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Author: Chiska C. Derr
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Lichens
Languages : en
Pages : 196
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Book Description
Lichen sensitivity to air quality has been recognized in Europe for over 125 years: recently Federal agencies in this country have begun using lichens as air quality bioindicators. This study presents the results of three different approaches to air quality biomonitoring using lichens: (1) a lichen community analysis, (2) an elemental analysis of lichen tissue content, and (3) the growth of removable lichen transplants. The lichen community and elemental tissue content analyses were part of an air quality baseline on the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska. The lichen transplant experiment compared the growth of three different lichen species and evaluated and refined a transplant technique in western Oregon. Lichen communities were sampled on 50 Pinus contorta peatlands in southeast Alaska. These peatlands make good air quality biomonitoring sites because: (1) the trees are slow growing and provide stable substrates for lichen colonization; (2) many branches are at eye level, making the canopy epiphytes easily observable; (3) the scattered, open distribution of the trees allows for good air circulation on the sites; and (4) precipitation, light conditions, and relative humidity are high, which stimulate lichen growth. A total of 100 lichen species were encountered during whole-plot ocular surveys of each plot. Multivariate ordination revealed what appears to be a successional gradient represented by high cover of Bryoria species at older sites and high cover of Platismatia norvegica, P. glauca, Hypogymnia enteromorpha sens. lat. and H. inactiva at younger sites. A second pattern revealed by ordination analysis appears to be a climatic gradient with high Alectoria sarmentosa cover on moister, warmer sites, and high cover of Bryoria species on drier, colder sites. The first two gradients contained 35% and 21%, respectively, of the information in the analytical data set (cumulative r2=56%). Elemental tissue content of Alectoria sarmentosa was determined from 43 of the peatland plots in southeast Alaska. The range of values for 16 elements are reported and compared to other regional studies; the ranges of values for most elements were within normal background levels. Quality assurance techniques are described for separation of laboratory and field noise from elemental content signal. Principal components analysis was used to create three synthetic gradients of plot-level elemental content. The first three principal components captured 55% of the correlation structure among elements. Iron (r=-0.91), aluminum (r=-0.80) and chromium (r=-0.71) are all highly correlated with the first gradient. This gradient could represent sites enriched by elements from dirt; aluminum and iron silicates are both persistent and abundant components of weathered rock and soil. Potassium (r=-0.82), phosphorous (r=-0.63), zinc (r=-0.60), manganese (r=-0.58), magnesium (r=-0.51) and nickel (r=0.54) are correlated with the second gradient. Many of these elements are supplemented by salt water aerosols (Nieboer et al. 1978; Rhoades 1988). Lead (r=0.70) and cadmium (r=0.59) were correlated with the third axis. This gradients could represent enrichment from fossil fuel combustion. Recommendations for standardizing future regional studies of lichen elemental content are made. Removable lichen transplants were constructed using live thalli of known weight, a 5 cm length of nylon monofilament, silicone glue, and reusable attachment mechanisms. Transplants were returned to several sites in Western Oregon and were weighed every several months for 13 months. Reference standards for each species were used to correct for changes in lichen water content due to changes in lab humidity. Despite apparent vigor, Alectoria proved unsuitable for repeated weighings because of biomass loss due to fragmentation (average of 9% biomass loss). Growth of Evernia and Lobaria transplants differed both between species and between sites. Average growth over the 13 months for Evernia in the foothills and valley was 40% and 30% respectively; for Lobaria it was 16% and 15%. Differences in growth between species could be due to different: (1) growth rates; (2) sensitivities to air quality; (3) sensitivities to microhabitat; and (4) sensitivities to transplant trauma. Differences in growth between valley and foothill sites could be due to differences in: (1) micro- or macrohabitat conditions; and (2) air quality.
