The subject of this paper is the possibility of using self-organizing map (SOM) in the biomonitoring studies. We used lichens as biomonitors to indicate different degrees of air quality. This research included all of 88 lichen species that was collected at 75 investigated points. These lichen species showed the different responses to air pollution. The air quality was assessed by IAP (index of atmospheric pollution) values. The IAP values were calculated for all of investigated points on the territory of four natural and one urban ecosystem. Calculated IAP values were in range of 10 to 75. On the basis of the lichen data and IAP values, we have employed SOM analysis that distinguished three clusters (A, B, and C). It presented lichen indicator species for each cluster: 16 species for cluster A, 18 species for cluster B, and two species for cluster C. This paper presents a useful method to find indicator species.

Air quality investigations have not been undertaken in Blace until now. Identifying the presence of different types of epiphytic lichens was performed in the summer 2012 in Blace (southeastern Serbia), and selected rural settlements around Blace, in order to establish the air quality of the area. The analysis of samples from described localities indicated the presence of 25 lichen taxa from 19 genera. Using the Index of Atmospheric Purity (IAP), it was found that there are 2 different air pollution zones in Blace: “lichen desert” and “transitional” or “struggle zone”, which includes the periphery of the city. In these zones the air is moderately polluted. In the urban area of Blace there is no “normal” zone, but one was detected in the surrounding rural areas. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. OI 171025 i br. III 41018

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This paper treats the long-term changes in area of the "lichen desert" of town Zvečan. Comparison of results obtained in 1926, when 67 lichen species where present, through the results in 1983 and 1988 when the "lichen desert", low or no lichen diversity was established because of the air pollution, with investigations carried out in 2014, 16 lichen species were identified. The "lichen desert" is no existing any more. The main reason that the lichens are present now is termination of operation of the "Trepča" company and cessation primary pollutants emissions. Using lichens as a bioindicators in this investigation it was established the average air pollution, which is lichen "struggle zone",meaning increase air quality.

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