Not rare. But, endangered Elemental profiles of three corticolous lichen species on red spruce in Maine. [Usnea subfloridana; Platismatia glauca; Hypogymnia physodes]

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · American Journal of Botany; (USA)

OSTI ID:6536813

Stubbs, C S; Homola, R H ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Maine, Orono (USA)

Usnea subfloridana Stirton, Platismatia glauca (L.) Club. and Club., and Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. are lichen species moderately to highly sensitive to air pollutants, including acid deposition and ozone. Some researchers have attributed depauperate populations and local extinctions of these species to poor air quality. Since 1985, areas of Maine annually experienced mean summer rain and fog events of pH 4.5 or lower and ozone levels above national standards. Given this possible threat to these and other pollution sensitive species, baseline elemental analyses for Ca, K, P, Mg, Al, B, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, N, S, Na, and Pb were performed in 1986 on coastal and inland populations on Picea rubens L. Elemental analyses were again performed on nontransplanted and transplanted lichens from the same populations in 1988. There were statistically significant differences in elemental profiles between nontransplanted 1986 and 1988 samples for all three species, such as significant decreases in Ca and Mg concentrations, and increases in Al, Cu, Fe, and Zn for U. subfloridana. Elemental concentrations between nontransplanted and transplanted material differed significantly, but no consistent pattern emerged. These results, coupled with other evidence (such as luxuriance and density ratings), suggest that both inland and coastal populations of U. subfloridana on red spruce are experiencing ecophysiological stress.

• OSTI ID: 6536813
• Journal Information: American Journal of Botany; (USA), Journal Name: American Journal of Botany; (USA); ISSN 0002-9122
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
LICHENS
SENSITIVITY
POLLUTANTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ACID RAIN
AIR POLLUTION
ALUMINIUM
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
BORON
CALCIUM
COPPER
IRON
LEAD
MAGNESIUM
MAINE
MANGANESE
NITROGEN
OZONE
PHOSPHORUS
POTASSIUM
SODIUM
SULFUR
ZINC
ALGAE
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
ELEMENTS
EUMYCOTA
FEDERAL REGION I
FUNGI
METALS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
PLANTS
POLLUTION
RAIN
SEMIMETALS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
010900 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects