New Interpretative Scales for Lichen Bioaccumulation Data: The Italian Proposal

Atmosphere

Silvana Munzi¹  Paolo Giordani²  Juri Nascimbene³  Luca Di Nuzzo⁴  Elisabetta Bianchi⁴  Renato Benesperi⁴  Luca Paoli⁵  Sonia Ravera⁶  Tania Contardo⁷  Andrea Vannini⁷  Fabrizio Monaci⁷  Stefano Loppi⁷  Lorenzo Fortuna⁸  Mauro Tretiach⁸  Elva Cecconi⁸  Luisa Frati⁹  Giorgio Brunialti⁹ 

[1] Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal;DIFAR, University of Genova, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy;Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 42, 40126 Bologna, Italy;Department of Biology, University of Firenze, Via La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy;Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via L. Ghini, 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy;Department of Biosciences and Territory (DiBT), University of Molise, C.da Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche (Isernia), Italy;Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy;Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy;TerraData environmetrics, Spin Off of the University of Siena, Via L. Bardelloni 19, 58025 Monterotondo Marittimo (GR), Italy;

关键词: biomonitoring;    native lichens;    lichen transplants;    air pollution;    trace elements;    background levels;    Flavoparmelia caperata;    Xanthoria parietina;    Evernia prunastri;    Pseudevernia furfuracea;   

DOI  :  10.3390/atmos10030136

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The interpretation of lichen bioaccumulation data is of paramount importance in environmental forensics and decision-making processes. By implementing basic ideas underlying previous interpretative scales, new dimensionless, species-independent “bioaccumulation scales” for native and transplanted lichens are proposed. Methodologically consistent element concentration datasets were populated with data from biomonitoring studies relying on native and transplanted lichens. The scale for native lichens was built up by analyzing the distribution of ratios between element concentration data and species-specific background concentration references (B ratios), herein provided for Flavoparmelia caperata and Xanthoria parietina (foliose lichens). The scale for transplants was built up by analyzing the distribution of ratios between element concentration in exposed and unexposed samples (EU ratio) of Evernia prunastri and Pseudevernia furfuracea (fruticose lichens). Both scales consist of five percentile-based classes; namely, “Absence of”, “Low”, “Moderate”, “High”, and “Severe” bioaccumulation. A comparative analysis of extant interpretative tools showed that previous ones for native lichens suffered from the obsolescence of source data, whereas the previous expert-assessed scale for transplants failed in describing noticeable element concentration variations. The new scales, based on the concept that pollution can be quantified by dimensionless ratios between experimental and benchmark values, overcome most critical points affecting the previous scales.

【 授权许可】

Unknown