Causes of change in nitrophytic and oligotrophic lichen species in a Mediterranean climate: Impact of land cover and atmospheric pollutants

Pinho P.; Augusto S.; Martins-Loução M.A.; Pereira M.J.; Soares A.; Máguas C.; Branquinho C.

Key information

Authors:

Pinho P. (Pedro António Pinho Lopes); Augusto S. (Amílcar de Oliveira Soares); Martins-Loução M.A.; Pereira M.J. (Maria João Correia Colunas Pereira); Soares A.; Máguas C.; Branquinho C.

Published in

08/01/2008

Abstract

With the aim of determining the main drivers of changes in nitrophytic and oligotrophic macro-lichen communities in an industrial region with a Mediterranean climate, we considered both land-cover types and atmospheric pollutants. We determined the relation between the abundance of nitrophytic and oligotrophic species with environmental factors considering the distance of influence of land-cover types. The results showed that oligotrophic species decreased in the proximity of artificial areas, barren land and agricultural areas, associated with higher concentrations of {NO2} and Zn, and Ti, probably dust of industrial and agricultural origin. Nitrophytic species were positively related to all the mentioned land-cover types, and with higher concentrations of Fe and N. Magnesium, probably from ocean aerosols, was negatively related to oligotrophic species and positively to nitrophytic.