Correlation between the nitrogen concentration of two epiphytic lichens and the traffic density in an urban area

Nitrogen concentrations of the lichen Physcia adscendens are related to traffic exposure. A field experiment was carried out in the urban environment of the Grenoble area using two epiphytic lichens: the nitrophytic Physcia adscendens and the acidiphytic Hypogymnia physodes. Two complementary studie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental pollution (1987) 2003-01, Vol.123 (2), p.281-290
Main Authors: Gombert, S, Asta, J, Seaward, M.R.D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cities
Environmental Monitoring - methods
France
Hypogymnia physodes
Lichens
Lichens - chemistry
Motor Vehicles - statistics & numerical data
Nitrogen - analysis
Nitrogen concentration
Nitrogen oxides
Physcia adscendens
Road traffic index
Seasons
Urban area
Vehicle Emissions - analysis
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Summary:Nitrogen concentrations of the lichen Physcia adscendens are related to traffic exposure. A field experiment was carried out in the urban environment of the Grenoble area using two epiphytic lichens: the nitrophytic Physcia adscendens and the acidiphytic Hypogymnia physodes. Two complementary studies characterized this experiment. Firstly, a sampling of the two lichens in 48 sites randomly located throughout the Grenoble area indicated that roads (size and proximity to sampling sites) influenced the nitrogen concentrations of P. adscendens, but not those of H. physodes. Secondly, to study more accurately the influence of roads, a traffic index was calculated and applied along two transects located perpendicularly to urban motorways. Significant positive correlations were found between this traffic index and the total nitrogen concentration of P. adscendens.
ISSN:0269-7491
1873-6424
DOI:10.1016/S0269-7491(02)00367-6