SO2 :: a lichen

Submitted by Eleanor Campbell on Thu, 11/08/2011 - 10:25
Latin name: 
Bacidia incompta

Impact Type: Direct exposure to pollutant

Key Concerns:

Bacidia incompta severely affected by air pollution, as with so many lichen Spp. It is sensitive to SO2 (Biodiversity Steering Group 1995, Seaward & Hitch 1982).

Additional Comments:

There is no other literature available on this species. 

Critical Load/level: 
Habitat/ Ecosystem Type Critical Load/ Level Status Reliability Indication of exceedance Reference
Forests and semi-natural vegetation

20 µg SO2 m-3 annual mean and half-year(Oct-March) mean

 UNECE, 2004 quite reliable i.e. the results of some studies are comparable

Low temperature appears to enhance the negative effects of SO2, and the lower critical level of 15 µg SO2 m-3 is used where the effective temperature sum (ETS) (i.e. the sum of temperatures) above 5oC is below 1000 degree days (d.d) (Ashmore et al., 1994).

 809
References: 
Group, Biodiversity Steering 1995 Biodiversity: the UK Steering Group report Action Plans 2
Seaward, M.R.D.; Hitch, (Eds) C.J.B. 1982 Atlas of the lichens of the British Isles 1
Species group: 
Lichens
Pollutant: 
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)