Survey of Lichens at Eastern Washington University as Bioindicators of Air Quality and Nitrogen Deposition
Faculty Mentor
Jessica Allen
Document Type
Poster
Start Date
10-5-2023 9:00 AM
End Date
10-5-2023 10:45 AM
Location
PUB NCR
Department
Biology
Abstract
Lichens arise through symbioses between fungi and algae/cyanobacteria. Despite their ubiquity, lichens are often overlooked. However, lichens are valuable bioindicators for air quality, ecosystem health, and old-growth forests. Like a biological sponge, lichens exist in close contact with their environment, accumulating depositions of airborne pollutants. Foliose and fruticose lichens are typically more sensitive to air pollution than crustose lichens. Epiphytes are more reliable deposition indicators than lichens growing on rocks or soil. Thus, an inventory of epiphytic foliose/fruticose lichen biodiversity can indicate both the extent and source of airborne pollutants. Particularly, nitrogen isotope analysis can indicate sources of nitrogenic pollution. The objective of our project was to conduct a grid-based search to sample and identify EWU’s campus lichen diversity and determine what proportion of species are nitrophiles. Collection of larger foliose lichens will be sent to a lab for nitrogenic-isotope analysis. This aids in distinguishing between agricultural or fossil fuel sources. Understanding biodiversity, and deposition quantities/sources is especially important in high-use areas like EWU’s campus. This is the first documentation of the lichens of EWU’s campus and the first EWU lichen assessment of the quantity and sources of nitrogen deposition. We expect to find relatively low rates of biodiversity and substantial nitrogen deposition from agricultural sources on campus.
Recommended Citation
Morrison, Carissa, "Survey of Lichens at Eastern Washington University as Bioindicators of Air Quality and Nitrogen Deposition" (2023). 2023 Symposium. 48.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2023/res_2023/p1_2023/48
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Survey of Lichens at Eastern Washington University as Bioindicators of Air Quality and Nitrogen Deposition
PUB NCR
Lichens arise through symbioses between fungi and algae/cyanobacteria. Despite their ubiquity, lichens are often overlooked. However, lichens are valuable bioindicators for air quality, ecosystem health, and old-growth forests. Like a biological sponge, lichens exist in close contact with their environment, accumulating depositions of airborne pollutants. Foliose and fruticose lichens are typically more sensitive to air pollution than crustose lichens. Epiphytes are more reliable deposition indicators than lichens growing on rocks or soil. Thus, an inventory of epiphytic foliose/fruticose lichen biodiversity can indicate both the extent and source of airborne pollutants. Particularly, nitrogen isotope analysis can indicate sources of nitrogenic pollution. The objective of our project was to conduct a grid-based search to sample and identify EWU’s campus lichen diversity and determine what proportion of species are nitrophiles. Collection of larger foliose lichens will be sent to a lab for nitrogenic-isotope analysis. This aids in distinguishing between agricultural or fossil fuel sources. Understanding biodiversity, and deposition quantities/sources is especially important in high-use areas like EWU’s campus. This is the first documentation of the lichens of EWU’s campus and the first EWU lichen assessment of the quantity and sources of nitrogen deposition. We expect to find relatively low rates of biodiversity and substantial nitrogen deposition from agricultural sources on campus.
