Effects of the urban environmental conditions on the physiology of lichen and moss

Özet

The lichen Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. and the moss Ptilium crista-castrensis (Hedw.) DeNot were exposedin three different urban sites along with the different pollution loads in order to evaluate the environmentalquality. Physiological changes after the exposition were assessed by evaluating the content ofphotosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll fluorescence, membrane lipid peroxidation and integrity of cellmembranes. The differences in response of fluorescence, chlorophylls contents and injuries of cellmembranes were observed between the two species and between the sites. E. prunastri showed a greatcapacity to sustain the photosynthesis processes in the urban environment, while this capacity was verylow in the transplanted moss P. crista-castrensis. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) indicated asignificantly higher oxidative stress in the transplants at urban and residential sites. The integrity of cellmembranes in moss samples was also more damaged than in lichen.