• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.89 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 2000

Lichen flora of 'Backwoon' mountain, Korea, was investigated during the summer of 1998 and 1999 to screen out lichen species which can be used as a biomonitor for atmospheric ozone. The identified foliose or fructicose lichens in the area were classified into 9 families, 20 genera and 34 species. The dominant lichen species in the area were found to be Leptogium sp., Parmelia sp., Parmotrema sp., Phaeophyscia sp. and Cladonia sp. It was also found that lichen species showing a wide range of sensitiveness to air pollution were distributed in 'Backwoon' mountain. The Parmotrema austrosinense, P. tinctorum, Certrelia braunsiana and Ramalina yasudae collected in the area were exposed to ozone at the level of 200ppb, 8hr/day in controlled growth chamber for 2 weeks. Malondialdehyde(MDA), hydroperoxy conjugated dienes(HPCD), soluble protein content and OD435nm/OD415nm ratio for phaeophytinization of chlorophyll were measured and a pollution index(PI) was calculated for each lichen. Ozone exposure severely damaged to the lichens in the order of P. austrosinense>P. tinctorum>C. braunsiana>R. yasudae. P. austrosinens easily identified and widely distributed in Korea is likely to be a very useful biomonitor of air pollution, especially for ozone. These results indicate that Korean lichen species can be used as a biomonitor for air pollution to evaluate air quality contaminated with ozone.