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Lichens, Tree Growth, and Foliar Symptoms of Air Pollution: Are the Stories Consistent?
Author(s) -
Muir Patricia S.,
McCune Bruce
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1988.00472425001700030004x
Subject(s) - lichen , basal area , fraxinus , botany , horticulture , geography , environmental science , biology , forestry
Lichen communities, tree growth, and foliar symptoms of Acer saccharum, Fraxinus spp., Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus aiba , and the Quercus rubra group were studied in relation to air pollutants in southern Indiana and Illinois. Both study areas receive regional pollutants, but only one is close to a large coal‐fired utility, which results in a high dose of SO 2 and its reaction products. Lichen communities differed significantly between the two areas; species richness and total cover were lowest in the near‐utility area, and species compositional differences suggested that air quality was responsible. Few differences were noted in foliar symptoms between areas; when symptom levels differed, they were generally highest in the remote area. Ozone‐induced stippling was found in both areas on leaves of Fraxinus spp. and Liriodendron . Although ring widths indicated depressed tree growth in the near‐utility area during years of high emissions, periodic basal area increments and tree vigor did not generally differ between areas, and were generally not related to foliar symptoms other than stippling. Ozone‐induced stippling on Liriodendron was negatively correlated with basal area increments.