title: Impact of heavy metals on water loss from lichen thalli.
abstract: Water loss in lichen species Cladonia convoluta (Lam.) and C. rangiformis (L.) Hoffm. after exposure to heavy-metal (Pb, Cu, or Zn) solutions, either as single compounds or in combination, have been studied in this laboratory. Water loss was reduced in Pb-treated C. convoluta, whereas in C. rangiformis it increased significantly with 10(-2) M Pb treatment. Water loss increased significantly (P = 0.05) after Cu treatment in C. convoluta but was significantly reduced (P = 0.05) in 10(-8) and 10(-6) M CuCl2-treated C. rangiformis. Similarly, water loss increased in all Zn-treated thalli but was significantly decreased (P = 0.05) in 10(-8) M treated C. rangiformis. A cumulative effect of Pb, Cu, and Zn was observed on water loss after uptake from mixed-metal solution. K+ efflux indicated the extent to which the plasma membrane presents an effective barrier to metal ion uptake.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, University of Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Chettri
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sawidis
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology; D007854:Lead / Q000494:pharmacology; D008011:Lichens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016014:Linear Models; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014867:Water; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc; D011188:Potassium