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Lichen elements as pollution indicators: evaluation of methods for large monitoring programmes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2017

Susan WILL-WOLF
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 430 Lincoln Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1381, USA. Email: swwolf@wisc.edu
Sarah JOVAN
Affiliation:
USDA Forest Service, Portland Forestry Sciences Laboratory, 620 SW Main, Suite 400, Portland, Oregon 97205-1381, USA
Michael C. AMACHER
Affiliation:
USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Logan Forestry Sciences Laboratory, 860 N 1200 E, Logan, Utah 84321, USA
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Abstract

Lichen element content is a reliable indicator for relative air pollution load in research and monitoring programmes requiring both efficiency and representation of many sites. We tested the value of costly rigorous field and handling protocols for sample element analysis using five lichen species. No relaxation of rigour was supported; four relaxed protocols generated data significantly different from rigorous protocols for many of the 20 validated elements. Minimally restrictive site selection criteria gave quality data from 86% of 81 permanent plots in northern Midwest USA; more restrictive criteria would likely reduce indicator reliability. Use of trained non-specialist field collectors was supported when target species choice considers the lichen community context. Evernia mesomorpha, Flavoparmelia caperata and Physcia aipolia/stellaris were successful target species. Non-specialists were less successful at distinguishing Parmelia sulcata and Punctelia rudecta from lookalikes, leading to few samples and some poor quality data.

Information

Type
Articles
Copyright
© British Lichen Society, 2017 
Figure 0

Fig. 1 Map of lichen collection and instrument monitor sites. =lichen collection site (site 1 was the training site; site 13 had samples collected with Protocol 4 (lowest rigour) only); =instrument monitoring site (2–8); or =major city. Monitor sites with “ab” indicate two instrument monitor stations at that site. Intensity of background shading indicates ecoregion province: dark grey=Laurentian Mixed Forest; mid-grey=Eastern Broadleaf Forest; light grey=Prairie Parkland. Detailed data sets are presented for four sites: Baxter's Hollow (near site 6), Jerry Lake (near site 3), Gilbert Lake (site 13) and Madison (two sub-sites near site 7).

Figure 1

Table 1 Field sample quality evaluation for 135 FIA field staff samples and 75 expert samples collected and handled using rigorous Protocol 1. See text for descriptions of protocols, field issues, and “odd” values for elements

Figure 2

Table 2 Effects of field Protocols 1–4 (most to least rigorous in chemical cleanliness) on means and variability (as rSD, relative standard deviation) of element data: univariate GLM* (protocols compared pairwise) on data from supplemental sites Baxter’s Hollow and Jerry Lake (locations 6 and 3, respectively, in Fig. 1). Trends for means are based only on significant outcomes; trends for variability reflect all outcomes. Elements are ordered by general variability of element data, least variable element first

Figure 3

Table 3 Effect of Full vs Part Removal of substratum on means and variability (rSD) of element data: univariate GLM* on data from supplemental sites Gilbert Lake and Madison (location 13 and near monitor site 7, respectively, in Fig. 1). Trends for means are based only on significant outcomes; trends for variability reflect all outcomes. Trends of means for weak outcomes followed those for significant outcomes. Two GLM results are reported for Madison when sub-site×treatment interaction was significant. Element order as in Table 2

Figure 4

Table 4 Comparison of measured values for lichen elements from this study with those in the literature. Project data ranges are screened original values for all species from rigorous field Protocol 1 and Full Removal of substratum. Data from literature are combined ranges of those species for eastern North America or Europe since 1990 (see literature sources in Supplementary Material Document S1, available online)

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