Wood distillate (pyroligneous acid) can be successfully applied in agriculture to increase crop quality and productivity with a lower risk for the environment respect to synthetic chemical ...herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers. However, the effects of wood distillate on the environment and biota are still under investigation, depending on biological attributes of potentially influenced organisms. The potential toxicological effects of wood distillate on sensitive non-target organisms, lichens and mosses, are studied for the first time. The physiological parameters (chlorophyll a fluorescence emission FV/FM and PI(ABS), chlorophyll content, spectral reflectance, antioxidant power, and dehydrogenase activity) and eventual bioaccumulation of selected elements (As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn) were investigated in the lichen Xanthoria parietina and the moss Hypnum cupressiforme after short-term treatments over a range of wood distillate solutions (1:300, 1:500, 1:700) to detect potential early stress responses. Overall, the lichen did not show changes after the treatments, while in the moss wood distillate caused only modest alterations in FV/FM and PI(ABS) and progressive increasing of antioxidant activity according to the dose supplied. The bioaccumulation of toxic elements was low and did not show any pattern of uptake with increasing concentrations of wood distillate.
•Short-term exposure to wood distillate does not impact non-target sensitive organisms.•Lichen and moss treated with wood distillate remain healthy.•Bioaccumulation of toxic elements from wood distillate is low.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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•Lichen thalli were crossed between a landfill and a remote area for 12 months.•In the remote area, heavy metals content partially decreased in transplanted thalli.•At the landfill, ...the thalli nearly reached heavy metals content of in situ samples.•The rate of heavy metals accumulation was higher than the rate of heavy metals loss.•The thalli transplanted to the remote area recovered a physiological healthy status.
How long does it take a lichen to respond to changes (worsening or improvement) of atmospheric conditions is still discussed. We selected and removed lichen thalli (Flavoparmelia caperata) from sites subject to different intensities of pollution around a landfill in Central Italy and exposed them in a remote unpolluted area for 12 months. The content of elements of toxicological concern (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn) and several physiological parameters in lichen thalli (chlorophyll a fluorescence emission, chlorophyll content and integrity, membrane lipid peroxidation, content of secondary metabolites and ergosterol content) were investigated before and after the recovery and hence compared with those of native (and clean) samples of the remote area. In an opposite trial, heavy metals content was investigated in samples taken from the remote area and exposed around the landfill. Values of the transplants were then compared with those of native samples at the landfill.
From chemical point of view, the content of heavy metals decreased (by ca. 25%) in lichen thalli taken from the landfill and exposed in the remote area, however background values were never reached. On the other hand, lichen thalli taken from the remote area and exposed around the landfill accumulated up to ca. 80% of the content of in situ samples. The rate of accumulation was higher than the rate of element loss referred to the same temporal interval.
The recovery of physiological parameters, especially those typical of the mycobiont or of the whole lichen symbiosis, was much faster than heavy metal detoxification, and after 12 months transplanted lichens already reflected the new environmental conditions at the remote site.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Treatments of crops with additives to increase their productivity may pose environmental risks and induce negative effects also on non-target organisms. In this study, we investigated the potential ...effect of chestnut wood distillate (pyroligneous acid) used in agriculture, on the accumulation of trace elements in aquatic plants. As a model species, the common water fern Azolla filiculoides Lam. was selected, being often used also in phytoremediation processes. The content of selected elements of toxicological concern (As, Ba, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) was assessed in the fern after short-term treatments (1–3 days) over a range of wood distillate concentrations 1:300 (3.33 mL/L), 1:500 (2.00 mL/L), 1:700 (1.43 mL/L). A statistically significant accumulation of Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, Zn (1:700) and Pb (1:300) was recorded after three days of incubation, despite the concentrations remained overall low. Using treatment vs. control ratios, a trend of increasing temporal uptake was detected for As, Ba, Fe, Mn, Pb (1:700); Mn, Pb (1:500), and only Pb at 1:300. The results suggested that, under the experimental conditions, element uptake is positively influenced by time and negatively by increasing concentrations of wood distillate, likely due to the acidification of the medium. On the whole, the element concentrations measured in A. filiculoides were low and did not pose any toxicological concern.
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•Genetic structuring hidden under ubiquitous diversity in Solenopsora candicans.•The south of the Mediterranean Basin as cradle and museum of the genetic diversity.•The most ...pronounced population burst in the middle Pleistocene in the Apennine and Balkan peninsulas.•Kiermack disjunction between Asia Minor/Near East and West Mediterranean.•Survival of warm-adapted lichen in extra-Mediterranean microrefugia in Central Europe.
