Abstract:
Heavy metal bioaccumulation in different lichen species (Flavoparmelia caperata, Leptogium gelatinosum, Collema subnigrescens, Xanthoria cacicola, Xanthoria parietina, Physcia adcendes. Physcia aipolia, Xanthoparmelia conspersa, Ramalina farinacea and Phaeophyscia orbicularis) were studied at the ten sampling sites occurred from Sinop to Ordu Black Sea Region of Turkey. Heavy metal concentrations in the studied lichen species were ranked in the order of Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cr > Co > Cd. Classification of heavy metals by cluster analysis revealed six main clusters of heavy metals with similar affinities or characteristics. Zn. Cd and Pb were occurred in positive zone of PCA axis, whereas all other heavy metals occurred in negative zone. The highest Fe, Mn, Ni and Co concentrations were found in P.orbicularis, whereas the highest Cu and Cd concentrations were found in Collema subnigrescens. In summary, we found that foliose and corticolous (species grow on the branches and trunks of trees) species should be used for biomonitong studies.