Lichens and Air Quality in Big Bend National Park, Texas
Wetmore CM. 1981. Lichens and Air Quality in Big Bend National Park, Texas. The Bryologist. 84(3):426-433
This study was undertaken because of reports of decreased visibility due to haze and the possibility of increased air pollution in the Park. Numerous localities where lichens had been collected 10 years ago were revisited in 1980 to look for any changes in the lichen flora. Photographs were taken from scenic vistas where lichens were established for long term monitoring. It is argued that fruticose lichens are just as useful for monitoring air quality in arid areas as in wetter areas. There has been no loss of lichen species at any locality over the past 10 years and haze conditions have not changed much. It is concluded that no significant increase in air pollution has occurred within the Park over the past 10 years
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Wetmore, Clifford
- Units
- BIBE
- Keywords
- Air Pollution, Atmospheric Sciences, Impacts, Lichen (Mycophycophyta), Monitoring, Plant Studies