Genetic patterns of lichenized fungi often display a mosaic-like and difficult to interpret structure blurring their evolutionary history. The genetic diversity and phylogeographic pattern of a mycobiont of the predominantly Mediterranean dwelling lichen Solenopsora candicans were investigated on the base of extensive sampling (361 individuals, 77 populations) across its entire distribution range. We tested whether the genetic pattern of S. candicans mirrors paleoclimatic and paleogeological events in the Mediterranean and adjacent regions. The divergence time estimates indicated a Tertiary origin for S. candicans, with formation of intraspecific diversity initiated in the Late Miocene. The distribution of the most divergent haplotypes, mostly of a pre-Pleistocene origin, was restricted to the eastern or western extremities of the Mediterranean exhibiting Kiermack disjunction. The population genetic diversity analyses indicated multiple diversity centres and refugia for S. candicans across the entire Mediterranean Basin. While the south Mediterranean regions harboured both the Tertiary and Quaternary born diversity, conforming to the ‘cumulative refugia’ paradigm, the Apennine and Balkan Peninsulas in the north hosted mostly younger Pleistocene haplotypes and lineages. The recent population expansion of S. candicans might have occurred in the middle Pleistocene with a population burst in the Apennine and Balkan peninsulas. The presence of unique haplotypes in Central Europe indicates the existence of extra-Mediterranean microrefugia. This study presents the first comprehensive lichen phylogeography from the Mediterranean region and simultaneously reports for the first time the glacial survival of a warm-adapted lichen in the temperate zone.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
This work analyzed the influence of different application protocols on the efficacy of two biocides against the foliose lichen Xanthoparmelia tinctina on the sandstones of the Roman Archaeological ...site of Luni (Italy). The hypotheses that (a) biocide application tools (brush vs. poultice), (b) pre-treatment hydration, and (c) post-treatment washing may affect devitalization success were verified by monitoring chlorophyll a fluorescence of thalli, both in situ and in laboratory conditions. The hypothesis that (d) stone substrate may act as reservoir for later biocide release under repeated cycles of wetting and drying was also assayed. Analyses confirmed the importance of the application tool, with cellulose poultice being more effective than brush. Hydration influenced the biocide absorption by thalli. Moreover it modulated the metabolic activity and susceptibility to the available toxic compound, hindering lichens from entering a dormant state to tolerate stress. Depending on the preparation solvent (water vs. white spirit), the biocide application benefited from pre-treatment hydration and/or a post-treatment washing. Lastly, we showed that different sandstones variously adsorb the biocides and potentially contribute as a reservoir for their long-term release at low concentrations during successive hydration events.
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•The protocol to apply biocides on lichens affects the devitalization effects.•Cellulose poultice application of biocides is more effective than that by brush.•Pre-hydration and/or post-washing of thalli regulate biocide effectiveness.•The stone substrate acts as a reservoir for long-term release of biocide.•Effective application protocols can limit useless chemical release to the environment.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•Air pollution influences the success of lichen translocation for conservation purposes.•The translocation of Lobaria pulmonaria is effective only in unpolluted environments.•Higher contents of heavy ...metals in translocated thalli reflect their lower survival.•Current air quality in Central Europe limits recolonization by sensitive lichens.
Species translocation can be considered as a primary conservation strategy with reference to in situ conservation. In the case of lichens, translocations often risk to fail due stress factors associated with unsuitable receptor sites. Considering the bioecological characteristics of lichens, air pollution is among the most limiting stress factors. In this study, the forest macrolichen Lobaria pulmonaria was used as a model to test the hypothesis that the translocation of sensitive lichens is effective only in unpolluted environments.
At purpose, 500 fragments or whole thalli were translocated in selected beech forests of Central Europe (the Western Carpathians, Slovakia) where the species disappeared in the past and in oak forests of Southern Europe (Tuscany, Central Italy) where native populations are present. Prior to the translocation (May 2016) and after one year, morphological and ultrastructural features, trace elements as well as chlorophyll a fluorescence emission were analysed. Four years later, the effectiveness of lichen translocation was further evaluated as presence of the transplants and of newly formed individuals.
