Air pollution in Slovakia (Central Europe): a story told by lichens (1960–2020)

Researches and applied lichenological studies carried out in Slovakia were reviewed, with reference to the period 1960–2020. Field studies and reviews devoted to the causal relation between environmental pollution and lichens are presented, encompassing the use of biodiversity and bioaccumulation techniques as well as ecophysiological parameters in native and transplanted lichens. The review includes pioneering up to recent monitoring studies of air pollution effects in urban and industrial areas, monitoring changes in species distribution between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries due to atmospheric pollution and habitat alteration, the retreat of sensitive species (with a focus on Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm.), as well as recent regional and large-scale biomonitoring in forests. Beside urban pollution, the topics cover copper and mining activities, mercury pollution, magnesite and aluminium production, steel and cement industry. Finally, also indoor biomonitoring has been considered

Nowe dane o porostach z gór Bukowskie vrchy (Słowacja Północno - Wschodnia)

interesting findings of 100 lichens from the Bukovské vrchy Mts (Biosphere Reserve Poloniny, Slovak part) are reported as the result of recent survey work. two species are new for Slovakia: Fellhanera gyrophoricaandRinodina efflorescens, and 34 species are reported for the first time from the studied area. the new records for the country are shortly commented as well as ecological aspects of Agonimia repleta, Strigula stigmatella, Gyalecta ulmiandBelonia herculina.W pracy przedstawiono 100 gatunków porostów z gór Bukovské vrchy, słowackiej części międzynarodowego, polsko-słowacko-ukraińskiego rezerwatu biosfery „karpaty Wschodnie”, znanej jako Park narodowy Połoniny. Spośród prezentowanych porostów 34 gatunki są publikowane po raz pierwszy z badanego obszaru (!); dwa z nich: Fellhanera gyrophoricai Rinodina efflorescensto jednocześnie taksony nowe dla Słowacji (!!). dla pozostałych 66 gatunków podano nowe stanowiska. na uwagę zasługują nowe dane ekologiczne odnoszące się do gatunków uważanych za obligatoryjne epifity, mianowicie Agonimia repleta (tylko okazjonalnie na gliniastej glebie) i Strigula stigmatellarosną tutaj na otoczakach piaskowcowych, a Gyalecta ulmi– na obumarłych mszakach zasiedlających piaskowcowe bloki skalne

Porosty epifityczne sadów jabłoniowych w Polsce, Słowacji i Włoszech

Following the study of epiphytic lichens in 30 apple orchards from Poland, Slovakia and Italy the list of 74 taxa was prepared. The most common are the meso- to xerophytic and heliophilous species. The highest number of taxa was observed in Slovak orchards. Moreover, lichens shared with at least one other country were also noted mainly in Slovakia. Bark of apple trees seems to create favourable habitats for Bacidia rubella, which together with Strangospora pinicola were valuable founds in Polish orchards. In Slovak orchards, special attention should be paid to Acrocordia gemmata, Melanelixia glabra and Usnea hirta. Among interesting records in Italian orchards, Phaeophyscia hispidula and Ph. kairamoi can be mentioned.Przeprowadzone badania porostów epifitycznych w trzydziestu sadach w Polsce (10), Słowacji (10) i Włoszech (10) pozwoliły opracować listę 74 odnotowanych taksonów. Najbardziej rozpowszechnione gatunki należą do grupy taksonów mezo- i kserofitycznych oraz światłolubnych. W słowackich sadach zaobserwowano najwyższą liczbę gatunków oraz najwyższą liczbę gatunków wspólnych z przynajmniej jednym krajem. Wydaje się, że kora jabłoni stwarza dogodne warunki dla rozwoju Bacidia rubella, która razem ze Strangospora pinicola były cennymi porostami odnotowanymi w polskich sadach. W sadach badanych na terenie Słowacji szczególną uwagę zwróciły stanowiska Acrocordia gemmata, Melanelixia glabra i Usnea hirta. Phaeophyscia hispidula i Ph. kairamoi to interesujące porosty zaobserwowane w sadach włoskich

Does air pollution influence the success of species translocation? Trace elements, ultrastructure and photosynthetic performances in transplants of a threatened forest macrolichen

Species translocation can be considered as a primary conservation strategy with reference to in situ conservation. In the case of lichens, translocations often risk to fail due stress factors associated with unsuitable receptor sites. Considering the bioecological characteristics of lichens, air pollution is among the most limiting stress factors. In this study, the forest macrolichen Lobaria pulmonaria was used as a model to test the hypothesis that the translocation of sensitive lichens is effective only in unpolluted environments. At purpose, 500 fragments or whole thalli were translocated in selected beech forests of Central Europe (the Western Carpathians, Slovakia) where the species disappeared in the past and in oak forests of Southern Europe (Tuscany, Central Italy) where native populations are present. Prior to the translocation (May 2016) and after one year, morphological and ultrastructural features, trace elements as well as chlorophyll a fluorescence emission were analysed. Four years later, the effectiveness of lichen translocation was further evaluated as presence of the transplants and of newly formed individuals. After one year, the translocation ensured an effective survival of the thalli in remote oak and beech forests characterized by a negligible or low contamination by heavy metals. The transplants were considered successful and developed new lobules and rhizines, attaching by themselves to the bark of the host trees, looking overall healthy, without evident signs of alteration also at ultrastructural level. Moreover, in a few cases newly formed individuals were observed after four years. On the other hand, the results highlighted the link between the unsuccess of the translocation and air pollution in other areas of the Western Carpathians and suggested that current air quality still limits the possibility of recolonization in areas where the model species disappeared

