Abstract
The results of a bioindication study based on the diversity of epiphytic lichens in a semi-arid area of South Italy are presented. The area features the presence of an industrial zone located in a rural context. The survey was performed in 20 sampling sites. The lichen diversity values (LDV) were determined by the frequencies of all lichen species within a sampling grid placed on tree trunks. Lichens demonstrated a condition of environmental alteration extending to the industrial zone, and tending towards a recovery in the rural surroundings. The survey also showed evidence of eutrophication all over the study area.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams, J.M. & Faure, H. (eds) 1997. QEN members. Review and Atlas of paleovegetation: Preliminary land ecosystem maps of the world since the Last Glacial Maximum. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN, USA. www.soton.ac.uk/:_tjms/adams1.html.
Anpa, 2001. Indice di Biodiversità Lichenica. Manuali e Linee Guida 2/2001. 43 pp.
Asta, J., Erhardt, W., Ferretti, M., Fornasier, F., Kirschbaum, U., Nimis, P.L., Purvis, O.W., Pirintsos, S., Scheidegger, C., van Haluwyn, C. & Wirth, V. 2002a. Mapping lichen diversity as an indicator of environmental quality, pp. 273–279. In: Nimis, P.L., Scheidegger, C. & Wolseley, P.A. (eds), Monitoring with Lichens — Monitoring Lichens, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Boston, London.
Asta, J., Erhardt, W., Ferretti, M., Fornasier, F., Kirschbaum, U., Nimis, P.L., Purvis, O.W., Pirintsos, S., Scheidegger, C., van Haluwyn, C. & Wirth, V. 2002b. European guideline for mapping lichen diversity as an indicator of environmental stress. http:users.argonet.co.uk/users/jmgray/eurnap.pdf
Barkman, J.J. 1958. Phytosociology and ecology of cryptogamic epiphytes. Assen. 628 pp.
Brunialti, G. & Giordani, P. 2003. Variability of lichen diversity in a climatically heterogeneous area (Liguria, NW Italy). Lichenologist 35: 55–69.
Castello, M. & Skert, N. 2005. Evaluation of lichen diversity as an indicator of environmental quality in the North Adriatic submediterranean region. Sc. Tot. Environ. 336: 201–214.
Clarke, M.L. & Rendell, H.M. 2000. The impact of the farming practice of remodelling hillslope topography on badland morphology and soil erosion processes. Catena 41: 229–250.
Costantini, E.A.C., Bocci, M., L’Abate, G., Fais, A., Leone, G., Loj, G., Magini, S., Napoli, R., Nino, P. & Urbano, F. 2004. Mapping the state and risk of desertification in Italy by means of remote sensing, soil GIS and the EPIC model. Methodology validation in the Sardinia Island, Italy. International Symposium: Evaluation and Monitoring of Desertification. Synthetic Activities for the Contribution to UNCCD, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan, February 2, 2004, NIES publication, 12 pp.
Deruelle, S. & Garcia-Schaeffer, F. 1983. Les lichens bioindicateurs de la pollution atmosphérique dans la région Parisienne. Cryptogamie Bryol. Lichénol. 4: 47–64.
Diamantopoulos, J., Pirintsos, S.A., Laundon, J.R. & Vokou, D. 1992. The epiphytic lichens around Thessaloniki (Greece) as indicators of sulphur dioxide pollution. Lichenologist 24: 63–71.
Fenaroli, L. & Gambi, G. 1976. Alberi, Dendroflora Italica. — Museo di Scienze Naturali, Trento, 717 pp.
Frati, L. & Brunialti, G. 2005. Long-term biomonitoring with lichens. Comparing data with different sampling procedures. Environ. Monit. Assess. (in press).
Frati, L., Santoni, S., Nicolardi, V., Gaggi, C., Brunialti, G., Guttová, A., Gaudino, S., Pati, A., Pirintsos, S.A. & Loppi, S. 2005. Lichen biomonitoring of ammonia emission and nitrogen deposition around a pig stockfarm. Environ. Pollut. (in press).
Giordani, P. 2005. Is the diversity of epiphytic lichens a reliable indicator of air pollution? A case study from Italy. Environ. Pollut. (in press).
Giordani, P., Brunialti, G. & Modenesi, P. 2001. Applicability of the lichen biodiversity method (L.B.) to a Mediterranean area (Liguria, nw Italy). Cryptogamie, Mycol. 22(3): 193–208.
