BIOLOGICA NYSSANA 7 (1) September 2016: 19-29 Stamenković, S. et al. Air quality lichen monitoring at three… 7 (1) • September 2016: 19-29 Original Article Received: 09 Mart 2016 Revised: 21 Mart 2016 Accepted: 01 June 2016 Air quality lichen monitoring at three selected urban areas in the Southern Serbia Slaviša Stamenković1*, Tatjana Djekić2, Svetlana Ristić1, Vladica Novković1, Tatjana Mitrović1, Marija Marković1 1University of Niš, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Biology and Ecology, Višegradska 33, 18000 Niš, Serbia 2University of Niš, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Geography, Višegradska 33, 18000 Niš, Serbia * E-mail: [email protected] Abstract: Stamenković, S., Djekić, T., Ristić, S., Novković, V., Mitrović, T., Marković, M.: Air quality lichen monitoring at three selected urban areas in the Southern Serbia. Biologica Nyssana, 7 (1), September 2016: 19-29. The results of a study using epiphytic lichens as bioindicators, on teritory of three different urban areas in the Southern Serbia (Leskovac, Vlasotince, Lebane) are reported. The analysis of samples from 142 investigated points indicates presence of 53 lichens taxa. The aim of the study is to present the difference in air quality over a certain time interval. Using the Index of Atmospheric Purity- IAP values, it has been found that there are different air pollution zones: „normal“ zone, „struggle“ zone and „lichen desert“ zone. The comparison of the results obtained in 2002 and 2013 in Vlasotince indicates the presence of „normal“ zone in 2002 but, in 2013, the „normal zone“ area was completely replaced with the „struggle“ zone. In Leskovac, unlike the previous studies, a slightly narrowing “lichen desert" zone is noticed. In Lebane, there is a presence of all lichen zones. Key words: Biomonitoring, Serbia, Leskovac, Vlasotince, Lebane Apstrakt: Stamenković, S., Djekić, T., Ristić, S., Novković, V., Mitrović, T., Marković, M.: Lišajski monitoring kvaliteta vazduha određenih urbanih područja južne Srbije. Biologica Nyssana, 7 (1), Septembar 2016: 19- 29. Istraživanja kvaliteta vazduha korišćenjem lišaja kao bioindikatora sprovedena su na teritoriji tri različita urbana područja južne Srbije- Leskovac, Vlasotince i Lebane. Analiza uzoraka sa 142 istraživane tačke, ukazuje na prisustvo 53 lišajskih taksona. Cilj ovog istraživanja je da prikaže promene kvaliteta vazduha koje su nastale u određenom vremenskom periodu. Korišćenjem vrednosti indeksa atmosferske čistoće, konstantovano je prisustvo različitih zona zagađenja vazduha: „normalna“ zona, zona „borbe“ i zona „lišajske pustinje“. Poređenje rezultata dobijenih 2002. i 2013. godine u Vlasotincu, ukazuju na prisustvo „normalne“ zone u 2002. godini, međutim 2013. godine oblast „normalne“ zone je u potpunosti zamenjena zonom „borbe“. Na području Leskovca, razlika se ogleda u blagom suženju zone „lišajske pustinje“. U Lebanu je uočeno prisustvo sve tri zone lišajske indikacije. Key words: Biomonitoring, Srbija, Leskovac, Vlasotince, Lebane 19 BIOLOGICA NYSSANA 7 (1) September 2016: 19-29 Stamenković, S. et al. Air quality lichen monitoring at three… Introduction Material and methods Sample location The air quality is getting worse all over the world. The strongest effects are felt in urban areas. Air The Southern Serbia includes Jablanica district. The pollution continuously increases, suggesting the need administrative centre of the district is the town of for timely detection, quantification and determination Leskovac, the biggest settlement in the Southern of levels of atmospheric pollution and introduction of Serbia. This is the town with around 65289 monitoring system. Biological monitoring is based inhabitants. The mean annual temperature is 10.7 °C on the assumption that changes in the environment and the mean annual rainfall is 591.6 mm. The most affect the indicator organisms and these changes can frequent winds are north, northwest and south be effectively used as an early warning signal for (Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia). detecting of environmental changes (G a r t y , 2001). Leskovac has got a developed textile, chemical and Lichens are used in the biomonitoring studies pharmaceutical industry. because they are one of the most sensitive and The town of Vlasotince is located in the valuable biomonitors of atmospheric pollution southeastern part of Serbia, in the area of middle and (Sujetoviene , 2015). bottom basin of the river Vlasina. The town has a Lichens are symbiotic organisms composed of population of 15882 people. The mean annual a fungus and an alga, usually either a cyanobacterium temperature is 11.8 °C and the mean annual rainfall or green algae. It is estimated that there are is 724.3 mm, which