title: Modelling relationships between lichen bioindicators, air quality and climate on a national scale: results from the UK OPAL air survey.
abstract: Air pollution has many negative effects on the natural environment, from changes in plant growth patterns to loss of ecosystem function. This study uses citizen science to investigate national-scale patterns in the distribution and abundance of selected lichen species on tree trunks and branches, and to relate these to air pollution and climate. Volunteers collected data for nine lichen indicators on 19,334 deciduous trees. Submitted data provided information on species-level patterns, and were used to derive composite lichen indices. Multiple linear regression and ANCOVA were used to model the relationships between lichen response variables on Quercus spp. and pollution, climate and location. The study demonstrated significant relationships between patterns in indicator lichens and levels of N- and S-containing pollutants on trunks and twigs. The derived lichen indices show great potential as a tool to provide information on local, site-specific levels of air quality.
authors.affiliation: Imperial College London, Division of Biology, Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, UK.
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Seed
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wolseley
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gosling
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Sally A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Power
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002980:Climate; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008011:Lichens / Q000502:physiology*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D029963:Quercus / Q000502:physiology; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants
keywords: Air pollution index; Bioindicator species; Citizen science; Nitrogenous air pollutants; OPAL