Air quality indication in Blace (Southeastern Serbia) using lichens as bioindicators

Abstract

Air quality investigations have not been undertaken in Blace until now. Identifying the presence of different types of epiphytic lichens was performed in the summer 2012 in Blace (southeastern Serbia), and selected rural settlements around Blace, in order to establish the air quality of the area. The analysis of samples from described localities indicated the presence of 25 lichen taxa from 19 genera. Using the Index of Atmospheric Purity (IAP), it was found that there are 2 different air pollution zones in Blace: “lichen desert” and “transitional” or “struggle zone”, which includes the periphery of the city. In these zones the air is moderately polluted. In the urban area of Blace there is no “normal” zone, but one was detected in the surrounding rural areas. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. OI 171025 i br. III 41018]

Keywords

• air quality
• bioindication
• lichens
• Blace
• Serbia