how do lichens help scientists in assessing the effects of air pollution?(in short)
Answers
Explanation:
One of the most common indicator species used to measure air pollution are lichens. ... Scientists have found that green and bushy lichen survive only in clean air, so the presence of many green and bushy lichens in a given environment indicates that the air is clean.
LICHENS:
One of the most common indicator species used to measure air pollution are lichens.
Lichens are similar to fungi and algae, and absorb water and minerals from the air to grow on living and nonliving surfaces. As such, lichens absorb all the pollutants in the environment, and some varieties of lichen survive better in the presence of pollution than others. Scientists have found that green and bushy lichen survive only in clean air, so the presence of many green and bushy lichens in a given environment indicates that the air is clean. Hard and crusty lichens, however, can survive quite well in the presence of pollution, and so an abundance of these species of lichen may indicate that the air in the environment is polluted.
Hope it helps you. Please mark me as brainliest.