Microclimatic Alteration after Logging Affects the Growth of the Endangered Lichen Lobaria pulmonaria.

Microclimatic conditions are important in determining lichen distribution at small scale, and may determine whether the species persist when the surrounding environmental conditions have drastically changed. This is the case with forest management, since a sudden variation of microclimatic conditions (increase of solar radiation, temperature, wind and a reduction of humidity) may occur after logging. In this study, the combined effect of forest logging and microclimatic conditions on the growth probabilities and growth rates of the model species Lobaria pulmonaria was assessed in mixed oak stands. To this purpose, 800 fragments of L. pulmonaria (<1 cm) were transplanted in logged and unlogged stands for two years. Young and adult fragments were positioned on Turkey oak boles according to distance from the ground (100 and 50 cm) and aspect (north and south). The results, evaluated by generalized linear mixed models on a yearly basis, highlighted differences in growth-particularly on isolated trees in the logged stand. South-exposed samples in the logged stand showed a low probability of growth, while samples transplanted north in the unlogged stand showed higher growth probabilities. However, the highest annual growth coefficients corresponded to south-exposed samples 50 cm from the ground in the unlogged stand. In general, higher growth rates were observed in young thallus fragments when compared with adult ones. Beyond confirming the importance of microclimate for lichen ecology, these results could be implemented in conservation actions to preserve L. pulmonaria populations in logged forests.

Scarce evidence of ozone effect on recent health and productivity of alpine forests-a case study in Trentino, N. Italy.

We investigated the significance of tropospheric ozone as a factor explaining recent tree health (in terms of defoliation) and productivity (in terms of basal area increment, BAI) in 15 ICP Forests level I and one level II plots in alpine forests in Trentino (N. Italy). Mean daily ozone summer concentrations varied between 30 and 72 parts per billion (ppb) leading to large exceedance of concentration-based critical levels set to protect forest trees. Phytoxic ozone dose (POD0) estimated at the level II plot over the period 1996-2009 was 31-61 mmol m-2 projected leaf area (PLA). The role of ozone was investigated taking into account other site and environmental factors. Simple linear regression, multiple linear regression (MLR, to study mean periodical defoliation and mean periodical BAI), and linear mixed models (LMM, to study annual defoliation data) were used. Our findings suggest that-regardless of the metric adopted-tropospheric ozone is not a significant factor in explaining recent status and trends of defoliation and BAI in the alpine region examined. Both defoliation and BAI are in turn driven by biotic/abiotic damage, nutritional status, DBH (assumed as a proxy for age), and site characteristics. These results contrast with available ozone-growth dose response relationships (DRRs) and other observational studies. This may be due to a variety of concurrent reasons: (i) DRRs developed for individual saplings under controlled condition are not necessarily valid for population of mature trees into real forest ecosystems; (ii) some observational studies may have suffered from biased design; and (iii) since alpine forests have been exposed to high ozone levels (and other oxidative stress) over decades, possible acclimation mechanisms cannot be excluded.

Biomonitoring urban air pollution using transplanted lichens: element concentrations across seasons.

We investigated the bioaccumulation of selected trace elements in samples of the lichen Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. transplanted across two seasons in the urban area of Genoa (NW Italy), which is heavily affected by traffic and industrial pollution. Total concentration of most elements did not exhibit differences between seasons, exceptions being Al and Na, higher in summer, and As, Cd, and Ti, higher in winter. Differences emerged in the initial concentrations of some elements in control samples, and this was accounted for by the use of exposed-to-control (EC) ratios, which allowed interpretation of changes in element concentrations. The study area resulted highly polluted, likely by particulate matter, as suggested also by the higher concentrations of airborne PM10 during winter months. Bioaccumulation of particulate matter seems to be affected by differences in rainfall regimes across seasons, since element solubilization and leaching due to precipitation may vary considerably.

Spatial scales of variation in lichens: implications for sampling design in biomonitoring surveys.

The variability of biological data is a main constraint affecting the quality and reliability of lichen biomonitoring surveys for estimation of the effects of atmospheric pollution. Although most epiphytic lichen bioindication surveys focus on between-site differences at the landscape level, associated with the large scale effects of atmospheric pollution, current protocols are based on multilevel sampling, thus adding further sources of variation and affecting the error budget. We test the hypothesis that assemblages of lichen communities vary at each spatial scale examined, in order to determine what scales should be included in future monitoring studies. We compared four sites in Italy, along gradients of atmospheric pollution and climate, to test the partitioning of the variance components of lichen diversity across spatial scales (from trunks to landscapes). Despite environmental heterogeneity, we observed comparable spatial variance. However, residuals often overcame between-plot variability, leading to biased estimation of atmospheric pollution effects.

Accumulation of nitrogen and changes in assimilation pigments of lichens transplanted in an agricultural area.

The results of a survey aimed at testing the hypothesis that the lichen Evernia prunastri, when transplanted in an agricultural area with high atmospheric NH(3) concentrations, would respond to NH(3) air pollution accumulating nitrogen in its thalli and showing changes in the concentration of assimilation pigments are presented. The results confirmed the hypothesis and showed that all lichen transplants accumulated nitrogen, suggesting that besides the release of atmospheric ammonia by animal stockfarms, the use of N-based fertilizers and the deposition of N-rich dust also may contribute to the high nitrogen availability to lichens in the study area. The result indicated that in the study area both the critical level of NH(3) and the critical load of N for lichens are exceeded and physiological damage is to be expected in sensitive species. The results of assimilation pigments in E. prunastri, with a decrease in the concentration of chlorophylls a and b and carotenoids, as well as chlorophyll degradation to phaeophytin, confirmed this hypothesis. However, owing to the limited data set and pending further studies, these conclusions should be considered as limited to the study area.