is much higher than in the approximately 25000 species of lichens surrounding towns. East – west is the most common (C h a p m a n , 2009). These unique organisms have a direction of movement of the winds (Republic number of specific properties and therefore can be Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia). used for different purposes. Changes in epiphytic lichen diversity are used as indicators of environmental conditions and have been widely applied in air quality assessments and monitoring programs around the world (L l o p et al., 2012). They are very good indicators of air quality. In the last decade of the twentieth century, a more intense use of epiphytic lichens as bioindicators on the territory of the Republic of Serbia began (M i l i ć , 1980; S a v i ć , 1991; 1997; 1998; Stamenković , 1992; M i l i ć & B l a ž e n č i ć , 1993; T o d o r o v i ć , 1995; C v i j a n et al., 1995; 1997; 2008; Stamenković , 1995; 1996; 1997; 1998; 2002; C v i j a n & Stamenković , 1996a; 1996b; S t a n k o v i ć et al., 1999; P e j č i n o v i ć , 2000; Stamenković & C v i j a n , 2002; 2003; 2004; 2010; Stamenković et al., 2010; 2012; Stamenković et al., 2013a; 2013b; J e v t i ć , 2013; N o v k o v i ć , 2013). This research is intended to present the results of the air quality on selected urban ecosystems and Fig. 1. Geographical position of investigated region - contribute the knowledge in biogeography and investigation region is framed. diversity of lichens on the territory of the Republic of Serbia and create the basis for the evaluation of The town of Lebane is an area which is lichens as indicators of the investigated urban characterized by extremely poor infrastructure, territory. This is of great importance because there financial, economic and human resources. This is a are no continuous physical and chemical small town having about 9272 inhabitants. The measurements of air quality in these areas and this climate is moderate continental. The mean annual kind of monitoring is the only indicator of the air temperature is 10.2 °C and the mean annual rainfall quality in urban conditions in the selected territory. in the vegetation period is 349 mm. The highest mean 20 BIOLOGICA NYSSANA 7 (1) September 2016: 19-29 Stamenković, S. et al. Air quality lichen monitoring at three… Table 1. Substrates in the three different surveys (the cells are filled with serial number of the investigated points) Location and time of collection Supstrate (Plant Vlasotince Vlasotince Leskovac Lebane species) 2002 2013 2002 2013 Acer campestre ͞ ͞ 1 ͞ Carpinus betulus ͞ 2 ͞ ͞ Fraxinus excelsior ͞ ͞ 6, 29, 35 ͞ Fraxinus sp. ͞ ͞ ͞ 7 Juglans regia 2, 5, 8, 10, 11 7 3, 4, 11, 21, 22 6, 9 Malus domestica ͞ 10, 11, 13 15, 23 ͞ Morus alba ͞ ͞ 18, 34 17 Platanus acerifolia ͞ ͞ 33 ͞ Populus alba 1 ͞ ͞ ͞ Populus deltoides 4, 6, 7, 9, 13, 16 1, 4 5, 10, 19, 25, 30, ͞ 32, 36, 39 Prunus armeniaca ͞ ͞ 8, 13 ͞ Prunus avium ͞ 3, 12 20, 24 10 Prunus domestica 3 8, 14 ͞ 4, 12, 16, 18, 19, 22 Pyrus communis ͞ ͞ 12, 28, 31 ͞ Quercus ceris ͞ ͞ ͞ 1, 2, 3, 8, 11, 14, 15, 24 Robiania pseudoacacia ͞ ͞ 7, 27 13, 20 Tilia argentea ͞ ͞ ͞ ͞ Tilia plathyphyllos 12, 15 5, 6, 9 ͞ ͞ Tilia sp. ̶ ̶ ͞ 5, 21, 23 wind speed from the north-northwest is 3.5 m/s, and The Voucher specimens of the lichens were the least is 1 m/s, from the northeast direction determined and deposited in the lichenological (Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia). herbarium (under designation L; 1-9 HMN) of the Bioindication of air quality using lichens, as Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of well as the physical and chemical measuring of air Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, Serbia. pollution have not been done in Lebane until now. Determination of collected lichen species was Bioindication in Vlasotince was made in 2002 and done by using a few sources (D o b s o n , 2005; now. W i r t h , 1995). Determination of plant species was The Institute of Public Health in Leskovac done by using “Flora of Serbia” (Jos i f o v i ć , ed., controls physicochemical measuring of the level of 1970-1977). The nomenclature of plant species follows air pollution since 2004. Bioindication of air Euro+Med Plant Base (http://www.emplantbase.org). pollution in Leskovac was made in 2002 and 2008. Method description Sample collection The method of lichen indication of air quality means Epiphytic lichens are determined and collected identifying, collecting, detecting and mapping the from the bark of various species of trees at the level lichens and calculation of the Index of Atmospheric of 1.5- 2 m above the ground, exclusively from the Purity (IAP) and it is based on determination of the trunks angled no higher than 5º.