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New Interpretative Scales for Lichen Bioaccumulation Data: The Italian Proposal

Authors :
Luca Di Nuzzo
Paolo Giordani
Tania Contardo
Juri Nascimbene
Silvana Munzi
Luca Paoli
Elisabetta Bianchi
Giorgio Brunialti
Elva Cecconi
Fabrizio Monaci
Mauro Tretiach
Luisa Frati
Sonia Ravera
Andrea Vannini
Stefano Loppi
Renato Benesperi
Lorenzo Fortuna
Cecconi, Elva
Fortuna, Lorenzo
Benesperi, Renato
Bianchi, Elisabetta
Brunialti, Giorgio
Contardo, Tania
Di Nuzzo, Luca
Frati, Luisa
Monaci, Fabrizio
Munzi, Silvana
Nascimbene, Juri
Paoli, Luca
Ravera, Sonia
Vannini, Andrea
Giordani, Paolo
Loppi, Stefano
Tretiach, Mauro
Cecconi E.
Fortuna L.
Benesperi R.
Bianchi E.
Brunialti G.
Contardo T.
Nuzzo L.D.
Frati L.
Monaci F.
Munzi S.
Nascimbene J.
Paoli L.
Ravera S.
Vannini A.
Giordani P.
Loppi S.
Tretiach M.
Di Nuzzo L. .
Source :
Atmosphere, Vol 10, Iss 3, p 136 (2019), Atmosphere, Volume 10, Issue 3
Publication Year :
2019

Abstract

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 &ldquo<br />bioaccumulation scales&rdquo<br />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<br />namely, &ldquo<br />Absence of&rdquo<br />&ldquo<br />Low&rdquo<br />Moderate&rdquo<br />High&rdquo<br />and &ldquo<br />Severe&rdquo<br />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.

Details

Language :
English
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Atmosphere, Vol 10, Iss 3, p 136 (2019), Atmosphere, Volume 10, Issue 3
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....94071ee1797298bbd789f244b284b2b6