Lichens and air quality in Caney Creek and Upper Buffalo River Wilderness areas: Final report

Abstract

This study of the lichens of Caney Creek and Upper Buffalo River Wilderness areas was designed 1) to collect lichens for lichen species lists, 2) to collect lichens for elemental analysis, 3) to study the health of species most sensitive to air pollution, and 4) to assess the effects of air quality on lichens. Each area is treated in a separate section of this report. Sixteen localities were studied in Caney Creek and eleven localities in Upper Buffalo River.

The purchase order also included a restudy of elemental analysis of Hercules Glades in the Mark Twain National Forest. Samples of one species was also collected at localities in each area for elemental analysis. The elemental analysis section is treated in a separate report (Bennett & Wetmore 2001).

The lichen floras are quite diverse for each area. There were 129 species present in Caney Creek and 132 species present in Upper Buffalo River. All of the lichens found were in good health and with normal fertility. The lichens studied by elemental analysis (Bennett & Wetmore 2001) showed elemental levels comparable to other clean areas. There seemed to be no indications of threatening air quality problems (primarily from sulfur dioxide) in these wilderness areas.

Recommendations are for periodic (5 year) restudy of the lichens by elemental analysis. A complete lichen restudy of the lichen flora should be done every 10-15 years.