BY PETER D. MOORE Department of Biology King's College London, U.K.
" Air pollution is known to affect the growth of many species of lichens; it also influences the genmnation of ascospores from the lichen fungal symbionts. Sulfurous acid and sodium fluoride reduced germination in all tested species, but had least effect on the pollution tolerant species Lecanora conizaeoides. The two pollutants were synergistic in effect, and they are evidently capable of restricting the colonization potential of lichens in polluted areas.
G. Belandria, J. Asta, F. Nurit, “Effects of sulphur dioxide and fluoride on ascospore germination of several lichens,” Lichenologist, 21, (1), 79-86, 1989.
" Conserving plants and animals that have traditionally been regarded as a food resource is easy to justify but difficult to achieve. The brown mussel of the coastline of Transkei is an important local source of protein, but is being overexploited by intensive gathering. Population biology ...