Rapid biodiversity assessment in lichen diversity surveys: implications for quality assurance.

Rapid Biodiversity Assessments (RBAs) of lichen communities, obtained by means of simplified sampling lists based on morphospecies, showed good correlations with Lichen Diversity Values (LDVs), based on the complete identification of lichen species only when performed by operators with high levels of taxonomic knowledge. Furthermore, the use of highly simplified sampling lists did not lead to significant advantages in terms of time needed for field operations. This approach proved to be especially unreliable in high diversity ecological contexts where variation of morpho-structural composition within lichen communities is frequent (i.e. co-occurring crustose- and foliose-dominated communities); it may also lead to weak results if applied for conservation purposes. Hence, the use of simplified RBA sampling lists in lichen monitoring has to be carefully evaluated and, in any case, should be based on sound taxonomic knowledge on the part of those in charge of data collection. The proper assessment of descriptors of lichen abundance and/or frequency, however, strictly depends on the skill, taxonomic knowledge, and willingness to learn of the lichenologist-in-training.

Lettuce plants as bioaccumulators of trace elements in a community of central Italy.

A survey, based on the use of vascular plants to describe the distribution of selected elements (21 in total) was performed in 11 sites in the area of Castelfiorentino (Tuscany, Central Italy) differing for land use, from urban to industrial and rural areas. Lettuce plants grown under standardized conditions were positively used as biodeposimeters of airborne trace elements. Washing was found to be highly significant in reducing concentrations of many elements in the samples, suggesting a general surface contamination of leaves. The typical crustal element Al showed good correlations with Co, Fe, Li and V; on the contrary, Zn and Cd were intercorrelated and showed no connection with crustal indicators. Lead was still a relevant environmental presence, as the experiments were carried out before the ban of leaded gasoline. Source apportionment by factor analysis put in evidence a major contribution of crustal materials, followed by man-related activities; a minor role was ascertained for marine aerosol. A comparison was made between analytical data of lettuce plants grown in our experimental sites and a bulk of commercial lettuce purchased at a local supermarket. It should be stressed how Cu concentrations of commercial material were significantly higher than those found in our plants; this is likely caused by phytosanitary treatments.

Effects of reduced nitrogen compounds on epiphytic lichen communities in Mediterranean Italy.

The effects of reduced nitrogen compounds on epiphytic lichen vegetation have been largely investigated in northern Europe. This paper reports for the first time results of a study carried out on pine trees in the Mediterranean basin. Contrary to the usual acidophytic lichen colonization of pine bark, in this case a nitrophytic lichen vegetation was found, suggesting that the study area is characterized by a diffuse eutrophication. Tree circumference, distance from the stock farms, bark pH and bark electrical conductivity emerged as the main factors influencing the distribution and abundance of epiphytic lichens in the study area. Both Hyperphyscia adglutinata and Xanthoria parietina were suitable local indicator species of high pine bark pH values. However, while X. parietina indicated high nitrogen dust pollution, H. adglutinata occurred also where there was an additional increase in bark pH caused by the release of high amounts of ammonia. The increased nitrogen availability caused by ammonium apparently had no effect on the occurrence of nitrophytes.

Long-term biomonitoring with lichens: comparing data from different sampling procedures.

The results of 2 biomonitoring surveys carried out over a span of 7 years (1996-2003) in the Province of Ancona (central Italy) using the diversity of epiphytic lichens are reported. According to a recent standardisation process, in 2003 a different protocol was adopted, raising the problem of data comparability with the previous study. For this reason, a 'pilot study' was carried out in which the two sampling tactics were both used. The high correlation between biodiversity values proved by the results of this study, let to compare the two lichen diversity data set and to identify the impacts on lichen communities of temporal variations of atmospheric quality in the study area, showing a reduction of stations classified as 'altered' and an increase in stations classified as 'semi-altered'. Furthermore, possible reduction of the sampling effort was detected performing a study on the sampling density of the survey area, indicating in a 6 x 6 km grid the best density to adopt in order to save financial resources for the future.

Lichen diversity and lichen transplants as monitors of air pollution in a rural area of central Italy.

The results of a biomonitoring study carried out in the Municipality of Colle di Val d'Elsa (central Italy), using the diversity of epiphytic lichens and the accumulation of selected elements in thalli of the lichen Evernia prunastri transplanted in two urban sites are reported. The results indicate that the survey area suffers from different types of pollution. The main air pollutants are NO( X ) and Pb. Vehicular traffic and domestic heating are the main sources of the former, and traffic and a crystal factory of the latter. Furthermore, most study area is eutrophicated due to diffuse agricultural activities and the presence of pig and sheep stockfarms.

Environmental distribution of uranium and other trace elements at selected Kosovo sites.

This paper reports the results of a study using lichens as biomonitors to investigate the environmental distribution of uranium and other trace elements at selected Kosovo sites. The results suggested that the use of depleted uranium (DU) ammunitions in Kosovo did not cause a diffuse environmental contamination in such a way to have caused a detectable U enrichment in lichens. Also isotopic (235)U/(238)U measurements did not indicate the presence of DU particles in lichens. The present results also provided no indication of intense environmental contamination by the other trace elements analyzed, with the exception of Kosovska Mitrovica, where a diffuse environmental contamination by several heavy elements such as Pb, Zn, As and Cd was found.