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Lichens as bioindicators of temporal variations in air quality around Thessaloniki, northern Greece
Author(s) -
Vokou Despina,
Pirintsos Stergios ArG.,
Loppi Stefano
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
ecological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1440-1703
pISSN - 0912-3814
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1703.1999.00294.x
Subject(s) - lichen , bioindicator , epiphyte , air quality index , geography , environmental science , vegetation (pathology) , ecology , air pollution , physical geography , biology , medicine , pathology
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.