Draft:Lichens and air pollution

Lichens are composite organisms that form when algae or cyanobacteria live in the filaments of fungi in a mutualistic relationship. Lichen, which lack roots, obtain most of their necessary elements from the air; the elemental levels in lichen can reflect the composition of ambient air. As a result, many studies of lichens have emphasized their role as bioindicators of air quality, although not all lichens are equally sensitive to different air pollutants.[1]

  1. ^ Pescott, Oliver L.; Simkin, Janet M.; August, Tom A.; Randle, Zoe; Dore, Anthony J.; Botham, Marc S. (15 June 2015). "Air pollution and its effects on lichens, bryophytes, and lichen-feeding Lepidoptera: review and evidence from biological records: Lichens, Bryophytes, Moths and Air Quality". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 115 (3): 611–635. doi:10.1111/bij.12541.