Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3, 30-387, Kraków, Poland.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Nov;30(52):112336-112346. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-30194-4. Epub 2023 Oct 13.
Lichens are symbiotic organisms that are generally sensitive to air pollution due to their specific biological and physiological features. Physcia adscendens is a nitrophilous lichen well-known for being resistant to air pollution associated with progressive anthropopressure. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nitrogen oxides and suspended particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) on anatomical structure of the thallus and photobiont's photosynthetic efficiency in P. adscendens inhabiting sites that differ in terms of air pollution level and thereby to determine the relevance of these pollutants for shaping the structure of the thallus and the physiological condition of the photosynthetic partner. We found that P. adscendens from polluted sites had increased thickness of the algal layer and the larger size of the algae cells, but a much lower ratio of the algal layer to the whole thallus. Lichens from highly polluted sites had also higher photosynthetic efficiency, which indicates a relatively good physiological condition of the photobiont. This indicates that the photobiont of P. adscendens is well-adapted to function under air pollution stress which may contribute to its success in colonizing polluted sites. Both changes in the anatomy of the lichen thallus and the efficiency of photosynthesis may be related to the enrichment of the environment with nitrogen. The increased photosynthetic efficiency as well as investment in the size of photobiont cells and growth mycobiont hyphae confirms that P. adscendens is well-adapted to urban conditions; however, the mechanism behind those adaptations needs more focus in the context of global environmental changes.
地衣是共生生物，由于其特殊的生物学和生理学特征，通常对空气污染敏感。Physcia adscendens 是一种嗜氮地衣，以耐受与渐进人为压力相关的空气污染而闻名。本研究旨在调查氮氧化物和悬浮颗粒物（PM10 和 PM2.5）对不同空气污染水平生境中 Physcia adscendens 地衣体解剖结构和光合物光合作用效率的影响，从而确定这些污染物对塑造地衣体结构和光合物生理状况的相关性。我们发现，来自污染地区的 Physcia adscendens 具有较厚的藻层和更大的藻类细胞，但藻层与整个地衣体的比例要低得多。来自高度污染地区的地衣也具有更高的光合作用效率，这表明光合物的生理状况相对较好。这表明 Physcia adscendens 的光合物很好地适应了空气污染胁迫下的功能，这可能有助于它成功地在污染地区定殖。地衣体解剖结构和光合作用效率的变化可能与环境中氮的富集有关。光合作用效率的提高以及对光合物细胞大小和生长菌的投资，证实了 Physcia adscendens 很好地适应了城市环境；然而，在全球环境变化的背景下，这些适应的机制需要更多的关注。
