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New Interpretative Scales for Lichen Bioaccumulation Data: The Italian Proposal
- 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.
- Subjects :
- Pseudevernia furfuracea
Pollution
Background level
Atmospheric Science
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences
media_common.quotation_subject
air pollution
Evernia prunastri
trace elements
Air pollution
Background levels
Biomonitoring
Flavoparmelia caperata
Lichen transplants
Native lichens
Trace elements
Xanthoria parietina
Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
native lichens
lcsh:QC851-999
010501 environmental sciences
01 natural sciences
native lichen
Native lichen
Lichen
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
media_common
biology
lichen transplants, air pollution
background levels
trace element
biology.organism_classification
background level
Lichen transplant
lichen transplants
Bioaccumulation
Trace element
Environmental science
lcsh:Meteorology. Climatology
Physical geography
Subjects
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