Does air pollution influence the success of species translocation? Trace elements, ultrastructure and photosynthetic performances in transplants of a threatened forest macrolichen

Species translocation can be considered as a primary conservation strategy with reference to in situ conservation. In the case of lichens, translocations often risk to fail due stress factors associated with unsuitable receptor sites. Considering the bioecological characteristics of lichens, air pollution is among the most limiting stress factors. In this study, the forest macrolichen Lobaria pulmonaria was used as a model to test the hypothesis that the translocation of sensitive lichens is effective only in unpolluted environments. At purpose, 500 fragments or whole thalli were translocated in selected beech forests of Central Europe (the Western Carpathians, Slovakia) where the species disappeared in the past and in oak forests of Southern Europe (Tuscany, Central Italy) where native populations are present. Prior to the translocation (May 2016) and after one year, morphological and ultrastructural features, trace elements as well as chlorophyll a fluorescence emission were analysed. Four years later, the effectiveness of lichen translocation was further evaluated as presence of the transplants and of newly formed individuals. After one year, the translocation ensured an effective survival of the thalli in remote oak and beech forests characterized by a negligible or low contamination by heavy metals. The transplants were considered successful and developed new lobules and rhizines, attaching by themselves to the bark of the host trees, looking overall healthy, without evident signs of alteration also at ultrastructural level. Moreover, in a few cases newly formed individuals were observed after four years. On the other hand, the results highlighted the link between the unsuccess of the translocation and air pollution in other areas of the Western Carpathians and suggested that current air quality still limits the possibility of recolonization in areas where the model species disappeared

Does air pollution influence the success of species translocation? Trace elements, ultrastructure and photosynthetic performances in transplants of a threatened forest macrolichen

Species translocation can be considered as a primary conservation strategy with reference to in situ conservation. In the case of lichens, translocations often risk to fail due stress factors associated with unsuitable receptor sites. Considering the bioecological characteristics of lichens, air pollution is among the most limiting stress factors. In this study, the forest macrolichen Lobaria pulmonaria was used as a model to test the hypothesis that the translocation of sensitive lichens is effective only in unpolluted environments. At purpose, 500 fragments or whole thalli were translocated in selected beech forests of Central Europe (the Western Carpathians, Slovakia) where the species disappeared in the past and in oak forests of Southern Europe (Tuscany, Central Italy) where native populations are present. Prior to the translocation (May 2016) and after one year, morphological and ultrastructural features, trace elements as well as chlorophyll a fluorescence emission were analysed. Four years later, the effectiveness of lichen translocation was further evaluated as presence of the transplants and of newly formed individuals. After one year, the translocation ensured an effective survival of the thalli in remote oak and beech forests characterized by a negligible or low contamination by heavy metals. The transplants were considered successful and developed new lobules and rhizines, attaching by themselves to the bark of the host trees, looking overall healthy, without evident signs of alteration also at ultrastructural level. Moreover, in a few cases newly formed individuals were observed after four years. On the other hand, the results highlighted the link between the unsuccess of the translocation and air pollution in other areas of the Western Carpathians and suggested that current air quality still limits the possibility of recolonization in areas where the model species disappeared

Impact of forest management on threatened epiphytic macrolichens: Evidence from a Mediterranean mixed oak forest (Italy)

Forest management practices may heavily affect epiphytic cryptogams. This study was conceived in March 2016, as soon as we were informed about an authorized logging for timber within a Mediterranean mixed oak forest in Tuscany (central Italy), which threatened a large population of the forest macrolichen Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm., composed of hundreds of fertile thalli. Lobaria pulmonaria is often used as an ecological indicator of high quality habitats hosting rare lichens, and in general, cryptogams worthy of conservation. The species has suffered a general decline throughout Europe as a consequence of air pollution and intensive forest management, and currently it is red-listed in several countries, where it is considered also as a \u201cflag species\u201d. We estimated that 40% of the lichen biomass (8.5-12.3 kg ha-1) has been lost due to logging operations (in the core area, up to 1.8 kg every 100 m2), in particular large and fertile thalli. One year after the conclusion of logging operations, the analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence emission (indicator of the photosynthetic performance of the lichen photobionts), revealed a significant reduction of the vitality of the thalli on retained-isolated trees. The article provides issues for conservation in Mediterranean oak forests and outlines the outmost importance of ensuring the safeguard of forest ecosystems hosting fertile populations of this model species, especially in the case of unprotected forests

Prediction of xylanase optimal temperature by support vector regression

Background: Support vector machine (SVM), a novel powerful machine learning technology, was used to develop the non-linear quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) model of the G/11 xylanase based on the amino acid composition. The uniform design (UD) method was applied to optimize the running parameters of SVM for the first time. Results: Results showed that the predicted optimum temperature of leave-one-out (LOO) cross-validation fitted the experimental optimum temperature very well, when the running parameter C, ξ, and γ was 50, 0.001 and 1.5, respectively. The average root-mean-square errors (RMSE) of the LOO cross-validation were 9.53ºC, while the RMSE of the back propagation neural network (BPNN), was 11.55ºC. The predictive ability of SVM is a minor improvement over BPNN, but it is superior to the reported method based on stepwise regression. Two experimental examples proved the validation of the model for predicting the optimal temperature of xylanase. Conclusion: The results indicated that UD might be an effective method to optimize the parameters of SVM, which could be used as an alternative powerful modeling tool for QSPR studies of xylanase