Lichen recovery in a formerly polluted area: the importance of bark properties for soredia survival

Abstract

An experiment was conducted on the development of Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. from soredia to branched lobes near the copper smelter in the Middle Urals 10 years after emission cessation. Soredia were cultivated in fir-spruce forests in heavily polluted and unpolluted areas. In both areas, soredia development was examined on fir bark collected from both the heavily polluted and unpolluted areas. The probability of lobe formation was lower in the polluted area even when soredia were cultivated on bark from the unpolluted area. Bark from the polluted area negatively impacted the success of soredia development, irrespective of the cultivation area. The lowest success of early development occurred when soredia were cultivated on polluted bark in the heavily polluted area, where the already low probability of lobe formation was accompanied by high mortality of the developed lobes. This study underscores the enduring impact of industrial pollution on H. physodes development, highlighting the need for ongoing environmental restoration and monitoring efforts in post-industrial areas to support biodiversity conservation.