GEOGENIC AND ANTHROPOGENIC ZINC IN EPIPHYTIC AND TERRICOLOUS LICHENS IN FINLAND

At 31 sites in Finland the Zn content was determined of the epiphytic lichen Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. growing on pine and birch, the te rricolous lichen Cladina spp. in pine bark, and the inner part of birc h bark. The anomalous contents of Zn in H. physodes on pine and Cladin a spp. in soil appeared to be strongly related to sulphide ore deposit s. Anthropogenic Zn correlated closely with S and Fe in H. physodes on pine and with Fe in Cladina spp. The binding of geogenic Zn was relat ed to iron hydroxides, and was attributed to the different uptake mech anism of S in these lichens. Elevated values of Zn in H. physodes on b irch were due to both geogenic and anthropogenic sources. Zinc in pine bark increased with the Zn content in H. physodes and reached a limit ing value. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.