Lecanora melanophthalma

To evaluate the feasibility of the use of lichens as in situ biomonitors of atmospheric pollution in a semiarid climate, Rope and Pearson (1990) applied two techniques of evaluation in their study area in Idaho trace element analysis and electrolyte leakage from cells. The lichen Lecanora melanophthalma accumulated for the most part higher levels of elemental content than vascular plants such as Artemisia tridentata and either comparable or lower levels than soil. The above-mentioned lichen was the only species to show a significant difference in electrolyte leakage which could be associated with the distance from a chemical processing plant. 

A more sensitive reaction of the lichens was generally found when the soaked thalli were exposed immediately to —10°, —20°,..., or — 196°C for 24 or 6 hours (Kappen and Lange, 1970b, 1972). The photosynthetic rate of most of the lichens was irreversibly depressed at — 196°C (see Fig. 9) with the exception of Xanthoria elegans and Lecanora melanophthalma from Antarctica. Fresh thalli of Cladonia rangiferina collected from New York... 

Ramalina maciformis Parmelia melanothrix Parmelia tinctorum Usnea pseudocyphellata Cladonia alcicornis Stereocaulon alpinum Letharia vulpina Xanthoria mawsoni Neuropogon acromelanus Lecanora melanophthalma... 

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