published in: Archives of Biological Sciences Vol. 65; no. 1; pp. 151 - 159
• Main Authors: Stamenković, S. S. (Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Niš (Serbia). Department of Biology and Ecology), Mitrović, T. Lj. (Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Niš (Serbia). Department of Biology and Ecology), Cvetković, V. J. (Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Niš (Serbia). Department of Biology and Ecology), Krstić, N. S. (Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Niš (Serbia). Department of Chemistry), Baošić, R. M. (Faculty of Chemistry, Belgrade (Serbia)), Marković, M. S. (Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Niš (Serbia). Department of Biology and Ecology), Nikolić, N. D. (Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Niš (Serbia). Department of Chemistry), Marković, V. LJ. (Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Niš (Serbia). Department of Physics), Cvijan, M. V. (Faculty of Biology, Belgrade (Serbia))
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Serbian Biological Society, Belgrade (Serbia) 2013
• Subjects: ach; air pollution; bioaccumulation; bioindication; evernia prunastri; heavy metals; hierarchical cluster analysis; icp oes; lichens; parmelia sulcata taylor

The performance of two epiphytic lichen species (Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. and Parmelia sulcata Taylor) as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution in natural areas around the city of Niš (southeastern Serbia) were evaluated. The concentration of 19 heavy metals in lichen samples was measured by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spec- troscopy. For the majority of the elements the concentrations found in Parmelia sulcata Taylor were higher than in Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. In addition, interspecific differences in heavy metal accumulation between Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. and Parmelia sulcata Taylor are observed. Parmelia sulcata Taylor showed a tendency to accumulate Fe, Mn, Ni and Ti while Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. preferentially concentrated Cu on both locations. A clear distinction between lithogenic (Mn-Cu-Ti) and atmospheric elements (Ni-Co-Cr-Ag-Pb-Hg) was achieved by cluster analysis.