Author: Chiska C. Derr
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Lichens
Languages : en
Pages : 196
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Book Description
Lichen sensitivity to air quality has been recognized in Europe for over 125 years: recently Federal agencies in this country have begun using lichens as air quality bioindicators. This study presents the results of three different approaches to air quality biomonitoring using lichens: (1) a lichen community analysis, (2) an elemental analysis of lichen tissue content, and (3) the growth of removable lichen transplants. The lichen community and elemental tissue content analyses were part of an air quality baseline on the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska. The lichen transplant experiment compared the growth of three different lichen species and evaluated and refined a transplant technique in western Oregon. Lichen communities were sampled on 50 Pinus contorta peatlands in southeast Alaska. These peatlands make good air quality biomonitoring sites because: (1) the trees are slow growing and provide stable substrates for lichen colonization; (2) many branches are at eye level, making the canopy epiphytes easily observable; (3) the scattered, open distribution of the trees allows for good air circulation on the sites; and (4) precipitation, light conditions, and relative humidity are high, which stimulate lichen growth. A total of 100 lichen species were encountered during whole-plot ocular surveys of each plot. Multivariate ordination revealed what appears to be a successional gradient represented by high cover of Bryoria species at older sites and high cover of Platismatia norvegica, P. glauca, Hypogymnia enteromorpha sens. lat. and H. inactiva at younger sites. A second pattern revealed by ordination analysis appears to be a climatic gradient with high Alectoria sarmentosa cover on moister, warmer sites, and high cover of Bryoria species on drier, colder sites. The first two gradients contained 35% and 21%, respectively, of the information in the analytical data set (cumulative r2=56%). Elemental tissue content of Alectoria sarmentosa was determined from 43 of the peatland plots in southeast Alaska. The range of values for 16 elements are reported and compared to other regional studies; the ranges of values for most elements were within normal background levels. Quality assurance techniques are described for separation of laboratory and field noise from elemental content signal. Principal components analysis was used to create three synthetic gradients of plot-level elemental content. The first three principal components captured 55% of the correlation structure among elements. Iron (r=-0.91), aluminum (r=-0.80) and chromium (r=-0.71) are all highly correlated with the first gradient. This gradient could represent sites enriched by elements from dirt; aluminum and iron silicates are both persistent and abundant components of weathered rock and soil. Potassium (r=-0.82), phosphorous (r=-0.63), zinc (r=-0.60), manganese (r=-0.58), magnesium (r=-0.51) and nickel (r=0.54) are correlated with the second gradient. Many of these elements are supplemented by salt water aerosols (Nieboer et al. 1978; Rhoades 1988). Lead (r=0.70) and cadmium (r=0.59) were correlated with the third axis. This gradients could represent enrichment from fossil fuel combustion. Recommendations for standardizing future regional studies of lichen elemental content are made. Removable lichen transplants were constructed using live thalli of known weight, a 5 cm length of nylon monofilament, silicone glue, and reusable attachment mechanisms. Transplants were returned to several sites in Western Oregon and were weighed every several months for 13 months. Reference standards for each species were used to correct for changes in lichen water content due to changes in lab humidity. Despite apparent vigor, Alectoria proved unsuitable for repeated weighings because of biomass loss due to fragmentation (average of 9% biomass loss). Growth of Evernia and Lobaria transplants differed both between species and between sites. Average growth over the 13 months for Evernia in the foothills and valley was 40% and 30% respectively; for Lobaria it was 16% and 15%. Differences in growth between species could be due to different: (1) growth rates; (2) sensitivities to air quality; (3) sensitivities to microhabitat; and (4) sensitivities to transplant trauma. Differences in growth between valley and foothill sites could be due to differences in: (1) micro- or macrohabitat conditions; and (2) air quality.
Author: Vertika Shukla
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 8132215036
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 195
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Book Description
The book embodies the detailed account about unique symbionts i.e. LICHENS in ecosystem monitoring. The first chapter deals with unique characteristics features of lichens which facilitate their survival in extreme climates and makes them an ideal organism for ecosystem monitoring. Biosynthesis of secondary metabolites are known to protect lichens against increasing environmental stresses therefore second chapter provides insight into various chromatographic and modern spectroscopic techniques involved in separation and characterization of lichen substances. The third chapter elaborates the criteria for selection of biomonitoring species and characters of host plant that influences lichen diversity and details about different lichen species utilized for biomonitoring. One can retrieve preliminary information about the air quality based on the lichen community structure and distribution of bioindicator species as lichen communities/indicator species provides valuable information about the natural/anthropogenic induced changes in the microclimate and land-use changes due to human activity. Therefore, for identification of species, a key to genera and species provides concise information to identify the lichen species based on their morphological and anatomical characters and chemicals present. Keys provided in Chapter 4 will help the beginners to identify some common lichen species based on the distribution in different climatic zones of India. The section also provides comprehensive information about the bioindicator communities and bioindicator species from India. Chapter 5 provides the details of factors affecting the ecosystem (natural as well as anthropogenic disturbances) and role of lichens in ecosystem monitoring in India has been discussed in detail. Chapter 6 discusses the need and utility of indicator species especially lichen biomonitoring data in sustainable forest management and conservation. The content about lichens in biomonitoring will be a valuable resource for researchers from different fields and will provide an essential reference for people interested in lichens and its role in ecosystem monitoring. The book will also hopefully popularize lichenological studies in India and will generate more active participation of lichen biomonitoring studies in management and conservation of natural resources in India.
