Pollution monitoring with lichens (Naturalists' Handbooks 19)

by D. H. S. Richardson with colour plates by Claire Dalby

Lichens make excellent material for field studies throughout the year and are valuable for the detection and mapping of pollution. This book provides an overview of the value of lichens for monitoring a range of potentially harmful substances including sulphur dioxide, fluorides, PCBs, metals and radioactive elements. In each section background information is provided and case studies briefly described to enable the reader to appreciate the potential applications of lichens for monitoring each type of environmental pollutant. To help with the problems of identifying lichens, coloured illustrations are provided of species that commonly grow on trees together with an identification key and direction to more advanced texts for lichens growing on other surfaces.

Contents

Introduction; Natural history, Sulphur dioxide and acid rain; Fluorides; Aromatic hydrocarbons; Metals; Transplant studies; Radioactive elements; Invertebrate fauna; Identification; Original work: techniques and approaches; References and further reading; Useful addresses.

Readership level

sixth-form, undergraduate, postgraduate, field centre, ecological consultant, wildlife trust, conservation volunteer

Keywords

lichen, lichens, pollution, monitoring, survey, key, identification