Physiological response of the lichen Usnea amblyoclada in relation to atmospheric total deposition composition in Córdoba, Argentina

BERMUDEZ, GONZALO M.A.; JASAN, RAQUEL; INVERNIZZI, RODRIGO; PLA, R.R.; PIGNATA, M.L

Buenos Aires

Workshop; 5th International Workshop on Biomonitoring of Air Pollution; 2009

CNEA

<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:PT-BR;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 3.0cm 70.85pt 3.0cm; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> With the purpose of evaluating the physiological response of the lichen Usnea amblyoclada (Müll. Arg.) Zahlbr. to trace elements content in atmospheric total deposition (ATD), thalli were transplanted in polyethilene bags for two periods of six months, to: a) Río Tercero (RT): agriculture, chemical and petrochemical industries, b) Yocsina (Y): agriculture with a cement plant, c) Los Gigantes (LG): mineral extraction activities (uranium), d) Despeñaderos (D): agriculture, e) Ferreyra (Córdoba; F): agriculture with metallurgical and metal-mechanical industries, f) Oliva and g) Estación General Paz: agriculture, h) Pozo de Tigre (PT): agriculture and dove hunting, i) Chancaní (CH): control, j) Tanti (T): low-polluted site. ATD (wet and dry) was also collected in the same periods. Physiological parameters were determined in lichen thalli, and ATD residuals were analyzed to determine trace elements by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis. An Enrichment Factor (EF) was calculated for all samples using the total amount of trace elements collected on each area to standardize the atmospheric input. Physiological damage was observed mainly in RT and Y, while no damage was found in CH, T, LG and O. Regarding EFs, LG was strongly enriched with As, Ca, Cr, Sb and U; PT with Fe, Sb and Zn; and RT with Co, Cr, Fe, Na and Zn. D showed high EFs for As, Ba, Cr and Fe; O for Na, F for Ca, Fe and Na; Ch for Co and Fe; and T for As and Ca. A Principal Component Analysis indicated that the elements in the first component were related to soil contribution, and those in the other components, to possible human inputs (As, Cr, Gd, Na, Rb, U, Zn). A Pollution index showed a negative correlation with U, possibly because LG is an area where this lichen grows naturally. Malondialdehyde correlated positively with Fe, Gd and U.