Diatom community structure and morphotype classification were studied and periphyton biomass, course particulate organic matter (CPOM), hydrogeomorphological parameters, and nutrient concentrations were measured at 4 stations downstream of the Cecita dam (Mucone River) and at 3 control sites located on different tributaries of the Mucone River in May, August, and November 2005. The lowest values of current velocities and the highest amounts of sand deposition and CPOM accumulation were detected at the stations closest to the dam. Downstream, the confluence with the first permanent tributary (Cerreto River) of the Mucone showed a "rhythral" morphology, similar to that of the control sites. Multivariate analysis showed that the community was constantly segregated into 2 groups: G1 (stations upstream of the Cerreto inflow), dominated by early colonizers, adapted to both high and low current velocity and tolerating burial and light deficiencies; and G2 (all other stations), where the prevailing taxa were species typical of stable environments with high values of flow and abundance of coarse substrates. Genus-based morphotype classification failed to detect any differences between the 2 groups. Biomass levels were higher at station G2 than G1, while accumulation of CPOM downstream of the reservoir promoted fine particulate organic matter production and a switch from autotroph to heterotroph dominated biofilms.

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This study investigated the temporal trends of element concentrations and ecophysiological parameters (integrity of cell membranes, membrane lipid peroxidation, and sample vitality) in thalli of the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea transplanted in and around an industrial area of S Italy from May 2010 to May 2011, once every 3 months. Element accumulation at levels indicating that the atmosphere of the study area was polluted by most elements occurred only during the third trimester of exposure, and the ecophysiological parameter best reflecting this trend was sample vitality expressed in terms of activity of the enzyme dehydrogenase. Among the available climatological parameters, the different amount of rainfall during the exposure period may influence the results, especially the number of hours with rainfall >16 mm/day, which is the threshold between light-moderate and moderate-heavy rainfall in the Mediterranean area.

Thalli of the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea were transplanted for 3 months (November 2010-January 2011) at 61 monitoring sites around a cement plant near Castrovillari (Calabria, southern Italy). NH3, NO x and SO2 concentrations were monitored monthly in a subarea of 10 sites (SA10) where the cement plant was located. At the end of the exposure period, the integrity of cell membranes; membrane lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS level); vitality (cell respiration); chlorophyll a; chlorophyll b; carotenoids; phaeophytization quotient; photosynthetic efficiency and thalli concentrations of Al, Ca, Mg, V and Fe were measured. NO x concentrations correlated with the site distance from the cement plant while NH3 concentrations correlated with lichen vitality within SA10. For the monitoring area as a whole, only Fe and Mg concentrations correlated with membrane lipid peroxidation, while TBARS levels showed a significant increase and chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids a significant decrease with respect to the lichen origin area. Multivariate analysis (detrended correspondence analysis, cluster analysis and multi-response permutation procedure) of the eco-physiological parameters × monitoring sites data set resulted in four clusters termed C1, C2, C3 and C4. The eco-physiological parameters were compared among the four clusters and lichen origin area by one-way ANOVA. An index of environmental favourableness (IEF) to lichens was calculated to evaluate the spatial recovery of impaired values of TBARS, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, xanthophylls + carotenoids and phaeophytization quotient. The results indicate that there is no clear spatial trend in mycobiont impairment even though the IEF values suggest a higher number of sites with low levels of membrane lipid peroxidation in the 2--3-km distance band from the cement plant (the outermost) than in the two other distance bands (0-1 and 1-2 km). The photobiont seems to be damaged mainly in the inner distance band of the study area as suggested by the gradual but significant recovery trend of pigment levels and phaeophytization quotient from the inner distance band to the outer one (as shown by the IEF values). Conversion of chlorophyll to phaeophytin probably is not the only process affecting pigment levels.