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Microfaunal communities associated with epiphytic lichens in Belfast

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2007

D. Roberts  and
D. Zimmer
D. Roberts
Affiliation:
Division of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biology and Biochemistry, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT7 INN, UK.
D. Zimmer
Affiliation:
Division of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biology and Biochemistry, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT7 INN, UK. Christian Albrechts Universitat Kiel, Olshausenstrasse 40, D2300, Kiel 1, FRG.
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Abstract

The composition and richness of the microfauna on lime trees was surveyed in relation to the distribution and cover of lichens in Belfast. Parameters used to help interpret the results included distance from the city centre and available data on air quality. The percentage epiphyte cover on the trunks of lime trees was significantly correlated with distance from the city centre whereas that on tree bases as not. In contrast, the number of microfaunal species revealed strong positive correlations with distance for both the bases and the trunks of trees. Most of this increase in microfaunal species richness towards rural areas was due to protistans which are thus proposed as useful bioindicators of air pollution. The total species richness of fauna showed slight negative correlation with smoke but not SO2 levels.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Lichenologist , Volume 22 , Issue 2 , April 1990 , pp. 163 - 171
Copyright
Copyright © British Lichen Society 1990

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