Effect of dust on epiphytic lichen vegetation in the Mediterranean area (Italy and Greece)

The epiphytic lichens around limestone and sandstone quarries were investig ated in northern Greece and central Italy to study the effect of alkaline a nd acid dust on epiphytic lichen vegetation in the Mediterranean area. The results showed that the main factor influencing the diversity of the epiphy tic lichen vegetation studied is the distance from quarries, and that the c hemistry of dust is not an important parameter. The fact that all but a few resistant Lichen species die when subjected to high dust concentrations su ggests that epiphytic Lichens could be usefully employed for monitoring dus t fallout and the effects of dust contamination.