Author: Sarah Jovan
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Air
Languages : en
Pages : 128
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Book Description
Lichens are highly valued ecological indicators known for their sensitivity to a wide variety of environmental stressors like air quality and climate change. This report summarizes baseline results from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Lichen Community Indicator covering the first full cycle of data collection (1998-2001, 2003) for Washington, Oregon, and California. During this period, FIA conducted 972 surveys of epiphytic macrolichen communities for monitoring both spatial and long-term temporal trends in forest health. Major research findings are presented with emphasis on lichen biodiversity as well as bioindication of air quality and climate. Considerable effort is devoted to mapping geographic patterns and defining lichen indicator species suitable for estimating air quality and climate.
Author: Kaleigh Spickerman
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Botanical specimens
Languages : en
Pages : 136
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Book Description
Functional traits of vascular plants have been an important component of ecological studies for a number of years; however, in more recent times vascular plant ecologists have begun to formalize a set of key traits and universal system of trait measurement. Many recent studies hypothesize global generality of trait patterns, which would allow for comparison among ecosystems and biomes and provide a foundation for general rules and theories, the so-called "Holy Grail" of ecology. However, the majority of these studies focus on functional trait patterns of vascular plants, with a minority examining the patterns of cryptograms such as lichens. Lichens are an important component of many ecosystems due to their contributions to biodiversity and their key ecosystem services, such as contributions to mineral and hydrological cycles and ecosystem food webs. Lichens are also of special interest because of their reliance on atmospheric deposition for nutrients and water, which makes them particularly sensitive to air pollution. Therefore, they are often used as bioindicators of air pollution, climate change, and general ecosystem health. This thesis examines the functional trait patterns of lichens in two contrasting regions with fundamentally different kinds of data. To better understand the patterns of lichen functional traits, we examined reproductive, morphological, and chemical trait variation along precipitation and temperature gradients in Oregon. Specifically, we measured traits of 102 macrolichen species collected from 166 USDA Forest Service program for Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) plots. These plots were located in a more-or-less continuous swath across Oregon between 43°W and 45°W. Plots were grouped into seven regions (the Oregon Coast, Coast Range, Willamette Valley, Western Cascades, High Cascades, Eastern Cascades, and Eastern Oregon). Using multivariate analysis techniques we found strong linear and nonlinear trait patterns along precipitation and temperature gradients, and were able to characterize the seven main regions of Oregon by the relative abundance of lichen traits. The literature on what lichen traits are most common in which habitats is sparse and anecdotal; understanding trait-habitat patterns could have management implications due to lichen importance as bioindicators and animal forage. Understanding how key traits are distributed among habitats could provide insight into potential air pollution impacts on certain habitats, animal movement among habitats, etc. To examine trait-habitat patterns, we measured the reproductive, morphological, and chemical traits of 429 lichen species collected haphazardly (without a formal sampling framework) from ten distinct habitats within Katmai National Park in southwest Alaska as part of a taxonomic inventory. Using multivariate analysis techniques we grouped habitats based on the expression of lichen traits and described the relative abundance of each trait in different habitats. The second goal of this study was to examine the potential usefulness of herbarium collections in ecological studies of this type. Herbarium specimens are a large potential resource that is generally unused in ecological studies due to concerns over potential bias and noise introduced by variation in collection methods. However, recent work has suggested that herbarium specimens may yield more useful results than previously thought and could be a valid resource for ecological studies. The data for our study were collected in a haphazard manner for a floristic inventory, similar to the collection methods used for many herbarium specimens. The patterns that we observed indicates that herbarium specimens may be a good resource for future research.
Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 358
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Book Description
Author: Rita Pinto Eliseu Mendes Godinho Veloso
Publisher: IOS Press
ISBN: 1607504820
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 180
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Book Description
The present book discusses the use of lichen as a biomonitor tool to trace element air deposition, especially focusing on their accumulation performance. The work comprises three main parts, each one addressing relevant issues on factors influencing bioaccumulation. The distribution of accumulated elements, the lichen parameters that need to be used in assessing and ensuring comparability of their characteristics in space and time and the dynamics of the elemental accumulation and release in lichens are all subjects covered in depth in this volume. Lichen Biomonitors: Factor Affecting Response Behaviour starts by presenting the current state-of-the-art of biomonitoring and by introducing relevant issues both generally and specifically recognised as needing attention. The work goes on to explain the intercellular distribution of elements in lichens, the procedures of the comparability testing experiment and, finally, the study of lichens dynamic in more detail. The final chapter discusses and summarises the principal work and the conclusions of the different experiments of the study and highlights the future research that is needed in this area. This book is a must have for people working on biomonitoring issues offering an in-depth study particularly in lichen, for those interested or that have previously worked with these organisms. IOS Press is an international science, technical and medical publisher of high-quality books for academics, scientists, and professionals in all fields. Some of the areas we publish in: -Biomedicine -Oncology -Artificial intelligence -Databases and information systems -Maritime engineering -Nanotechnology -Geoengineering -All aspects of physics -E-governance -E-commerce -The knowledge economy -Urban studies -Arms control -Understanding and responding to terrorism -Medical informatics -Computer Sciences
Author: Pier Luigi Nimis
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9781402004292
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 408
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Book Description
A comprehensive, up-to-date review of lichens as biomonitors of air pollution (bioindication, metal and radionuclide accumulation, biomarkers), and as monitors of environmental change (including global climate change and biodiversity loss) in a wide array of terrestrial habitats. Several methods for using lichens as biomonitors are described in a special section of the book.
Author: Robert Joseph Smith
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Forests and forestry
Languages : en
Pages : 44
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Book Description
Epiphytic lichens are bioindicators of climate, air quality, and other forest conditions and may reveal how forests will respond to global changes in the U.S. Pacific States of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California. We explored climate indication with lichen communities surveyed by using both the USDA Forest Service Inventory and Analysis (FIA) and Alaska Region (R10) methods. Across the Pacific States, lichen indicator species and ordination "climate scores" reflected associations between lichen community composition and climate. Indicator species are appealing targets for monitoring, while climate scores at sites resurveyed in the future can indicate climate change effects. Comparing the FIA and R10 survey methods in coastal Alaska showed that plot size affected lichen-species capture but not climate scores, whereas mixing data from both methods did not improve climate scores. Remeasurements from 1989 to 2014 in south-central and southeast Alaska revealed the importance of systematically random plot designs to detect climate responses in lichen communities. We provide an appendix of lichen species with climate indicator values. Lichen indicator species and community climate scores are promising tools for meeting regional forest management objectives.
Author: Erin P. Martin
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Lichen communities
Languages : en
Pages : 338
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Book Description
Lichens are an important part of the biota in western Oregon forests, where they perform valuable ecological roles and contribute significantly to biodiversity. Lichens in western Oregon are threatened by a number of factors including air pollution and land use practices. If we wish to maintain the persistence of lichens in future landscapes it is critical that we understand the responses of lichen communities and individual lichen species to the environment and forest structure. This dissertation explores factors that are related to differences in lichen community composition and the distributions of individual lichen species in the western Cascades of Oregon, using a large landscape scale data set. I sought to relate major gradients in lichen community composition to environmental factors, and describe differences in lichen communities with respect to forest age (Chapter 2). I found three major gradients in lichen communities at a landscape scale in the western Oregon Cascades. These gradients were related to climate as expressed by elevation and annual temperature, air quality, north-south position, the richness of epiphytic macrolichens, and forest age. I developed a rarity score, which can be used to identify hotspots of rare species diversity at a landscape scale (Chapter 3). I then built descriptive models of this rarity score to identify abiotic and biotic factors associated with the occurrence of rarity hotspots. I found that models of rarity score that used explanatory variables based on lichen community composition performed better than models that used explanatory variables based solely on environmental factors. I narrowed my focus to the level of individual species responses to the environment and forest structure by developing habitat models for 11 lichen species in the western Cascades (Chapter 4). We selected these species because they performed important ecological roles, were rare across the landscape and associated with old growth forests, or because their distributions were poorly understood. These models can be used to increase the efficiency of landscape level surveys for rare species, predict the response of these species to forest management practices, and understand factors associated with the distributions of these lichens.
Author: Vertika Shukla
Publisher:
ISBN: 9788132215042
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 196
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Book Description
