Understanding the pollution sensitivity of lichens

RICHARDSON, D. H. S. 1988. Understanding the pollution sensitivity of lichens. Lichens have been widely used to monitor air quality in urban and industrial situations. This review summarizes the effects of the various components of air pollution including metals, sulphur dioxide and acid rain. The mechanisms leading to the accumulation of elements by lichens or induction of damage by air pollutants are discussed.     

Air pollution in a tropical city: the relationship between wind direction and lichen bio-indicators in San José, Costa Rica

Lichens are good bio-indicators of air pollution, but in most tropical countries there are few studies on the subject; however, in the city of San José, Costa Rica, the relationship between air pollution and lichens has been studied for decades. In this article we evaluate the hypothesis that air pollution is lower where the wind enters the urban area (Northeast) and higher where it exits San José (Southwest). We identified the urban parks with a minimum area of approximately 5,000 m2 and randomly selected a sample of 40 parks located along the passage of wind through the city. To measure lichen coverage, we applied a previously validated 10 x 20 cm template with 50 random points to five trees per park (1.5m above ground, to the side with most lichens). Our results (years 2008 and 2009) fully agree with the generally accepted view that lichens reflect air pollution carried by circulating air masses. The practical implication is that the air enters the city relatively clean by the semi-rural and economically middle class area of Coronado, and leaves through the developed neighborhoods of Escazú and Santa Ana with a significant amount of pollutants. In the dry season, the live lichen coverage of this tropical city was lower than in the May to December rainy season, a pattern that contrasts with temperate habitats; but regardless of the season, pollution follows the pattern of wind movement through the city.     

新疆地衣研究现状与展望

地衣在自然界中是一种特殊的生物类群,具有独特的结构特征和较强的环境适应能力。它在环境污染评价,药物和香料开发利用方面具有较高的研究价值。目前对地衣的研究涉及地衣分类、地衣区系地理、地衣群落生态学、地衣化学、利用地衣评价环境质量以及地衣分子生物学等领域。回顾了新疆地衣研究近20年的发展概况,总结了新疆地衣研究的发展历程、特点,并展望了新疆地衣研究的方向。     

Epiphytic lichens as biomonitors of airborne heavy metal pollution

The research aims to assess the performance of the lichen Parmotrema reticulatum as an air pollution biomonitor of four heavy metals, namely, chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). Four contrasting land use sites within the greater Auckland region of New Zealand are used. One site is located within the relatively clean air shed of conservation land, the others within residential, commercial, and industrial areas, characterised by increasingly polluted air sheds, respectively. Three groups of lichens are monitored over a two-year period using active and passive biomonitoring methods to assess ‘on-thallus’ and ‘in-thallus’ concentrations of heavy metals. Seasonal transplants are used to quantify heavy metals accumulated by the lichen during each season. Long-term transplants are used to measure how fast lichens accumulate heavy metals and to better understand how and when heavy metals within the lichen thallus achieve equilibrium with air pollutant concentrations over time. The results show that the lichens continuously accumulates pollutants from the air until equilibrium is reached, thus transplanted lichens are useful for monitoring air pollution concentrations over time. Since pollutant concentration in the transplanted lichen at equilibrium stabilises, at this point the lichen ceases to be useful for monitoring temporal trends in air pollution, but may useful for spatial air pollution monitoring. The industrial location has the highest total accumulation for all four heavy metals, followed by the commercial and residential locations, respectively. Overall, the results show that the lichen P. reticulatum may be successfully used to monitor spatial and temporal pollution patterns caused by even very low concentrations of Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn.     

Stable isotopes of Lithosiini and lichens in Hong Kong show the biodindicator potential of lichenivorous moths

Urban landscapes provide unique environments for a wide variety of plants and animals, but their suitability may be limited by anthropogenic impacts such as pollution. We examined the potential utility of lichen and lichen-feeding moths as biodindicators of air pollution in Hong Kong by comparing carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stable isotope values in lichens, lichenivorous and non-lichenivorous moths (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) and a moth outgroup (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Our results show that stable isotope values for C and N were similar for lichens and lichen feeding moths, while non-lichen feeding moths formed a distinct group. In addition, we found consistent δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values across moth body parts, indicating that any portion of the specimen is suitable for isotopic fingerprinting. Our results highlight that lichen feeding moths may be useful for integrating signals of atmospheric nitrogen pollution and could therefore have utility in monitoring and quantifying air quality over time and space.     

