Introduction Lichens are long living organisms with a high sensibility ...

Modern Phytomorphology 4: 115–116, 2013Morphological changes and damages ofindicator lichens from Sakhalin IslandAlexander K. EzhkinAbstract. Lichen morphological changes, abnormalities and damages are very important parameters that define thegeneral vitality of lichen communities. Correct detecting of lichen abnormalities helps to make an accurate assessment ofthe disturbance level of ecosystems. Main morphological changes and damages of indicator lichens of the Sakhalin Islandare discussed.Key words: lichens, morphological changes, damages, necrosis, biomonitoring, bioindication, SakhalinInstitute of Marine Geology and Geophysics FEB RAS, 1B Nauki str., Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 693000, Russia; Ezhkin@yandex.ru© The Author(s), 2013IntroductionLichens are long living organisms with a highsensibility to environmental impacts. The highsensitivity of lichens is related to lichens biology.The using of lichens as air quality detectors isa well-documented procedure (Skye 1979;Richardson & Nieboer 1981). The mostcommon approach involves a floristic surveyand elemental analysis of tissues from selectedindicator species (St. Clair 1989; Wetmore1989). Lichen physiological processes indicatepollution related to the damage significantlyearlier than other with more visible changesin color, morphology or community structurewhich can be detected and monitored (Fields& St. Clair 1984). Lichen tissue damagesoccur after long-term or repeated influence ofhigh concentrations of various pollutants inthe air which are associated with stationary andmobile sources of the pollution. Damages andchanges in lichen morphology are detected andmeasured by transplants and other methods ofbioindication (Brodo 1961). Abnormalitieswhich occur due to air pollution are not thesame for all lichen species. Therefore it is veryimportant to know and recognize them whenusing lichens as bio-monitors.Material and methodsLichens were collected from all availablesubstrates (rock, concrete, soil, tree bark andbranches, dead wood, moss) and varied habitats(urban areas, conifer and deciduous forests, seashores and mountains) on different distancesfrom potential pollution sources – highways,heat power plants, boiler houses and LNG plant.The investigations were performed in Korsakov,Aniva, Dolinsk and Nogliki districts of theSakhalin Island. Lichen species were identifiedusing standard lichen keys and taxonomictreatises. Damages and morphological changeswere studied visually using hand magnifier andmicroscope.Results and discussionColor changesThe most frequently occurred damage onlichens due to air pollution is bleaching orreddening of the upper cortex of foliose, crustoseand fruticose lichens. Color change is a formof necrosis and it happens when algae layer isdestroyed. Sensitive and intermediate sensitivelichens are exposed to this damage more oftenthan tolerant species. Bleaching and reddeningoften happen with many lichens from nextgenera: Flavoparmelia, Flavopunctelia, Parmelia,Hypogymnia, Heterodermia, Lobaria, Lecanora,Pyrenula, Graphis, Buellia, Peltigera, Nephroma,Melanelia, Menegazzia, Cetraria, Cladonia,Myelochroa, Parmeliopsis, Phaeophyscia, Physcia,Physconia, Platismatia etc. Dark brown or black

116 Modern Phytomorphology 4 (2013)colored “burns” often occur on tips of the lobesand the branches of some sensitive lichen genera– Lobaria, Bryoria, Usnea. The color of thallussurface is always more pale in polluted areasprobably due to reduction in photosyntheticcapacity (Fields & St. Clair 1984). It happenswith many lichens including tolerant species– Phaeophyscia hirtuosa, Ph. rubropulchra,Physciella chloantha, Physcia stellaris.Destruction of upper cortexThis damage usually follows after colorchange and it often occurs with sensitive andintermediate sensitive lichens. Lobaria losetheir upper cortex in disturbed habitats morefrequently and faster than other lichens. Thisdamage usually causes death of lichen in verysoon. It also happens with tolerant lichens whenpollution level changes very fast.Reproductive system abnormalitiesReproductive organs are very sensitive to airpollution. Absence of the apothecia often occurswith sensitive lichens – Lobaria pulmonaria,L. quercizans, Peltigera collina as well as tolerantlichens – Myelochroa subaurulenta, Parmeliafertilis, Lecanora pachyheila, Melanelia olivacea.Destruction of apothecia and perithecia isusual for crustose lichens – Lecanora allophana,L. chlarotera, Brigantiaea nipponica, Graphisscripta, Pyrenula japonica in polluted areas.Lichen apothecia and perithecia of crustoselichens become empty or look deformed inpolluted areas. Hyperproduction of sorediaeand isidiae can be often found in sensitiveand intermediate sensitive species – Lobariapulmonaria, L. spathulata, Parmelia squarrosaas well as in tolerant species – Phaeophysciahispidula, Physconia grumosa, Parmelia sulcata,Physciella melanchra, Flavopunctelia soredicawhich occur in polluted areas. Sometimessolid mass of soredia or isidia may cover all thesurface of the upper cortex, but it can be normalfor lichens found in clear areas because of theold age of the lichen.Colonization by other lichensThis abnormality usually happens withsensitive lichens – Lobaria pulmonary, Leptogiumburnetiae and some other lichens from these twogenera in polluted areas. In disturbed areas thethallus of the sensitive lichen is often colonizedby aggressive lichens from tolerant groups likePhaeophyscia hirtuosa, Physciella chloantha,Candelaria concolor etc.Dwarf growth and deformationsThese abnormalities are very common foralmost lichens in polluted areas. Its occur bothin sensitive and tolerant species. Lichen thallusbecome compact, deformed, torose and thick.The lichen thallus often looks like a small shrub.Additional lobes formationIn polluted areas lichens often form smallrudimentary lobes along the main lobe edge.It frequently happens with sensitive andintermediate sensitive lichens like Lobariapulmonaria and L. spathulata etc.Sparse and short rhizinesThis abnormality is very common for lichensin urban areas and it often follows with sparseand short hairs around the apothecia of somePhaeophyscia species like Ph. hirtuosa and other.ReferencesBrodo I.M. 1961. Transplant experiments withcorticolos lichens using a new technique. Ecology 42(4): 838–841.Fields R.D., St. Clair L.L. 1984. The effects of SO 2onphotosynthesis and carbohydrate transfer in the twolichens: Collema polycarpon, Parmelia chlorocroa. Am. J.Bot. 71: 986–998.Richardson D.H.S., E. Nieboer. 1981. Lichens andpollution monitoring. Endeavour, New Series 5 (3):127–133.Skye E. 1979. Lichens as biological indicators of airpollution. Ann. Rev. Phytopathol. 17: 325–341.St. Clair L.L. 1989. Development of an air qualitybiomonitoring program, using lichens, for the JarbidgeWilderness Area, Humboldt National Forest, Nevada.U.S. Forest Service. Technical Report.Wetmore C.M. 1989. Lichens and air quality inCuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area, Ohio.Bryologist 92: 273–281.