Faculty Sponsor(s)
Nancy Broshot
Location
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
Subject Area
Environmental Studies (science focus)
Description
Lichens have been shown to be useful bioindicators for determining levels of nitrogen deposition related to air pollution. Preliminary lichen surveys in Forest Park in 2011 and 2012 revealed the presence of lichen species associated with high levels of nitrogenous pollution. The summer of 2013, we conducted lichen surveys at 25 permanent research sites that had been set up in Forest Park and the Ancient Forest Preserve in 1993. The majority of the lichens we collected at every site were classified as indicative of worst, poor, or fair air quality, with few lichens found that would indicate good or best air quality. Lobaria is a lichen common in Oregon and is important in the normal nitrogen cycle in forests. However, Lobaria is very sensitive to nitrogenous air pollution and is associated with the best air quality category. We only collected Lobaria at one site in the middle of the park. We found no significant differences in lichens in the different air quality variables in the various sections of the park, indicating that all of Forest Park is subjected to poor air quality.
Recommended Citation
Hanson, Wes; Lockwood, Meghan; and Yarber, Morgan, "Lichens in Forest Park and Nitrogenous Air Pollution" (2014). Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement. Event. Submission 2.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/symposium/2014/all/2
Lichens in Forest Park and Nitrogenous Air Pollution
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
Lichens have been shown to be useful bioindicators for determining levels of nitrogen deposition related to air pollution. Preliminary lichen surveys in Forest Park in 2011 and 2012 revealed the presence of lichen species associated with high levels of nitrogenous pollution. The summer of 2013, we conducted lichen surveys at 25 permanent research sites that had been set up in Forest Park and the Ancient Forest Preserve in 1993. The majority of the lichens we collected at every site were classified as indicative of worst, poor, or fair air quality, with few lichens found that would indicate good or best air quality. Lobaria is a lichen common in Oregon and is important in the normal nitrogen cycle in forests. However, Lobaria is very sensitive to nitrogenous air pollution and is associated with the best air quality category. We only collected Lobaria at one site in the middle of the park. We found no significant differences in lichens in the different air quality variables in the various sections of the park, indicating that all of Forest Park is subjected to poor air quality.
