Biomonitoring of trace element air pollution: principles, possibilities and perspectives.

Abstract: There is evidence to suggest that part of the recent changes in the lichen flora of the Netherlands is attributable to an increase in temperature. Changes which have occurred over the last 22 years were studied in detail, and were subjected to a statistical treatment by comparing the change of species to their latitudinal distribution and to ecological determinants. All 329 epiphytic and terrestrial lichen species occurring in the Netherlands were considered in relation to their world distribution. Arctic-alpine/boreo-montane species appear to be declining, while (sub)tropical species are invading. The proportion of increasing species is by far the largest among the wide-tropical lichens (83%), and smallest among the arctic-alpine/boreo-montane lichens (14%). None of the wide-tropical species was found to decrease, while 50% of the arctic-alpine/boreo-montane species show a decline. Long-term monitoring of the epiphytic lichen flora in the province of Utrecht from 1979 onwards shows that the total number of taxa present increased from 95 in 1979 to 172 in 2001, while the average number of taxa per site increased from 7·5 to 18·9. The rate of increase was greatest by far between 1989 and 1995. The majority of the species (152 taxa or 85%) show a gross increase, only 17 species (10%) show a decrease. A detailed analysis of these data using multiple regression suggests global warming as an additional cause for recent changes, next to decreasing SO2 and increasing NH3. Changes appear to be correlated initially (1979–1995) only with toxitolerance and nutrient demand. Changes between 1995 and 2001, however, appear positively correlated to both temperature and nutrient demand, indicating a recent and significant shift towards species preferring warm circumstances, independent from, and concurrent with changes due to nutrient availability. This is the first paper reporting long-term floristic changes for lichens that appear to be correlated significantly with increasing temperatures. We suggest that future lichen monitoring programmes also pay attention to effects of climatic change, instead of focusing on air pollution effects only.

Long-Term Monitoring in the Netherlands Suggests that Lichens Respond to Global Warming

Abstract: The lichen composition on wayside Quercus robur in the Netherlands was related to bark properties (pH, EC, NH 4 + , SO 4 2− , NO 3 − ) and levels of air pollution (SO 2 and NH 3 ). The pH of the bark and the susceptibility to toxic substances appear to be the two major primary factors affecting epiphytic lichen composition. These factors have independent effects on the lichen composition. Most of the so-called nitrophytic species appear to have a low sensitivity to toxic effects of SO 2 ; their only requirement being a high bark pH. An increased bark pH appears to be the primary cause of the enormous increase in nitrophytic species and the disappearance of acidophytic species over the last decade in the Netherlands. Measurements of ambient NH 3 concentrations in air show that there is a nearly linear relationship between the NH 3 concentration and the abundance of nitrophytes on Quercus . The abundance of nitrophytes was not correlated with SO 2 concentrations. Most of the acidophytic species appear very sensitive to NH 3 since in areas with concentrations of 35 μg m −3 or more, all acidophytic species have disappeared. Current methods using species diversity to estimate or monitor SO 2 air pollution need some modification, otherwise the air quality may be erroneously considered to be relatively good in areas with high NH 3 levels.

Bark pH and susceptibility to toxic air pollutants as independent causes of changes in epiphytic lichen composition in space and time

Air pollution and climate gradients in western Oregon and Washington indicated by epiphytic macrolichens.

In the Netherlands a monitoring programme is in operation to map the effects of ammonia pollution with epiphytic lichens. The method is presented here and the results are statistically correlated with abiotic data. The abundance of nitrophytes onQuercus roburappears to be a useful parameter. Detailed spatial patterns of ammonia pollution can be obtained with lichens. To avoid interference, it is important to consider other influences, for example dust, climate, exposure, age of the trees and other pollutants.

Mapping of ammonia pollution with epiphytic lichens in the netherlands

Epiphytic lichens and air pollution in the Netherlands

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Epiphytic lichens and air pollution in the Netherlands