After one year, the translocation ensured an effective survival of the thalli in remote oak and beech forests characterized by a negligible or low contamination by heavy metals. The transplants were considered successful and developed new lobules and rhizines, attaching by themselves to the bark of the host trees, looking overall healthy, without evident signs of alteration also at ultrastructural level. Moreover, in a few cases newly formed individuals were observed after four years. On the other hand, the results highlighted the link between the unsuccess of the translocation and air pollution in other areas of the Western Carpathians and suggested that current air quality still limits the possibility of recolonization in areas where the model species disappeared.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Microclimatic conditions are important in determining lichen distribution at small scale, and may determine whether the species persist when the surrounding environmental conditions have drastically ...changed. This is the case with forest management, since a sudden variation of microclimatic conditions (increase of solar radiation, temperature, wind and a reduction of humidity) may occur after logging. In this study, the combined effect of forest logging and microclimatic conditions on the growth probabilities and growth rates of the model species
was assessed in mixed oak stands. To this purpose, 800 fragments of
(<1 cm) were transplanted in logged and unlogged stands for two years. Young and adult fragments were positioned on Turkey oak boles according to distance from the ground (100 and 50 cm) and aspect (north and south). The results, evaluated by generalized linear mixed models on a yearly basis, highlighted differences in growth-particularly on isolated trees in the logged stand. South-exposed samples in the logged stand showed a low probability of growth, while samples transplanted north in the unlogged stand showed higher growth probabilities. However, the highest annual growth coefficients corresponded to south-exposed samples 50 cm from the ground in the unlogged stand. In general, higher growth rates were observed in young thallus fragments when compared with adult ones. Beyond confirming the importance of microclimate for lichen ecology, these results could be implemented in conservation actions to preserve
populations in logged forests.
Recently indoor air quality (IAQ) has become a key issue, especially in schools, where children spend most of the day. Only in a few cases IAQ was investigated using lichens as biomonitors. During ...autumn 2017, lichens (
) were exposed for two months indoors and outdoors in public (schools) and private (dwellings) environments, in both rural and urban areas of Slovakia. The bioaccumulation of selected elements and the physiological status of the samples were considered. The content of heavy metals increased in samples exposed outdoors for 11 out of 12 elements (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, S, Sb, V and Zn, but not Ca) in the urban area and for 5 (As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Sb) in the rural area. Indoor concentrations were overall similar, both in rural and urban buildings, independently of the outdoor conditions. An indoor accumulation occurred only for Cd, Cu and Pb. An indoor origin was suggested for Cd, while for Cu and Pb, outdoor penetration (car traffic) is the likely cause of indoor values. Indoor exposed lichens maintained their vitality (as reflected by chlorophyll
fluorescence emission). This latter result further supports the use of lichen biomonitoring as a suitable method for assessing IAQ.
In this contribution, new data concerning algae, bryophytes, fungi and lichens of the Italian flora are presented. It includes new records and confirmations for the algal genera
Acetabularia
,
...Nitella
, and
Nitellopsis
for the bryophyte genera
Drepanocladus
,
Fissidens
,
Hookeria
, and
Weissia
, the fungal genera
Alnicola
,
Arthonia
,
Cortinarius, Inocybe
,
Leucoagaricus
,
Neohygrocybe
, and
Puccinia
and the lichen genera
Bacidina
,
Chaenotheca
,
Flavoplaca
,
Gyalecta
,
Heterodermia
,
Rinodina
,
Scytinium
, and
Squamarina
.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Forest logging can be detrimental for non-vascular epiphytes, determining the loss of key components for ecosystem functioning. Legal logging in a Mediterranean mixed oak forest (Tuscany, Central ...Italy) in 2016 heavily impacted sensitive non-vascular epiphytes, including a large population of the threatened forest lichen Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. This event offered the background for this experiment, where the potential effects of logging in oak forests are simulated by means of L. pulmonaria micro-transplants (thallus fragments <1 cm). Our working hypothesis is that forest logging could negatively influence the growth of the thalli exposed in logged stands compared to those exposed in unlogged stands. One hundred meristematic lobes and 100 non-meristematic fragments are exposed for one year on 20 Turkey oak trees (Quercus cerris), half in a logged and half in an unlogged stand. Chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence emission and total chlorophyll content are used as a proxy for the overall vitality of the transplants, while their growth is considered an indicator of long-term effects. Generally, vitality and growth of the transplants in the logged stand are lower than in the unlogged stand. Both vitality and growth vary between the meristematic and non-meristematic fragments, the former performing much better. Hence, irrespective of forest management, meristematic fragments show higher growth rates (0.16–0.18 cm2 year−1) than non-meristematic ones (0.02–0.06 cm2 year−1). Considering that a conservation-oriented management for this species should be tailored at the habitat-level and, especially, at the tree-level, our results suggest that for appropriate conservation strategies, it is necessary to consider the life cycle of the lichen, since the probability of survival of the species may vary, with meristematic fragments having more chance to survive after logging.
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