地衣特殊性、多样性及其重要性

本文从地衣二元性和地衣的真菌本质、地衣物种、生活环境和生命力、生长速度、代谢产物等方面阐述地衣的特殊性与多样性及其在共生进化研究、监测大气污染、测年、药用诸方面表现出的科学意义与实用价值。并在地衣的开发利用中,提出地衣多样性的保护与永续利用的建议。     

Responses of antioxidants in the lichen Ramalina lacera may serve as an early-warning bioindicator system for the detection of air pollution stress

The aim of this study was to identify, in the lichen Ramalina lacera, antioxidants that could provide indications of air pollution stress, and respond earlier than traditionally used structural/physiological parameters. The pollution-sensitive lichen R. lacera was transplanted from its relatively unpolluted natural habitat to two air-polluted sites for a period of up to 6 months. The superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, total water- and lipid-soluble low-molecular-weight antioxidant capacities and chlorophyll b/chlorophyll a ratios were assessed every 6 weeks. The earliest signs of oxidative stress were detected in the activities of fungal copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase, algal iron-superoxide dismutase and water-soluble low-molecular-weight antioxidants, which increased significantly as early as 42 days after exposure to pollution. Catalase activity increased in lichens transplanted to the polluted sites after 90 days. All activities decreased towards the end of the experiment. The impact of air pollution on R. lacera, using the traditionally employed parameter of chlorophyll b/chlorophyll a ratio, was only detected after 6 months of exposure to air pollution. Our results indicate that antioxidant parameters may serve as improved early-warning indicators of air pollution stress in lichens.     

Significant decrease in epiphytic lichen diversity in a remote area in the European Alps,Austria

We present long-term (1993–2010) monitoring results of lichens from a remote site in Austria. Whereas gaseous pollution is negligible in this area, levels of long-range air pollution of S and N via rain and fog are high. Lichen cover on tree trunks have decreased significantly. Accordingly, we found that the population of all species had declined. The analyses demonstrated significant changes in lichen community composition. The lichen flora suffered a significant decrease in diversity. Our hypothesis is that the breakdown of epiphytic lichens is mainly due to eutrophication through long-term N deposition, and more particularly to ammonia in precipitation and in fog. Since many areas in the European Alps receive high wet deposition loads, a decrease in the abundance and diversity of epiphytic lichens is most probably a widespread phenomenon.     

Using Social Media to Detect Outdoor Air Pollution and Monitor Air Quality Index (AQI): A Geo-Targeted Spatiotemporal Analysis Framework with Sina Weibo (Chinese Twitter)

Outdoor air pollution is a serious problem in many developing countries today. This study focuses on monitoring the dynamic changes of air quality effectively in large cities by analyzing the spatiotemporal trends in geo-targeted social media messages with comprehensive big data filtering procedures. We introduce a new social media analytic framework to (1) investigate the relationship between air pollution topics posted in Sina Weibo (Chinese Twitter) and the daily Air Quality Index (AQI) published by China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection; and (2) monitor the dynamics of air quality index by using social media messages. Correlation analysis was used to compare the connections between discussion trends in social media messages and the temporal changes in the AQI during 2012. We categorized relevant messages into three types, retweets, mobile app messages, and original individual messages finding that original individual messages had the highest correlation to the Air Quality Index. Based on this correlation analysis, individual messages were used to monitor the AQI in 2013. Our study indicates that the filtered social media messages are strongly correlated to the AQI and can be used to monitor the air quality dynamics to some extent.     

