LICHENS USED AS BIOMONITORS OF AIR QUALITY IN THE JAQUEIRA PARK – RECIFE – PERNAMBUCO

Abstract

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12957/geouerj.2014.5690

The increasing of pollutants emission to the atmosphere has been affecting the human health, the biota and climate oscillations. This way, studies that indicate and/or monitoring the air quality in urban or rural areas are important contributions to the science. Living organisms are used as indicators or monitors of air quality, and in this context lichens stand out for their use in several parts of the world. In this research the air quality in Jaqueira park, Recife – PE, Brazil, was evaluated, from the existing lichen flora. The park was divided in 20 quadrants (60 m x 63 m), where the Index of Air Purity (IAP) was determined and quantified photosynthetic pigments of the lichen Parmotremapraesorediosum. The results showed that in all quadrants lichen species were registered, however the P. praesorediosum was only localized in 55% of the park, an areaalso considered with a good to superior air quality. The low and intermediary levels of air quality were detected where building and more intense traffic were predominant, causing a decreasing of lichen diversity due to the pollutants transported by wind throughout the park.