Physiological and chemical response of the lichen, Flavoparmelia caperata (L.) Hale, to the urban environment of Kolkata, India.
The present study was focused on the effect of increasing urbanization including industrial and traffic activity on the accumulation of heavy metals and possible damage of selected physiological parameters (composition of assimilation pigments, membrane lipid peroxidation, and membrane integrity) of an epiphytic foliose lichen, Flavoparmelia caperata (L.) Hale. The lichen samples were collected from three different localities in and around Kolkata, India, two sites being from the urban area and one from the relatively non-polluted sub-urban area. The results showed that thalli from the urban sites have significantly higher concentrations of Fe, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Pb compared to those collected from the sub-urban site. Physiological parameters of damage also exhibited stress symptoms in thalli from the urban sites--decreased chlorophyll a indicating less photosynthetic efficiency, and increase in lipid peroxidation and electrolyte conductivity indicating cell membrane injuries. Correlation studies among metals pinpointed vehicular traffic as the main source of pollution in this area.
Department of Zoology, Charuchandra College, 22, Lake Road, Kolkata 700029 West Bengal, India. shaoli.81@gmail.com
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Majumder
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Mishra
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Ram
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Jana
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Santra
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Sudarshan
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Chakraborty
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D002947:Cities; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007194:India; D008011:Lichens / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
D000393:Air Pollutants; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D002734:Chlorophyll