Atmospheric microplastic accumulation in Ramalina celastri (Sprengel) Krog & Swinscow Thalli: a transplant study across different levels of urbanization
Lichens are widely recognized as bioindicators of atmospheric pollution, but studies on their role in monitoring microplastic (MP) deposition remain scarce. This study investigates MP accumulation in natural populations of Ramalina celastri across an urbanization gradient in Luján, Argentina, markin...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sciendo
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Folia Oecologica |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2025-0007 |
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| author | Gollo Maira S. Villagra Elizabeth L.B. Gomez Jonatan J. |
| author_facet | Gollo Maira S. Villagra Elizabeth L.B. Gomez Jonatan J. |
| author_sort | Gollo Maira S. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lichens are widely recognized as bioindicators of atmospheric pollution, but studies on their role in monitoring microplastic (MP) deposition remain scarce. This study investigates MP accumulation in natural populations of Ramalina celastri across an urbanization gradient in Luján, Argentina, marking the first report for this species. MP concentrations ranged from 16.54 ± 3.59 MPs g–1 in baseline sites to significantly higher levels in urban zones. Fragments showed a stronger association with urbanised areas compared with fibres. Unlike larger urban centers, no significant trend was observed in MP size with urbanization, likely due to Lujan’s small size, facilitating unrestricted MP movement. Comparisons with global studies revealed consistent patterns of increased MP accumulation near anthropogenic sources, while unique findings highlight the potential of R. celastri as a bioindicator in diverse environments. These results emphasize the influence of urbanization on MP deposition and suggest localized sources as key contributors to fragments, advancing our understanding of MP dynamics. This work underscores the need for standardized methodologies to enhance comparability in future research on terrestrial MP pollution. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cfd820a60cca4f4db65ac96bcc3f24dc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1338-7014 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Sciendo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Folia Oecologica |
| spelling | doaj-art-cfd820a60cca4f4db65ac96bcc3f24dc2025-02-10T13:25:45ZengSciendoFolia Oecologica1338-70142025-01-01521626910.2478/foecol-2025-0007Atmospheric microplastic accumulation in Ramalina celastri (Sprengel) Krog & Swinscow Thalli: a transplant study across different levels of urbanizationGollo Maira S.0Villagra Elizabeth L.B.1Gomez Jonatan J.2Buenos Aires Provincial Scientific Research Commission (CIC), ArgentinaBuenos Aires Provincial Scientific Research Commission (CIC), ArgentinaBuenos Aires Provincial Scientific Research Commission (CIC), ArgentinaLichens are widely recognized as bioindicators of atmospheric pollution, but studies on their role in monitoring microplastic (MP) deposition remain scarce. This study investigates MP accumulation in natural populations of Ramalina celastri across an urbanization gradient in Luján, Argentina, marking the first report for this species. MP concentrations ranged from 16.54 ± 3.59 MPs g–1 in baseline sites to significantly higher levels in urban zones. Fragments showed a stronger association with urbanised areas compared with fibres. Unlike larger urban centers, no significant trend was observed in MP size with urbanization, likely due to Lujan’s small size, facilitating unrestricted MP movement. Comparisons with global studies revealed consistent patterns of increased MP accumulation near anthropogenic sources, while unique findings highlight the potential of R. celastri as a bioindicator in diverse environments. These results emphasize the influence of urbanization on MP deposition and suggest localized sources as key contributors to fragments, advancing our understanding of MP dynamics. This work underscores the need for standardized methodologies to enhance comparability in future research on terrestrial MP pollution.https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2025-0007bioindicatorsfragment analysismicroplasticsramalina celastriurbanization |
| spellingShingle | Gollo Maira S. Villagra Elizabeth L.B. Gomez Jonatan J. Atmospheric microplastic accumulation in Ramalina celastri (Sprengel) Krog & Swinscow Thalli: a transplant study across different levels of urbanization Folia Oecologica bioindicators fragment analysis microplastics ramalina celastri urbanization |
| title | Atmospheric microplastic accumulation in Ramalina celastri (Sprengel) Krog & Swinscow Thalli: a transplant study across different levels of urbanization |
| title_full | Atmospheric microplastic accumulation in Ramalina celastri (Sprengel) Krog & Swinscow Thalli: a transplant study across different levels of urbanization |
| title_fullStr | Atmospheric microplastic accumulation in Ramalina celastri (Sprengel) Krog & Swinscow Thalli: a transplant study across different levels of urbanization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Atmospheric microplastic accumulation in Ramalina celastri (Sprengel) Krog & Swinscow Thalli: a transplant study across different levels of urbanization |
| title_short | Atmospheric microplastic accumulation in Ramalina celastri (Sprengel) Krog & Swinscow Thalli: a transplant study across different levels of urbanization |
| title_sort | atmospheric microplastic accumulation in ramalina celastri sprengel krog swinscow thalli a transplant study across different levels of urbanization |
| topic | bioindicators fragment analysis microplastics ramalina celastri urbanization |
| url | https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2025-0007 |
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