Lichens, Tree Growth, and Foliar Symptoms of Air Pollution: Are the Stories Consistent?
Patricia S. Muir* and Bruce McCune Dep. of General Science, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR 97331 (formerly Holcomb Res. Inst., Butler Univ., Indianapolis, IN 46208). * Corresponding author. ABSTRACT 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 SO2 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
