Lichens and air quality

mdvaden · 22nd April 2007, 11:01 AM

Ekka...

You have lichens in "Down-Under" land, right?

I'm guessing that lichens are not strictly regional, in general. But I don't know for sure. Anyway, there are a lot around here.

For years, I knew that lichens were okay for trees. What I just learned last year, was that they are indicators of clean air, and are used to monitor pollutants - early indicators of pollution.

Sean Freeman · 22nd April 2007, 11:26 AM

Lichens are just great aren't they? Here's a brilliant site that I'm sure you've seen before, but maybe others haven't this is the start of their lichens pages
http://www.hiddenforest.co.nz/lichens/what.htm
But take the time to browse the whole site wonderful fungi photos and info there too.

Here's a site for lichens of SE Qld http://members.westnet.com.au/roderickrogers/index.htm

and the national botanical gardens site with around 400 photos of different species
http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/lichenli...roduction.html

Almost forgot here's a PDF;
Intro%20to%20Lichenology.pdf

Eric Frei · 22nd April 2007, 02:53 PM

Lichens are great, much better than moss, atleast climbing around you get grip on lichens.

I only wonder one thing on smooth barked trees, will they prohibit gaseous exchange when covering lenticils?

Sean Freeman · 22nd April 2007, 04:53 PM

Blimey, there's a thought, well it is concievable that a tree completely covered in lichens would have reduced capacity to carry out gaseous exchange both through the bark and the leaves. Lichens do grow on leaves in certain circumstances. The only reference I have found is here; pp5 & 6
kpn_1048.pdf

But we're really talking about trees that have a great deal more wrong with them than the presence of large volumes of lichen.
Have a look at this excellent US Forestry site on the subject of lichens as pollution indicators esp the section on Bark pH interactions (scroll down)
http://gis.nacse.org/lichenair/index...age=literature
Clearly the physiology of the tree species, its health and vigor, which in turn tell us about the environment the tree is growing in are critical rather than the lichens.
Intersting stuff though the bark chemistry eh?

Tim Craig · 23rd April 2007, 09:14 AM

I always thought lichens liked fresh air till this Saturday I discovered lichen growing on a Norway maple right next to the 6 lane M8 motorway which runs right through the centre of Glasgow.

It was only on one tree out of the 4 I was looking at and it was on the north west side of the trunk? significant? not sure.

I do however see a lot more lichen in the suburbs on the west side of the city and out in the country generally.

Eric Frei · 23rd April 2007, 11:02 AM

Here the North West side of a tree is the hottest sunny side, over there is it the shadiest?

mdvaden · 24th April 2007, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Craig

I always thought lichens liked fresh air till this Saturday I discovered lichen growing on a Norway maple right next to the 6 lane M8 motorway which runs right through the centre of Glasgow.

It was only on one tree out of the 4 I was looking at and it was on the north west side of the trunk? significant? not sure.

I do however see a lot more lichen in the suburbs on the west side of the city and out in the country generally.

Different lichens vary.

There's specific ones that are watched.

A few will be more tolerant than others.

Tree Machine · 24th April 2007, 04:58 PM

A plant that eats rocks. On barren rockscape, or cooled lava flow, lichens are the first on the scene in the making of new soil. Everything else comes after.

22nd April 2007, 11:01 AM	#1
mdvaden Former Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 396	Lichens and air quality Ekka... You have lichens in "Down-Under" land, right? I'm guessing that lichens are not strictly regional, in general. But I don't know for sure. Anyway, there are a lot around here. For years, I knew that lichens were okay for trees. What I just learned last year, was that they are indicators of clean air, and are used to monitor pollutants - early indicators of pollution.

22nd April 2007, 02:53 PM	#3
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	Lichens are great, much better than moss, atleast climbing around you get grip on lichens. I only wonder one thing on smooth barked trees, will they prohibit gaseous exchange when covering lenticils? __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

23rd April 2007, 11:02 AM	#6
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	Here the North West side of a tree is the hottest sunny side, over there is it the shadiest? __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

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22nd April 2007, 11:26 AM	#2
Sean Freeman Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,981	Lichens are just great aren't they? Here's a brilliant site that I'm sure you've seen before, but maybe others haven't this is the start of their lichens pages http://www.hiddenforest.co.nz/lichens/what.htm But take the time to browse the whole site wonderful fungi photos and info there too. Here's a site for lichens of SE Qld http://members.westnet.com.au/roderickrogers/index.htm and the national botanical gardens site with around 400 photos of different species http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/lichenli...roduction.html Almost forgot here's a PDF; Intro%20to%20Lichenology.pdf

22nd April 2007, 04:53 PM	#4
Sean Freeman Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,981	Blimey, there's a thought, well it is concievable that a tree completely covered in lichens would have reduced capacity to carry out gaseous exchange both through the bark and the leaves. Lichens do grow on leaves in certain circumstances. The only reference I have found is here; pp5 & 6 kpn_1048.pdf But we're really talking about trees that have a great deal more wrong with them than the presence of large volumes of lichen. Have a look at this excellent US Forestry site on the subject of lichens as pollution indicators esp the section on Bark pH interactions (scroll down) http://gis.nacse.org/lichenair/index...age=literature Clearly the physiology of the tree species, its health and vigor, which in turn tell us about the environment the tree is growing in are critical rather than the lichens. Intersting stuff though the bark chemistry eh?

23rd April 2007, 09:14 AM	#5
Tim Craig Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 130	I always thought lichens liked fresh air till this Saturday I discovered lichen growing on a Norway maple right next to the 6 lane M8 motorway which runs right through the centre of Glasgow. It was only on one tree out of the 4 I was looking at and it was on the north west side of the trunk? significant? not sure. I do however see a lot more lichen in the suburbs on the west side of the city and out in the country generally.

24th April 2007, 04:58 PM	#8
Tree Machine Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 952	A plant that eats rocks. On barren rockscape, or cooled lava flow, lichens are the first on the scene in the making of new soil. Everything else comes after.