The importance of indicator species in the biomonitoring of atmospheric pollution. A case study in the city of Aosta, NW Italy | [Importance des espèces indicatrices dans le suivi de la pollution atmosphérique. Cas d'étude dans la ville d'Aoste, nord-ouest de l'Italie]
2001
Piervittori, R. ((Universita di Torino (Italie). Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale)) | Maffei, S.
This paper describes the employment of lichens as bioindicators to estimate the atmospheric pollution generated by the intra-alpine city of Aosta. The Italian version of the Swiss method was used to collect data from Populus nigra. A total of 29 epiphytic lichen species were identified. This study has shown that the most polluted zones are those of the built-up parts of the city of Aosta due to the combined effects of heavy traffic and domestic heating. On the valley floor, there is a more marked improvement from Aosta to the west, since temperature inversion is responsible for longer persistence of pollutants to the east of the city. It was also found that Phaeophyscia orbicularis can be regarded as an indicator of atmospheric pollution in the Aosta area. Evaluation of its presence alone at brief intervals is thus a useful of keeping the situation under control
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