钱江源国家公园体制试点区日间声景观的质量评价及其空间格局特征

声景观在现行国家公园景观评价体系中,是一个十分重要但又薄弱的环节,关系着国家公园的精细化管理水平。以钱江源国家公园体制试点区为例,采用调查问卷法对国家公园日间的53种声景观进行主观愉悦度评价,考察并选取描述声景观质量的客观心理物理学指标,通过多元线性回归方法建立二者主客观关系,并得到国家公园声景观质量评价模型。结果表明：（1）不同类型声景观表现为不同的声学特征,并在响度、尖锐度、粗糙度指标上具有显著性差异。虫鸣声响度最大（5.829）、尖锐度最大（2.667）、粗糙度最大（0.018）,鸟鸣声的尖锐度与其余六种声景观均显著差异。（2）采用响度、尖锐度、粗糙度、波动度作为描述声景观质量的客观心理物理学指标具有适宜性。其中,响度是影响公众对国家公园声景观主观愉悦度认知的主要因素,二者呈负相关关系。（3）采用K-均值聚类等级划分发现,国家公园声景观质量处于较高水平。其中,虫鸣声质量最高（3.86）、鸟鸣声其次（3.58）、交谈声最低（2.43）。自然声景观质量整体高于人工声景观。（4）国家公园声景观质量在空间上具有南部高、北部其次、中部低的格局特征,且与区域生态保护等级水平存在较强空间重叠性。研究结果为国家公园体制试点结束后,未来声景观科学管理与规划设计提供重要参考,同时为其它类型自然保护地的声景观评价提供方法借鉴。     

三江源国家公园兽类物种多样性及区系分析

为了解三江源国家公园野生兽类的分布现状,2015-2017年对园区进行了实地调查。根据调查结果并参考相关文献资料,三江源国家公园内野生兽类共62种,分别隶属8目19科44属。园区内兽类呈现出物种多样性高,珍稀濒危物种多,特有种多的特点：三江源国家公园内的兽类物种多样性G-F指数为0.77,表明该区域物种多样性处于很高水平。根据中国物种红色名录,20个物种受威胁（极危、濒危和易危）,比例为32.26%,远高于国家整体水平;中国或青藏高原特有种29种,占46.77%。三江源国家公园在动物地理区划上属于古北界青藏区,在地理分布型上,以古北界成分为主,东洋界成分为辅,以古北界高山型成分最多,有25种,且资源量大,表明三江源国家公园的兽类以适应高寒气候的特殊种类为主。3个园区的平均动物区系相似性比较结果表明,长江源园区与澜沧江源园区为共同关系,黄河源园区与长江源园区和澜沧江源园区为密切关系。近些年,三江源地区的兽类保护工作取得了很好的效果,并得到国内外认可,本研究结合园区生物多样性和区系特点,根据保护现状,提出了今后的监测保护建议。     

松萝挂袋法监测氟化盐厂大气氟污染

以长松萝为材料,制成挂袋,与石灰滤纸法（ＬＴＰ）同步对白银市某氟人盐厂内外大气氟进行监测的结果表明：两种方法在监测效果上显著相关。由松萝挂袋法监测结果确定的污染等级范围与实际情况符合,从而证明此法监测大气氟污染的可行性与可靠性。与天然地衣调查法和种子植物污染成分分析法相比,松萝挂袋法具有不受时间、地点限制,可定量反映植物聚焦污染物的数量等优点,对环境质量评价有直接参考价值。     

