BIBLIOS

Document type
Journal articles

Document subtype
Full paper

Title
Intra- and inter-specific variations in chitin in lichens along a N-deposition gradient

Participants in the publication
Silvana Munzi (Author)
cE3c
Cristina Cruz (Author)
Dep. Biologia Vegetal
cE3c
Rodrigo Maia (Author)
Cristina Máguas (Author)
Dep. Biologia Vegetal
cE3c
Maria Margarida Perestrello-Ramos (Author)
Dep. Biologia Vegetal
cE3c
Cristina Branquinho (Author)
Dep. Biologia Vegetal
cE3c

Summary
The mechanisms of nitrogen (N) tolerance in lichens are not yet fully understood. Here, we investigated how the increase of chitin content is related with N excess at inter- and intra-specific levels, by using species with differing ecological N tolerances (the tolerant Xanthoria parietina and Parmotrema hypoleucinum and the sensitive Evernia prunastri and Usnea sp.) and thalli of X. parietina and P. hypoleucinum from sites with different availabilities of N of agricultural origin (livestock), as confirmed by lichen N content and δ15N. Nitrogen, chitin (N-containing compound), and ergosterol contents were measured in lichen thalli. Nitrogen and chitin contents were higher in tolerant species than those in sensitive ones (inter-specific level) and in thalli collected from the N-polluted site than in thalli from the clean site (intra-specific level). We suggest that chitin contributes to N stress tolerance in lichens, and that excess N can be partially stored as chitin (non-toxic form) in the cell walls of tolerant species.


Where published
Environmental Science and Pollution Research

Publication Identifiers
ISSN - 0944-1344

Publisher
Springer Nature



Document Identifiers
URL - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0378-3
DOI - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0378-3

Rankings
Web Of Science Q2 (2019) - 3.056 - ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES - SCIE
SCOPUS Q1 (2019) - 4.9 - Pollution
SCIMAGO Q2 (2019) - 0.788 - Pollution (Q2)