Comparison of photosynthetic pigment contents in lichen samples were collected from different localities in Bursa

Abstract

In this study, contents of photosynthetic pigment in foliose Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. and fruticose Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf were compared. Lichen species were collected from five localities at Osmangazi and İznik districts in Bursa. Chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, total carotenoid contents (mg/g), chlorophyll-a/chlorophyll-b ratio, total carotenoid/total chlorophyll ratio and OD435/OD415 ratio in the lichen extracts were differently determined between localities. These changes were found statistically significant (p<0.001). The highest chlorophyll-a contents were measured in Osmangazi-Soğukpınar (2.79±0.17 m/g), İznik-İhsaniye (2.37±0.24 mg/g), the lowest contents of chlorophyll-a were measured in İznik-Sağırhisar (2.02±0.21 mg/g), İznik-Nüzhetiye (2.22±0.19 mg/g). These results have been observed that Soğukpınar and İhsaniye localities were less affected by anthropogenic effects due to their presence in the rural areas. Whereas, the localities of Sağırhisar and Nüzhetiye were affected by agricultural activities. Only, the difference between total carotenoids/total chlorophyll ratio was not statistically significant. In addition, it has been found between the lichen species. The changes in the content of photosynthetic pigments of Pseudevernia furfuracea were much more than Hypogymnia physodes. These results showed that negative atmospheric conditions are more effective at fruticose lichens than at foliose lichens.