BIOMONITORING OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND CHARACTERIZATION OF LICHENE MICROSTRUCTURE AS BIOINDICATORS OF POLLUTION LEVELS IN GREATER BANDUNG

• Main Author: Erawati Saragih, Dora
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/71405
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Biomonitoring of environmental quality can be determined using bioindicator organisms, including lichens. Lichens are symbiotic organisms that passively absorb nutrients and chemical compounds from the air. This study was conducted in the Greater Bandung area, including Bandung City and West Bandung Regency,for documenting lichen species existed in various locations with different pollution levels and analysing the relationship between lichen species composition and microclimate factors, as well as its relation to tree bark pH, tree distance from the road, and the number of vehicles passing the observation area. This study was conducted from January to September 2022. This research used a purposive sampling technique on 40 trees spread over two locations in Bandung city, namely Juanda Street (JD), Kebon Kawung Street (KK), and in two locations in West Bandung Regency, namely Padalarang Road (PD) and Curug Cimahi (CC). The CC site, with its low level of pollution, is used as a comparison area. Lichen samples were identified and their number of colonies, frequency of thallus lichen closure, and diversity (H') were calculated to determine the Index of Atmospheric Purity (IAP) at each site. The relationship between lichen composition and microclimate factors, tree bark pH, tree distance from the road, and vehicle volume were analyzed using Spearman's correlation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The accumulation of Pb was measured using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) and chlorophyll content using Spectrophotometer. Microstructure characterization of lichen was analyzed based on micrograph data from Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) using Dirinaria picta as a sample. As many as 24 species from 14 lichen families with a total of 256 colonies were found in the four sites with a percentage of thallus crustose (62%), foliose (37%), and fruticose (1%). Based on diversity Index, the highest lichen diversity was found in CC (2.62) followed by JD (1.99), PD (1.63), and the lowest was found in KK (0.90). The highest Index of Atmospheric Purity (IAP) was found in CC (46.65) which indicated that the environmental conditions were still acceptable, while other locations were polluted since the number of IAP was found in JD (24.85), PD (17.70), and KK (10.21). Observations with SEM-EDS found 14 elements with accumulation levels of C>Ca>O>Pb>Cu>Mn>Zn>Fe>Cr>Al>Cl>Se>Cd>K. The composition of elements in lichen was strongly influenced by air pollution generated by motor vehicles. A total of 13 polluting elements were found in KK, followed by 11 elements in JD and PD; while in CC only 8 elements were found. The highest accumulation of Pb was found at the KK site (271.24 mg/kg), with the lowest chlorophyll content (41.06 mg/L), while the lowest Pb accumulation was found at the CC site (10.51 mg/kg) with the highest chlorophyll content (88.59 mg/L). The results indicated that the accumulation of metal elements such as Pb can reduce lichen chlorophyll concentration and consequently inhibit the growth of lichen. Ideally the number and type of lichens in the Greater Bandung region should be monitored regularly to assess air pollution condition and maintain environmental quality.