E. Niewiadomska et al., Effect of different levels of air pollution on photosynthetic activity of some lichens, ACT SOC BOT, 67(3-4), 1998, pp. 259-262
Four lichen species: Hypogymnia physodes, Pseudevernia furfuracea, Parmelia
saxatilis, and Plaiismatia glauca were collected from two sites (S. Poland
) with a different air pollution level: "Kamienica valley" (less polluted)
and "Kopa" (more polluted). The thalli were compared with respect to their:
net photosynthetic rate (P-N), fluorescence parameters (FvFm, F-m, F-m/F-0
), chlorophyll a+b content, and phaeophytinization quotient (O.D.435/O.D.41
5). P-N intensity, chlorophyll a+b and O.D.435/O.D.415 were reduced only in
P. furfuracea collected from Kopa, which is in agreement with the Hawkswor
th-Rose scale of sensitivity of lichens to air pollution. Fluorescence para
meters were significantly lowered in all lichens coming from the more pollu
ted site (except of F-v/F-m and F-m/F-0 in P. saxatilis). Parameters based
on chlorophyll fluorescence measurements enable to reveal the very early si
gns of decreased photosynthetical capacity of the thalli, caused by air pol
lution, before changes in the other photosynthetic parameters become mesura
ble.