Influence of sun irradiance and water availability on lichen photosynthetic pigments during a Mediterranean summer

Paoli, Luca; Pisani, Tommaso; Munzi, Silvana; Gaggi, Carlo

doi:10.2478/s11756-010-0087-6

Cited by 26 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…caperata and later, after eight weeks in X. parietina) is perfectly in line with the autoecology of these species: F. caperata is mesophytic and potentially sensitive to extreme radiations under stressing microclimatic conditions, such as during a Mediterranean summer, while X. parietina is rather xerophytic and can better tolerate extreme conditions (Paoli et al, 2010b). Concerning the mycobiont, the investigated parameters suggested that oxidative stresses occurred in F. caperata and have been prevented in X. parietina.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

Effects of acute NH3 air pollution on N-sensitive and N-tolerant lichen species

Paoli

Maslaňáková

Grassi

et al. 2015

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

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Lichens are sensitive to the presence of ammonia (NH3) in the environment. However, in order to use them as reliable indicators in biomonitoring studies, it is necessary to establish unequivocally the occurrence of certain symptoms following the exposure to NH3 in the environment. In this paper, we simulated an episode of acute air pollution due to the release of NH3. The biological effects of acute air pollution by atmospheric NH3 have been investigated using N-sensitive (Flavoparmelia caperata) and N-tolerant (Xanthoria parietina) species. Lichen samples were exposed to ecologically relevant NH3 concentrations for 8 weeks, simulating three areas of impact: a control area (2 μg/m(3)), an area of intermediate impact (2-35 μg/m(3)) and an area of high impact (10-315 μg/m(3)), with a peak of pollution reached between the fourth and fifth week. Ammonia affected both the photobiont and the mycobiont in F. caperata, while in X. parietina only the photosynthetic performance of the photobiont was altered after exposure to the highest concentration. In the photobiont of F. caperata we recorded chlorophyll degradation as indicated by OD435/415 ratio, decrease of the photosynthetic performance (as reflected by the maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry FV/FM and the performance index PIABS); in the mycobiont, ergosterol reduction, membrane lipid peroxidation (as reflected by the increase of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), alteration (decrease) of the secondary metabolite usnic acid. No effects were detected on caperatic acid and dehydrogenase activity. In X. parietina, the only signal determined by NH3 was the alteration of FV/FM and the performance index PIABS. The results suggest that physiological parameters in N-sensitive lichens well reflect the effects of NH3 exposure and can be applied as early indicators in monitoring studies.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

Effects of acute NH3 air pollution on N-sensitive and N-tolerant lichen species

Paoli

Maslaňáková

Grassi

et al. 2015

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

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“…Also previous studies indicated that Chl b is more sensitive than Chl a to high temperatures (Pisani et al 2007). Furthermore, the decrease in Chl b occurred earlier in E. prunastri (July) and only one month later (August) in P. furfuracea, suggesting a larger susceptibility of E. prunastri, probably caused by a limited ability of this species to maintain an active hydrated state (Paoli et al 2010). On the other side, no clear trend of Chl a/b was detected along the altitudinal gradient.…”

Section: Assimilation Pigmentsmentioning

confidence: 71%

Photosynthetic performance of lichen transplants as early indicator of climatic stress along an altitudinal gradient in the arid Mediterranean area

2011

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A climatic change was simulated transplanting samples of the lichens Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. and Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf v. furfuracea along a 1,400 m altitudinal gradient in the northern side of the island of Crete (Greece). The working hypothesis was that the photosynthetic performance (i.e. pigment content, chlorophyll degradation and photosynthetic efficiency) of transplanted lichens varies along the altitudinal gradient. The overall effect observed was a general depression of the photosynthetic performance along the gradient. Concentrations of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids decreased with decreasing elevation and along with the hottest and driest months of the year, with chlorophyll b being the most sensitive parameter to dry conditions. Chlorophyll degradation decreased with increasing elevation. The exposure period was the main factor affecting photosynthetic efficiency, with lower values during summer months. We argued that the water content of lichen thalli is the most important factor determining differences in photosynthesis under the experimental conditions. This allowed to suggest that the lichen photosynthetic performance deserves further investigation as early biological indicator of atmospheric stress induced by dry conditions and, to a greater extent, for the assessment of the desertification risk in the arid Mediterranean environment.

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“…In the same area, significant correlations were found between the content of Cu, Pb and Zn in the lichen Usnea amblyoclada exposed around the cement mill and the content of hydroperoxy conjugated dienes, suggesting an important oxidative effect caused by these ions (Carreras and Pignata 2002). In addition to dust pollution, microclimatic parameters may influence physiological processes of lichens, in particular during the dry season, when sun irradiance and water availability may heavily affect chlorophyll fluorescence emission and the content of photosynthetic pigments (Paoli et al 2010;Pirintsos et al 2011). Also, the type of deposition can vary according to humidity and precipitation.…”

Section: Physiological Effectsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Ecophysiological and ultrastructural effects of dust pollution in lichens exposed around a cement plant (SW Slovakia)

Paoli

Guttová

Grassi

et al. 2015

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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The study investigated the ecophysiological and ultrastructural effects of dust pollution from a cement industry in the lichen species Evernia prunastri and Xanthoria parietina, which were exposed for 30, 90 and 180 days around a cement mill, two quarries, and inhabited and agricultural sites in SW Slovakia. The results showed that dust deposition from quarrying activities and cement works at the cement mill (mainly enriched in Ca, Fe and Ti) significantly affected the photosynthetic apparatus of E. prunastri (sensitive to dust and habitat eutrophication), while X. parietina (tolerant to dust and habitat eutrophication) adapted to the new environment. The length of the exposure strongly affected the vitality of the mycobiont (measured as dehydrogenase activity) in transplanted lichens. Dust deposition led to ultrastructural alterations, including lipid droplets increase, swelling of cellular components, thylakoid degeneration and sometimes plasmolysis, which, on the whole, gave the cells an aged appearance. Photosynthetic parameters deserve further attention as potential indicators for monitoring early biological symptoms of the air pollution caused during cement production.

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Influence of sun irradiance and water availability on lichen photosynthetic pigments during a Mediterranean summer

Cited by 26 publications

References 42 publications

Effects of acute NH3 air pollution on N-sensitive and N-tolerant lichen species

Effects of acute NH3 air pollution on N-sensitive and N-tolerant lichen species

Photosynthetic performance of lichen transplants as early indicator of climatic stress along an altitudinal gradient in the arid Mediterranean area

Ecophysiological and ultrastructural effects of dust pollution in lichens exposed around a cement plant (SW Slovakia)

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