LICHEN INDICATION OF AIR QUALITY IN PUTYVL’ TOWN

Abstract

As a result of the conducted survey, 17 species of epiphytic lichens were identified in Putyvl’ town (Sumy Region) including 7 indicator species: Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach., Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl., Parmelia sulcata Taylor, Phaeophyscia orbicularis (Neck.) Moberg, Physcia tenella (Scop.) DC., Scoliciosporum chlorococcum (Graewe ex Stenh.) Vězda та Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th. Fr. One of these lichen species is indicator of acid pollution, one species have high sensitivity, three species – medium sensitivity to air pollution; two species are resistant to pollution. Indicators of acid pollution were found throughout the city on trees along highways, in parks and squares. Distribution of indicators with high sensitivity is confined to the natural forest communities in the north-western part of the town. Medium-sensitive species were also found in natural forests, parks and street plantings in the town center and its surroundings. Species resistant to air pollution are distributed quite evenly throughout the town, including on the bark of trees in street plantings. On the basis of calculation of the index of air purity of Le Blanc and De Sloover, the town area has been subdivided into three isotoxic lichen zones corresponding to different levels of pollution. The zone with an average level of pollution occupies about 70% of the entire territory of the town. The slightly polluted zone occupies about 20% of the town area. Heavily areas polluted occupy the least area (almost 10%) and are located in the town center. It is related to the location of the main highways, bus station and industrial enterprise of the town. Unpolluted sites are confined to the floodplain of the Seim River, forest areas and park zones of the town, which preserve certain features of natural ecotopes. The predominance of the zone with an average level of pollution indicates that the main factor influencing the state of outdoor air pollution in the town is motor transport.