The response of epiphytic lichens to air pollution and subsets of ecological predictors: a case study from the Italian Prealps.
We investigated the response of epiphytic lichens to air pollution, against the background of other ecological predictors in a prealpine heterogeneous area, using Non-Parametric Multiplicative Regression (NPMR). The best NPMR model for total lichen diversity according to N environmental predictors at tree level has a cross R(2)=0.709. It includes 10 variables, belonging to three different subsets of factors: two pollution-related factors (distance in meters from the road and from the cement factory); four stand-related (habitat, heat index, LAI and elevation) and four substrate-related factors (inclination, circumference and texture and tree species). Considering separately the effects of each subset on lichen diversity, substrate- and stand-related factors produce good models with similar cross R(2) (0.490 and 0.500, respectively), whereas pollution-related factors produce a model with a lower cross R(2) (0.340). Hence, we provide information to investigate the applicability of lichen biomonitoring to complex heterogeneous areas where standardized protocols are not reliable.
Cristofolini
Fabiana
F
IASMA Research Center, Natural Resources Department, Via E Mach 1, 38010 S Michele all'Adige (TN), Italy. fabiana.cristofolini@iasma.it
Giordani
Paolo
P
Gottardini
Elena
E
Modenesi
Paolo
P
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D044822:Biodiversity; D003252:Construction Materials; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D007221:Industry; D007558:Italy; D008011:Lichens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D011891:Rain; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D014197:Trees; D014507:Urbanization; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
D000393:Air Pollutants; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D009584:Nitrogen