Lichens and Bromeliads as Bioindicators of Heavy Metal Deposition in Ecuador
We evaluated heavy metal deposition in <i>Parmotrema arnoldii</i> and <i>Tillandsia usneoides</i> in response to air pollution in Loja city, Ecuador. We assessed heavy metal (cadmium, copper, manganese, lead and zinc) content in these organisms at nine study sites inside Loja...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2019-02-01
|
| Series: | Diversity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/11/2/28 |
| _version_ | 1798040172017745920 |
|---|---|
| author | Ángel Benítez Jefferson Medina Cristina Vásquez Talía Loaiza Yesenia Luzuriaga James Calva |
| author_facet | Ángel Benítez Jefferson Medina Cristina Vásquez Talía Loaiza Yesenia Luzuriaga James Calva |
| author_sort | Ángel Benítez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We evaluated heavy metal deposition in <i>Parmotrema arnoldii</i> and <i>Tillandsia usneoides</i> in response to air pollution in Loja city, Ecuador. We assessed heavy metal (cadmium, copper, manganese, lead and zinc) content in these organisms at nine study sites inside Loja city and three control sites in nearby forests. Concentrations of all studied heavy metals (i.e., cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn)) were highest in downtown Loja. Our study confirms that passive monitoring using lichens and/or bromeliads can be an efficient tool to evaluate heavy metal deposition related to urbanization (e.g., vehicle emissions). We recommend these organisms to be used in cost-effective monitoring of air pollution in tropical countries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:03:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-102337ca6a384ad48c361599cf75678f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:03:48Z |
| publishDate | 2019-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-102337ca6a384ad48c361599cf75678f2022-12-22T04:00:48ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182019-02-011122810.3390/d11020028d11020028Lichens and Bromeliads as Bioindicators of Heavy Metal Deposition in EcuadorÁngel Benítez0Jefferson Medina1Cristina Vásquez2Talía Loaiza3Yesenia Luzuriaga4James Calva5Sección de Ecología y Sistemática, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano s/n, Loja 1101608, EcuadorMaestría en Biología de la Conservación y Ecología Tropical, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano s/n, Loja 1101608, EcuadorSección de Ecología y Sistemática, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano s/n, Loja 1101608, EcuadorSección de Ecología y Sistemática, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano s/n, Loja 1101608, EcuadorSección de Ecología y Sistemática, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano s/n, Loja 1101608, EcuadorDepartamento de Química y Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL), San Cayetano s/n, Loja 1101608, EcuadorWe evaluated heavy metal deposition in <i>Parmotrema arnoldii</i> and <i>Tillandsia usneoides</i> in response to air pollution in Loja city, Ecuador. We assessed heavy metal (cadmium, copper, manganese, lead and zinc) content in these organisms at nine study sites inside Loja city and three control sites in nearby forests. Concentrations of all studied heavy metals (i.e., cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn)) were highest in downtown Loja. Our study confirms that passive monitoring using lichens and/or bromeliads can be an efficient tool to evaluate heavy metal deposition related to urbanization (e.g., vehicle emissions). We recommend these organisms to be used in cost-effective monitoring of air pollution in tropical countries.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/11/2/28air pollutionepiphytespassive monitoringvehicle emissions |
| spellingShingle | Ángel Benítez Jefferson Medina Cristina Vásquez Talía Loaiza Yesenia Luzuriaga James Calva Lichens and Bromeliads as Bioindicators of Heavy Metal Deposition in Ecuador Diversity air pollution epiphytes passive monitoring vehicle emissions |
| title | Lichens and Bromeliads as Bioindicators of Heavy Metal Deposition in Ecuador |
| title_full | Lichens and Bromeliads as Bioindicators of Heavy Metal Deposition in Ecuador |
| title_fullStr | Lichens and Bromeliads as Bioindicators of Heavy Metal Deposition in Ecuador |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lichens and Bromeliads as Bioindicators of Heavy Metal Deposition in Ecuador |
| title_short | Lichens and Bromeliads as Bioindicators of Heavy Metal Deposition in Ecuador |
| title_sort | lichens and bromeliads as bioindicators of heavy metal deposition in ecuador |
| topic | air pollution epiphytes passive monitoring vehicle emissions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/11/2/28 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT angelbenitez lichensandbromeliadsasbioindicatorsofheavymetaldepositioninecuador AT jeffersonmedina lichensandbromeliadsasbioindicatorsofheavymetaldepositioninecuador AT cristinavasquez lichensandbromeliadsasbioindicatorsofheavymetaldepositioninecuador AT talialoaiza lichensandbromeliadsasbioindicatorsofheavymetaldepositioninecuador AT yesenialuzuriaga lichensandbromeliadsasbioindicatorsofheavymetaldepositioninecuador AT jamescalva lichensandbromeliadsasbioindicatorsofheavymetaldepositioninecuador |