Mycobiology.  2023 Oct;51(5):343-353. 10.1080/12298093.2023.2265144.

Lichen as Bioindicators: Assessing their Response to Heavy Metal Pollution in Their Native Ecosystem

• Yang J
• Oh SO
• Hur JS

• KMID: 2550762
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/12298093.2023.2265144

Abstract

Lichens play crucial roles in the ecosystems, contributing to soil formation and nutrient cycling, and being used in biomonitoring efforts to assess the sustainability of ecosystems including air quality. Previous studies on heavy metal accumulation in lichens have mostly relied on manipulated environments, such as transplanted lichens, leaving us with a dearth of research on how lichens physiologically respond to heavy metal exposure in their natural habitats. To fill this knowledge gap, we investigated lichens from two of South Korea’s geo graphically distant regions, Gangwon Province and Jeju Island, and examined whether differ ence in ambient heavy metal concentrations could be detected through physiological variables, including chlorophyll damage, lipid oxidation, and protein content. The physio logical variables of lichens in response to heavy metals differed according to the collection area: Arsenic exerted a significant impact on chlorophyll degradation and protein content. The degree of fatty acid oxidation in lichens was associated with increased Cu concentra tions. Our research highlights the value of lichens as a bioindicator, as we found that even small variations in ambient heavy metal concentrations can be detected in natural lichens. Furthermore, our study sheds light on which physiology variables that can be used as indi cators of specific heavy metals, underscoring the potential of lichens for future ecology studies.

Keyword

Lichen; Heavy metals; Bioindicator; Physiology variables