Abstract

LIJTEROFF, Rubén; LIMA, Luis  and  PRIERI, Betzabé. Lichens as bioindicators of air pollution in San Luis, Argentina. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2009, vol.25, n.2, pp.111-120. ISSN 0188-4999.

Air qualtiy was assessed in San Luis City by using lichens as bioindicators. Six sites in San Luis City and one site in a control area, Juana Koslay, a small town six kilometers to the East, were evaluated by using the Index of Atmospheric Purity (IAP) which measures indirectly the coverage of lichens in the sampling zone and directly the diversity of species. Shannon (H), equity (J) and richness (S) indexes were also measured. The lowest IAP were detected in San Luis City, the highest IAP was detected in Juana Koslay. Therefore urban areas are more polluted than peripheral ones. The extremely low frequency of lichens appearence in San Luis City indicated the low quality of air in these urban areas and the efficacy of lichens as bionindicators of air contamination.

Keywords : bioindicators; index of atmospheric purity; air pollution.