Giordani, P., Brunialti, G. & Alleteo, D. 2002. Effects of atmospheric pollution on lichen biodiversity (LB) in a Mediterranean region (Liguria, northwest Italy). Environ. Pollut. 118: 53–64.
L’Abate, G., Costantini, E.A. C. & Urbano, F. 2004. Estimating soil drought risk in Italy using the EPIC model and a pedoclimatic GIS. www.soilmaps.it/download/cli-icdl4.pdf.
Loppi, S. 1996. Lichens as bioindicators of geothermal air pollution in central Italy. Bryologist 99: 41–48.
Loppi, S. & Corsini, A. 2003. Diversity of epiphytic lichens and metal contents of Parmelia caperata thalli as monitors of air pollution in the town of Pistoia (C Italy). Environ. Monit. Assess. 86: 289–301.
Loppi, S. & De Dominicis, V. 1996. Effects of agriculture on epiphytic lichen vegetation in Central Italy. Isr. J. Plant Sci. 44: 297–307.
Loppi, S., Frati, L., Benedettini, G., Pirintsos, S.A. & Leonzio, C. 2002a. Biodiversity of epiphytic lichens as indicator of air pollution in the geothermal area of Larderello (Tuscany, Central Italy). Isr. J. Plant Sci. 50: 119–126.
Loppi, S., Giordani, P., Brunialti, G., Isocrono, D. & Piervittori, R. 2002b. Identifying deviations from naturality of lichen diversity for bioindication purposes, pp. 281–284. In: Nimis, P.L., Scheidegger, C. & Wolseley, P.A. (eds), Monitoring with Lichens — Monitoring Lichens, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Boston, London.
Loppi, S., Destito, G., Pirintsos, S.A. & De Dominicis, V. 2002c. Temporal variation of air pollution in a geothermal area of central Italy: assessment by the biodiversity of epiphytic lichens. Isr. J. Plant Sci. 50: 45–50.
Loppi, S., Boccardi, R. & Ivanov, D. 2002d. Biodiversity of epiphytic lichens and air pollution in the town of Siena (Central Italy). Environ. Pollut. 116: 123–128.
Loppi, S., Pirintsos, S., Sforzi B. & De Dominicis, V. 1998. Effects of climate and agriculture on epiphytic lichen vegetation in the Mediterranean area (Tuscany, Central Italy). Acta Bot. Croat. 55/56: 17–27.
Nimis, P.L. 2003. Checklist of the lichens of Italy 3.0. University of Trieste, http://dbiodbs.univ.trieste.it.
Nimis, P.L. 1999. Linee-guida per la bioindicazione degli effetti dell’inquinamento tramite la biodiversità dei licheni epifiti, pp. 267–277. In: Piccini, S. & Salvati, S. (ed.), Atti del Workshop “Biomonitoraggio della Qualità dell’Aria sul Territorio Nazionale”, Roma, 26–27 novembre 1998, ANPA, Serie Atti 2/1999.
Nimis, P.L., Scheidegger, C. & Wolseley, P.A. (eds) 2002. Monitoring with Lichens — Monitoring Lichens. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Boston, London, 403 pp.
Pirintsos, S.A. & Loppi, S. 2003. Lichens as bioindicators of environmental quality in dry Mediterranean areas: a case study from northern Greece. Isr. J. Plant Sci. 51: 143–151.
Pirintsos, S.A., Loppi, S., Dalaka, A. & De Dominicis, V. 1998. Effects of grazing on epiphytic lichen vegetation in a Mediterranean mixed evergreen sclerophyllous and deciduous shrubland (Northern Greece). Isr. J. Plant Sci. 46: 303–307.
Pirintsos, S.A., Vokou, D., Diamantopoulos, J. & Galloway, D.J. 1993. An assessment of the sampling procedure for estimating air pollution using epiphytic lichens as indicators. Lichenologist 25: 165–173.
Podani, J. 2001. SYN-TAX 2000. Computer Programs for Data Analysis in Ecology and Systematics. User’s manual. Scientia Publishing, Budapest.
SAS Institute 2000. SAS OnlineDoc®, version 8 (available online). SAS Institute, Cary.
Vokou, D., Pirintsos, S.A. & Loppi, S. 1999. Lichens as bioindicators of temporal variations in air quality around Thessaloniki, northern Greece. Ecol. Res. 14: 89–96.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Paoli, L., Guttová, A. & Loppi, S. Assessment of environmental quality by the diversity of epiphytic lichens in a semi-arid mediterranean area (Val Basento, South Italy). Biologia 61, 353–359 (2006). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-006-0064-2
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-006-0064-2