Do urban air pollutants induce changes in the thallus anatomy and affect the photosynthetic efficiency of the nitrophilous lichen Physcia adscendens?

ABSTRACT: Lichens are symbiotic organisms that are generally sensitive to air pollution due to their specific biological and physiological features. Physcia adscendens is a nitrophilous lichen well-known for being resistant to air pollution associated with progressive anthropopressure. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nitrogen oxides and suspended particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) on anatomical structure of the thallus and photobiont's photosynthetic efficiency in P. adscendens inhabiting sites that differ in terms of air pollution level and thereby to determine the relevance of these pollutants for shaping the structure of the thallus and the physiological condition of the photosynthetic partner. We found that P. adscendens from polluted sites had increased thickness of the

SUBMITTER: Styburski J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10643396 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature