Physiological and chemical response of lichens transplanted in and around an industrial area of south Italy: relationship with the lichen diversity.
The lichen Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. has been exposed for 3 months in and around an industrial area of Mediterranean Italy for monitoring physiological (photosynthetic efficiency, membrane lipids peroxidation and cell membrane integrity) and chemical (bioaccumulation of the heavy metals Cr, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) effects and investigate the consistency with the environmental quality status depicted by the diversity of epiphytic lichens (index of lichen diversity (ILD)). The results showed that thalli transplanted close to the industrial area exhibited early stress symptoms, as revealed by the increase in electrical conductivity indicating a damage endured by lichen cell membranes. The electrical conductivity was inversely correlated with the diversity of epiphytic lichens recorded at the same sites. The ILD negatively correlated also with membrane lipid peroxidation and the rate of accumulation of Pb, V and Zn. Reciprocal correlations found among trace elements pinpointed vehicular traffic and metal processing in the industrial area as main sources. The damage endured by cell membranes was the best physiological indicator consistent with the air quality status depicted by the diversity of epiphytic lichens.
Department of Environmental Science, University of Siena, via Mattioli 4, I-53100 Siena, Italy. paoli4@unisi.it
Luca
L
Paoli
Tommaso
T
Pisani
Anna
A
Guttová
Giovanni
G
Sardella
Stefano
S
Loppi
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007221:Industry; D007558:Italy; D008011:Lichens / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013312:Stress, Physiological
D000393:Air Pollutants; D007220:Industrial Waste; D019216:Metals, Heavy