Severe photobiont injuries of lichens are strongly associated with air pollution

The photobiont ultrastructure of the epiphytic lichens Bryoria fuscescens and Bryoria fremontii was studied along the pollution gradient from two Cu-Ni smelters in Nikel and Monchegorsk in northern Finland and north-western Russia. The relationship between ultrastructural characteristics of B. fuscescens and environmental factors (i.e. climate, atmospheric SO₂ and bark element concentrations) was studied by using a principal component analysis (PCA) aiming to assess the air quality in a northern environment. Based on PCA, increased plasmolysis and mitochondrial changes in the Trebouxia photobiont were significantly correlated with elevated pollutant concentrations. Degenerated cells, showing altered chloroplasts and electron-translucent pyrenoglobuli, occurred in lichens growing 35–50 km from the Monchegorsk smelter. Cell wall and cytoplasmic lipid volumes, and size of pyrenoglobuli, positively correlated with the distance from the Monchegorsk smelter. Vacuoles and electron-opaque vacuolar deposits were significantly increased at the Finnish site in the vicinity of a pulp mill. Swelling of mitochondrial cristae and thylakoids showed little correlation with environmental factors, but indicated of initial stage of injuries and were observed at several slightly polluted sites in northern Finland and north-western Russia. The results suggest that the severe photobiont injuries of lichens are strongly associated with poor air quality.     

Air quality indices: a review

National directives on air quality oblige nations to monitor and report on their air quality, allowing the public to be informed on the ambient pollution levels. The last is the reason for the always increasing interest, demonstrated by the number of publications on this topic in recent years, in air quality/pollution indices: since the concentration of individual pollutants can be confusing, concentration measurements are conveniently transformed in terms of an air quality index. In this way, complex situations are summarized in a single figure, letting comparisons in time and space be possible. In this paper we will give an overview about the Air Quality/Pollution Indices proposed in literature and/or adopted by countries, trying also to categorize them into homogeneous groups. For the classification different approaches can be followed. Since in real life exposure to mixtures of chemicals occurs, with additive, synergistic or antagonistic effects, here we will distinguish between indices that consider the conjoint effect of pollutants and indices only based on the actual most dangerous pollutant. This brief review on air pollution indices shows, on one side, the wide interest in the problem, on the other, the lack of a common strategy which allows to compare the state of the air for cities that follow different directives. The main differences between the indices will be also described.     

Evaluating the conservation status of epiphytic lichens of Italy: A red list

Despite the fact that Italy is among the lichenologically best known areas worldwide, a national red list of lichens is still lacking. The aim of this work was to provide a red list of the epiphytic lichens of Italy which could facilitate the inclusion of lichens in national conservation plans. The evaluation of the species against International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria was based on data from multiple sources which represent the best available information on the epiphytic lichens of Italy. The species were assigned to the IUCN categories mainly using criteria D and B. A total of 368 species were evaluated: for 23 species, information is missing from more than 50 years and they were listed as regionally extinct, 64 as critically endangered, 75 as endangered, 74 as vulnerable, 58 as near threatened, 20 as least concern and 54 species as data deficient. Our results indicate that more than one-fourth of the epiphytic lichens of Italy are likely to be threatened, so that further research and effort are needed to include lichens in the main national conservation plans. Our results also highlight the lack of information that still hampers the rigorous evaluation of Italian lichens against IUCN criteria.     

钱江源国家公园森林物种组成和群落结构

全面了解以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系木本植物物种组成,特别是珍稀濒危物种,分析其区系特征及不同植被类型群落结构现状,对国家公园物种保护和不同植被类型恢复具有重要指导意义。基于对钱江源国家公园全域的木本植物调查,详细分析了不同胸径大小级森林植被类型的物种组成、区系特征、种-个体曲线分析和结构特征。调查涵盖313个木本物种,温带分布的科多于热带分布的科(22/35),热带分布的属略少于温带分布的属(28/31);中国特有属7个,特有种101个,中国珍稀保护物种10个,世界自然保护联盟(IUCN)红色名录的近危、易危和濒危物种17个。在同等取样水平下,物种多样性在常绿阔叶林最高,天然针叶林次之,杉木林最低;全域所有个体及各林型的径级分布总体呈现明显的倒"J"形,群落总体上更新良好。研究发现钱江源国家公园物种丰富,但由于包含较多次生林等植被类型,整体温带多于热带区系成分,亟待采取措施恢复至典型中亚热带常绿阔叶林植被;研究对钱江源国家公园木本植物物种的多样性及其更新情况等科学和保护实践急需解决的基本问题做出了回答,也为未来钱江源国家公园生物多样性保护和恢复提供了科学依据。     

