Lichens as bioindicators of temporal variations in air quality around Thessaloniki, northern Greece

Abstract

The epiphytic lichen vegetation of 20 sites around Thessaloniki (Macedonia, northern Greece) surveyed in 1987 was sampled again in 1997 to monitor any changes in lichen communities and consequently in air quality. A general impoverishment in lichen communities was recorded in the 10‐year period, presumably chiefly due to changes in the air pollution status. A small increase in lichen species diversity was recorded in some stations, probably as a result of the buffering capacity of airborne dust.

Assessment of environmental quality by the diversity of epiphytic lichens in a semi-arid mediterranean area (Val Basento, South Italy)

“…Previous bioindication studies in dry Mediterranean areas, namely in Greece (Diamantopoulos et al, 1992;Pirintsos et al, 1993;Vokou et al, 1999), employed Pinus brutia trees as a suitable substrate for lichen diversity measures. As P. brutia lacks in drier areas of northern Greece it was substituted by Quercus coccifera bushes (Pirintsos et al, 2003) and consequently by the application of a different sampling procedure (Deruelle & Garcia-Schaeffer, 1983).…”

The effect of agriculture management and fire on epiphytic lichens on holm oak trees in the eastern Iberian Peninsula

“…The use of lichens in global biomonitoring surveys has shown that the most sensitive species suffer a decline in the most polluted areas, while tolerant species remain (Nimis et al 1991;Vokou et al 1999;Geebelen & Hoffman 2001;Giordani et al 2002;Pirintsos & Loppi 2003). These studies have been implemented in rural and forested areas (Wolseley & Pryor 1999;Vilsholm et al 2009;Giordani et al 2010;Svoboda et al 2010;Pinho et al 2011) as well as urban areas (Loppi et al 2002;Paoli et al 2006;Isocrono et al 2007;Llop et al 2012).…”

Lichen flora of Surinsar-Mansar wildlife sanctuary, J&K

“…These are amongst the most significant indicators of air pollution and ecosystem health (Richardson 1992;Upreti and Pandev 1994;Wolseley et al 1994;Upreti, 1995;Sloof, 1995;Mistry, 1998;Vokou et al, 1999). Lichens form important component of biodiversity of any area and have been explored exhaustively from the different region of the country including the Himalaya in the last half of the 20 th century.…”