ACCUMULATION OF TRACE ELEMENTS IN LICHEN HYPOGYMNIA PHYSODES IN NATIVE SPRUCE FORESTS OF THE KOLA PENINSULA

The present study generalizes the results of researches of the trace elements accumulation in epiphytic lichen Hypogymnia physodes and its substrates of old-aged Siberian spruce forests of northern taiga. Concentrations of Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb, Cd, and Fe in lichen samples were determined by the atomic absorption spectrometry. Background habitat of Siberian spruce forest is characterized by low concentration of trace elements and acidic reaction of substrates. The average concentration of elements in this lichen in the same habitat differs. The average concentrations of Ni, Cu, Pb in lichens collected on spruce branches exceed those on birch trunks. The average concentrations of Ni, Cu, Pb, Cd and Fe in H. physodes growing on birch trunks can be considered as background values. The accumulation of trace elements in lichen varies depending on level of technogenic pollution of habitats. The ability of lichen H. physodes to accumulate trace elements can be used for monitoring studies. Lichen H. physodes accumulated relatively high concentrations of Cd and Pb due to influence of global and local technogenic pollution