Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T07:02:16.459Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The use of a common epiphytic lichen as a bioindicator of atmospheric inputs to two Venezuelan cloud forests

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Catriona A. Gordon ,
Rafael Herrera  and
Tom C. Hutchinson
Catriona A. Gordon
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaM5S 3B2
Rafael Herrera
Affiliation:
Centro de Ecología, I.V.I.C., APDO 21827, Caracas 1020-A, Venezuela
Tom C. Hutchinson
Affiliation:
Environment and Resource Studies, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, CanadaK9J 7B8
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The chemistry of epiphytic lichens was determined in two Venezuelan cloud forests adjacent to the Caracas Valley at Altos de Pipe and El Avila National Park. This is the second component of a two-part study examining the chemistry of fogs and their effects on sensitive biota in these forests. The widespread lichen Parmotrema madagascariaceum was chosen as an indicator of trace metal input. Background lichen collections and transplant experiments were carried out to evaluate spatial trends in atmospheric depositon of trace metals at different altitudes and exposures of the two montane locations. Elevated concentratons of metals including Pb and Zn were seen in lichen tissue and associated bark. Lead levels in lichens reached 190 μg g-1 dry wt. Lichens transplanted from relatively ‘clean’ to more polluted sites showed significant increases of metals, particularly Pb. Increases of up to 6.3 μg Pb g-1 mo-1 after 6 and 10 months were recorded relative to background and in situ lichen material. In contrast, when lichsens were reciprocally transplanted in nylon net bags from less to more exposed sites there was a significant decrease in Pb and Zn concentrations after 6 and 10 months. With long-term exposure to elevated concentrations of these trace metals epiphytic lichens, as well as other sensitive cloud forest biota, may be at risk of decline.

Keywords

atmospheric pollutionbioindicatorscloud forestsepiphyteslichenstrace metalsVenezuela
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 11 , Issue 1 , February 1995 , pp. 1 - 26
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