Evaluation of bio-indication methods using epiphytes by correlating with SO2-pollution parameters

Abstract:In order to evaluate the relative usefulness of the numerous bio-indication methods that use epiphytes as indicators for air pollution, a range of these different methods was applied within the same region (Flanders, Northern Belgium). The study area shows important air pollution gradients and little climatic differentiation. Ninety-one IAP indices were calculated with data collected in the immediate vicinity of SO₂measuring stations on one randomly chosen tree, on ten neighbouring trees and in a sampling grid placed on the tree carrying the largest number of epiphytes. A large majority of indices showed a significant Spearman rank order correlation with mean SO₂winter values over the 5 years 1990–94. Indices based on a selection of 17 lichens gave better results than those based on all lichens. The latter indices showed higher correlation than those using all epiphytes (including bryophytes). Indices using a quantitative estimate of cover or abundance or a combination of these did not result in a higher correlation. Sampling ten trees gave slightly higher correlation than the grid method or sampling of one tree. Taking into account supplementary evaluation criteria (time investment and degree of lichenological knowledge required), sampling of 17 bio-indicator species using a sampling grid is recommended within the study area. Monitoring the presence of all corticolous lichens within a sampling grid is recommended in general.     

Lichens as material for Lepidoptera's housing: A molecular approach to a widespread and highly selective interaction

Interactions between lichens and invertebrates are widespread and have evolved independently in several orders of invertebrates. Lichens participate as food, shelter, background for mimicry, or as camouflage for animals to wear. For this study, we discovered caterpillars of the moth family Psychidae living inside bags made from silk and lichens. We used molecular techniques to identify the lichens present and analyzed caterpillar selectivity for lichen species. We selected 13 bags and recovered the ITS genetic marker for every visually different lichen fragment. Obtained sequences were compared against a newly created ITS database from lichens of the study area. Caterpillars only used eight out of the 300 lichen species present showing a strong selection tendency for microfoliose lichens containing sekikaic acid. Our results suggest that caterpillars select lichen species at a higher rate than what is expected based on their local abundances. We provide an accessible way to study these widespread interactions in future projects.     

国家公园生态系统健康测度模型构建及黄山实证研究

国家公园是中国生态文明建设的重要制度实践,其生态系统健康的科学评估是国家公园分区管理、空间管制、生态保护的基础。国家公园生态系统具有特殊性和复合性,区别于城市、流域、湿地等生态系统,亟需建立一套适合国家公园生态系统的生态系统健康测度模型。基于国家公园生态系统的特殊性和生态系统健康概念的多维性,探讨了现有模型存在的问题和不足,从生态系统与人类活动交互的视角,建立了"VSR"(生态活力Vigor、服务能力Service、抗干扰力Resilience)国家公园生态系统健康测度模型。此外,将"VSR"模型应用到黄山国家公园生态系统健康的测度中,可视化了黄山国家公园生态系统健康的时空过程和格局,通过随机森林回归模型和增强回归树模型验证了"VSR"模型的有效性和稳定性。"VSR"国家公园生态系统健康测度模型有效量化了国家公园生态系统健康的时空差异性和时空动态性,为国家公园空间管制、生态保护等目标实施提供了科学支撑。     

An assessment of the sampling procedure for estimating air pollution using epiphytic lichens as indicators

Abstract: Using the response of epiphytic lichens in and around the city of Thessaloniki (Greece) to an air pollution source, the value of sampling lichens at breast height and the base of trees was compared. The data obtained were processed with detrended correspondence analysis and polythetic divisive two-way indicator species analysis, and IAP (index of atmospheric purity) values were estimated for each experimental site. The tree base IAP values were higher than those at breast height, reflecting the higher number of species present, the generally increased cover and frequency of occurrence. IAP values at the two sampling heights suggest a linear relationship and the same holds for the tree base IAP values and the first axis ordination scores. Sampling at the base resulted in better discrimination of sites, and may, therefore, offer more accurate monitoring of changes induced by air pollution.