The effect of air pollution from nitrogen dioxide on epiphytic lichens

Abstract

Šio darbo tikslas – įvertinti azoto susikaupimą kerpių Physcia tenella ir Parmelia sulcata gniužuliuose skirtinais atstumais nuo automagistralės. Tyrimų rezultatai parodė, kad NO2 koncentracija buvo neigiamai susijusi su atstumu nuo taršos šaltinio. Azoto koncentracija kerpių gniužuluose, didėjant atstumui nuo automagistralės, mažėjo. Nors nustatyta NO2 koncentracija buvo pakankamai maža, azoto kiekis kerpėse buvo patikimai susijęs su koncentracija atmosferoje (P < 0.05)

The effect of air pollution from nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on the epiphytic lichens near the highway Kaunas-Vilnius has been studied. The content of nitrogen in Physcia tenella and Parmelia sulcata thalli under the influence of traffic pollution was investigated. The results of present study indicated that NO2 concentrations were negatively correlated with the distance from the road. Significant relation between NO2 concentrations and the accumulation of N was found in lichen thalli. The investigated lichens with rough (Ph. tenella) and smooth (P. sulcata) thallus had the same capacity to retain nitrogen and there were no significant difference