LITERATURE CITED

Bargagli, R. 1990. Assessment of metal air pollution by epiphytic lichens: the incidence of crustal materials and of the possible uptake from substrate barks. Studia Geobotanica 10:97–103.Google Scholar
Beckett, R. P. & Brown, D. H. 1984. The control of Cd uptake in the lichen Genus Peltigera. Journal of Experimental Botany 35(156): 1071–1082.Google Scholar
Boonpragob, K. & Nash III, T. H. 1990. Seasonal variation of elemental status in the lichen Ramalina menziesii Tayl. from two sites in southern California: evidence for dry deposition accumulation. Environmental and Experimental Botany 30(4): 415–428.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boonpragob, K., Nash III, T. H. & Fox, C. 1989. Seasonal deposition patterns of acidic ions and ammonium to the lichen Ramalina menziesii Tayl. in southern California. Environmental and Experimental Botany 29(2): 187–197.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowen, H. J. M. 1979. Environmental chemistry of the elements. Academic Press, London. 333 pp.Google Scholar
Burguera, J. L., Burguera, M. & Belandria, M. G. 1989. Amounts of lead in roadside soil and some lichen species and their correlation with motor vehicles' traffic volume (Merida). In Vernet, J. P. (ed.). Proceedings of the International Heavy Metals in the Environment Conference. CEP Consultants, Geneva.Google Scholar
Case, J. W. 1980. The influence of three sour gas processing plants on the ecological distribution of epiphytic lichens in the vicinity of Fox Creek and Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 14:45–68.Google Scholar
Cuenca, G., Herrera, R. & Medina, E. 1990. Aluminium tolerance in trees of a tropical cloud forest. Plant and Soil 125:169–175.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dengo, G. 1951. Geología de la región de Caracas. Boletín de Geología 1(1): 39–115.Google Scholar
Escalona, L. & Sanhueza, E. 1981. Elemental analysis of the total suspended matter in the air in downtown Caracas. Atmospheric Environment 15:61–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Friedland, A. J., Craig, B. W. & Miller, E. K. 1992. Decreasing lead levels in the forest floor of the northeastern U.S. Ambio 21:400–403.Google Scholar
Friedland, A. J. & Johnson, A. H. 1985. Lead distribution and fluxes in a high elevation forest in northern Vermont. Journal of Environmental Qualify 14(3): 332–336.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fritz-Sheridan, R. P. 1985. Impact of simulated acid rains on nitrogenase activity in Peltigera aphthosa and P. polydactyla. Lichenologist 17:27–31.Google Scholar
Gailey, F. A. Y., Smith, G. H., Rintoul, L. J. & Lloyd, O. L. I. 1985. Metal deposition patterns in Central Scotland, as determined by lichen transplants. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 5:291–309.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Garcia-Miragaya, J., Castro, S. & Paolini, J. 1981. Lead and zinc levels and chemical fractionation in road-side soils of Caracas, Venezuela. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 15:285–297.Google Scholar
Garty, J. 1988. Comparisons between the metal content of a transplanted lichen before and after the start up of a coal-fired power station in Israel. Canadian Journal of Botany 66:668–671.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Garty, J. & Hagemeyer, J. 1988. Heavy metals in the lichen Ramalina duriaei transplanted at biomonitoring stations in the region of a coal-fired power plant in Israel after 3 years of operation. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 38:311–323.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Garty, J., Karary, Y. & Harel, J. 1992. Effect of low pH, heavy metals and anions on chlorophyll degradation in the lichen Ramalina duriaei (De Not.) Bagl. Environmental Experimental Botany 32:229–241.Google Scholar
Gilbert, O. L. 1986. Field evidence for an acid rain effect on lichens. Environmental Pollution Series A 40:227–231.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gordon, C. A. 1992. Fog water chemistry and epiphytic lichens as indicators of pollutant input to Venezuelan cloud forests. MSc Thesis, Department of Botany, University of Toronto, Canada.Google Scholar
Gordon, C. A., Herrera, R. & Hutchinson, T. C. 1994a. Studies of fog events at two cloud forests near Caracas, Venezuela – I Frequency and duration of fog. Atmospheric Environment. 28:317–322.Google Scholar
Gordon, C. A., Herrera, R. & Hutchinson, T. C. 1994b. Studies of fog events at two cloud forests near Caracas, Venezuela – II Chemistry of fog. Atmospheric Environment. 28:323–334.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goyal, R. & Seaward, M. R. D. 1981. Lichen ecology of the Scunthorpe Heathlands. II Industrial metal fallout pattern from lichen and soil assays. Lichenologist 13:289–300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grubb, P. J. 1977. Control of forest growth and distribution on wet tropical mountains: with special reference to mineral nutrition. Journal of Ecology 54(2): 303–333.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huber, O. 1986. La Selva Nublada de Rancho Grande, Parque National ‘Henri Pittier’. Fondo Editorial Acta Cientifica Venezolana, Caracas. 228 pp.Google Scholar
Kabata-Pendias, A. & Pendias, H. 1984. Trace elements in soils and plants. CRC Press, Boca Raton. 315 pp.Google Scholar
Lara, V., Bifano, C. & Sanhueza, E. 1984. Pb, Cd, Mn y Fe en las particulas respirables del centro de Caracas. Acta Cientifica Venezolana 35:369–373.Google ScholarPubMed
Lechowicz, M. J. 1982. The effects of simulated acid rain precipitation on photosynthesis in the caribou lichen Cladina stellaris (Opiz) Brodo. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 18:421–430.Google Scholar
Marnr, 1990. Ministerio del Ambiente y Recursos Naturales Renovables, Caracas, Venezuela. Unpublished results.Google Scholar
Martin, M. H. & Coughtrey, P. J. 1982. Biological monitoring of heavy metal pollution. Applied Science Publishers, London and New York. 475 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nieboer, E., Puckett, K. J., Richardson, D. H. S., Tomassini, F. D. & Grace, B. 1975. Ecological and physicochemical aspects of the accumulation of heavy metals and sulphur in lichens. International Conference on Heavy Metals in the Environment. Symposium Proceedings. Toronto, Ontario, Oct. 1975, pp. 331–352. Vol. II, Part 1.Google Scholar
Nieboer, E., Richardson, D. H. S. & Tomassini, F. D. 1978. Mineral uptake and release by lichens: an overview. Bryologist 81(2): 226–246.Google Scholar
Olmez, I., Gulovali, M. C. & Gordon, G. E. 1985. Trace element concentrations in lichens near a coal-fired plant. Atmospheric Environment 19(10): 1663–1669.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Puckett, K. J., Nieboer, E., Gorzynski, M. J. & Richardson, D. H. S. 1973. The uptake of metal ions by lichens: a modified ion-exchange process. New Phytologist 72:329–342.Google Scholar
Reiter, E. R., Henmi, T. & Katen, P. C. 1977. Modelling atmospheric transport. Pp. 73–92 in Bogess, W. R. (ed.). Lead in the Environment. Report and Analysis of Research at Colorado State University, National Science Foundation. 272 pp.Google Scholar
Richardson, D. H. S. 1993. Pollution monitoring with lichens. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 76 pp.Google Scholar
Richardson, D. H. S. & Nieboer, E. 1981. Lichens and pollution monitoring. Endeavour (New Series) 5(3): 127–133.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ruhling, A. & Tyler, G. 1969. Ecology of heavy metals – a regional and historical study. Botaniska Notiser 122:248–259.Google Scholar
Ruhling, A. & Tyler, G. 1973. Heavy metal deposition in Scandinavia. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 2:445–455.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sanheuza, E., Ishizaki, C., Africano, M., Romero, J. & Lissi, E. 1980. Contamination atmosférica del valle de Caracas. Trabajos publicados en los Proceedings del 5th Int. Clean Air Progress, Oct. 1980, pp. 3–49, Buenos Aires, Argentina.Google Scholar
Sarkela, M. & Nuorteva, P. 1987. Levels of aluminium, iron, zinc, cadmium and mercury in some indicator plants growing in unpolluted Finnish Lapland. Annales Botanici Fenniti 24:301–305.Google Scholar
Saxena, V. K. & Lin, N. H. 1990. Cloud chemistry measurements and estimates of acidic deposition of an above cloud base coniferous forest. Atmospheric Environment 24(A):329–352.Google Scholar
Schmitt, G. 1989. Comparison of wet deposition inputs via rain and fog interception at a high elevated forest site. Pp. 213–220 in Georgii, H. W. (ed.). Mechanisms and effects of pollutant transfer into forests. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht. 361 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scott, M. G. & Hutchinson, T. C. 1989. Experiments and observations on epiphytic lichens as early warning sentinels of forest decline. Pp. 205–215 in National Academy Press. Biologic markers of air pollution stress and damage in forests. Committee on Biologic Markers of Air Pollution Stress and Damage in Forests, Washington, DC. 363 pp.Google Scholar
Scott, M. G. & Hutchinson, T. C. 1993. Monitoring of high elevation forest decline in eastern North America and Germany using epiphytic lichens, including Hypogymnia physodes. Canadian Journal of Forestry Research. In press.Google Scholar
Scott, M. G., Hutchinson, T. C. & Feth, M. J. 1989. A comparison of the effects on Canadian boreal forest lichens of nitric and sulphuric acids as sources of rain acidity. New Phytologist 111:663–671.Google Scholar
Seaward, M. R. D., Goyal, R. & Bylinska, E. A. 1978. Heavy metal content of some terricolous lichens from mineral-enriched sites in northern England. Naturalist 103:135–141.Google Scholar
Sigal, L. L. & Johnston, W. 1986. Effects of simulated acid rain on one species each of Pseudoparmelia, Usnea and Umbilicaria. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 27:315–322.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sigal, L. L. & Nash III, T. H. 1983. Lichen communities on conifers in southern California mountains: an ecological survey relative to oxidant air pollution. Ecology 64(6): 1343–1354.Google Scholar
Smith, W. H. 1981. Air pollution and forests. Springer-Verlag, New York. 379 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Solberg, Y. J. 1967. Studies on the chemistry of lichens. IV: The chemical composition of some Norwegian lichen species. Annales Botanici Fennici 4(1): 29–34.Google Scholar
Takala, K. & Olkkonen, H. 1976. Lead content of the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea in the urban area of Kuopio. Pp. 64–67 in Karenlampi, L. (ed.). Proceedings of Kuopio Meeting on Plant Damage Caused by Air Pollution in Kuopio. Kuopio University, Finland.Google Scholar
Weathers, K. C., Likens, G. E., Bormann, F. H., Eaton, J. S., Bowden, W. B., Andersen, J. L., Cass, D. A., Galloway, J. N., Keene, W. C., Kimball, K. D., Huth, P. & Smiley, D. 1986. A regional acidic cloud/fog event in the Eastern U.S. Nature 319:657–658.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zar, J. H. 1984. Biostatistical analysis. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. 2nd Edition, 718 pp.Google Scholar