Abstract Detail

Bryology and Lichenology

Trace Metal Accumulation in Lichen in Three Habitats at Powdermill Nature Reserve.

Lichen possess the ability to acquire nutrients – and airborne heavy metals - from the atmosphere as they grow. Consequently, an individual lichen serves a biological historian of its lifetime environmental exposure to metals. A severe windstorm in 2012 on Powdermill Nature Reserve in western Pennsylvania carved random blowdowns into the woodlands. Foliose lichen samples were collected from four distinct blowdowns, undisturbed forest near the blowdowns, and from the nearest forest-roadway edges. The samples were analyzed with Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry for accumulation of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Mn in the thallus tissue. Earlier results from two of the blowdowns showed high values for Pb accumulation, elevated levels of Cd, and lower levels of Cu across all habitats. This talk presents data from all four blowdown areas.

1 - Chatham University, Sustainability, 6035 Ridge Road, Falk School Of Sustainability And Environment, Gibsonia, PA, 15044, United States

Keywords:
lichen
Heavy metals
salvage logging
biomonitor.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: BL2, Bryology/Lichenology Combined II
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Thursday, July 30th, 2020
Time: 12:30 PM
Number: BL2001
Abstract ID:733
Candidate for Awards:None